Want / Need gearbox fluid changed

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

If you're following the correct procedure and using Vida to get the correct temperature, then you follow the correct procedure and reset the counter at the same and render everything else you've said as moot.

If an oil degradation counter would flag up a completely erroneous warning just because it hadn't been reset, yes I would advise someone to get the job done properly.
You say the counter doesn't affect the TCM or any other function, I say an erroneous Transmission Service Required message could be pretty alarming and would affect your use of the car until its been read and all for what? Not doing a 2 minute counter reset? No thanks.

I'm not sure why we're having this debate....

What I said was if the OP could not get access to VIDA, that should not be a reason to stop him from changing the gearbox fluid if he feels that needed to be done.

I've never said that the TCM counter isn't worth resetting, or suggested that not using VIDA isn't the best way.

The risk of not resetting the counter is that one day you might get a "Transmission Service Required" message on the dash (just as you get "Regular Service Required" when the SRI comes up). When plugged in you will have a DTC that the Trans Oil Degradation Counter has been exceeded, in the meantime the car will drive as before without limp mode or other restrictions - it will not leave you stranded. The actual risk of that counter being triggered on a UK that doesn't do a lot of heavy towing is so close to zero it makes no difference.

Hence my point is if he thinks the oil needs doing - he should still do that even if he doesn't have immediate access to VIDA to reset the counter. If you're suggesting that he shouldn't proceed with the oil change because he can't reset the counter - I'm a million miles from that place.

Why is the very small risk of an Service Required dash message one day perhaps greater than the risk of not changing old trans fluid?

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

I'm not sure why we're having this debate....

Me neither although it's not really a debate, you're just disagreeing with Vida and I don't understand why.

If you get the fluid changed by someone without Vida, they can't 100% accurately take the fluid temperature to get the level right so what's the point? Or are you suggesting an educated guess at fluid temperature is ok?

Do the job right once or don't bother I say.