I am looking at having the transmission serviced / fluid changed with new pan and filter plus sleeve. Do I need to be particular who does the job? I got a quote from a highly respected shop with plenty of exotic car credentials at a little over $700. As an alternative I might get another shop that I have good general experience with to do the job at a lower price, specially if they are OK with getting the pan & filter from either SNG Barratt or Parts Geek for less than $110 where as the other shop would charge $268. I seem to remember a company in CA that sells the ZF fluid at a lower price also. So if my local garage is willing to use these parts, I could save money.

So the question is: Is there anything particular to this transmission that I would be foolish having a good general mechanic do the job?

If I had not seen DIY people have good experiences sourcing these parts I wouldn't even ask the question but maybe they were just lucky that nothing went wrong.

 

I used Valvoline fluid. Something Max. $20/ga
Go to Valvoline website to see which fluid.

 

Many of us have successfully used Mercon SP ATF, available at any Ford dealership parts department for $6 to $7 per quart. It meets the required Shell M1375.4 specs and I always recommend it for any ZF 6HP26 that is beyond its warranty period....

 

watch the ZF youtube in their library so you know what to ask for and expect. maybe even have mechanic watch it. sticky points are the pan bolts, fluid (mercon sp is EXACT formulation of lifegaurd with red dye added), fluid level set within an exact temperature and pin connector collar (seal) seating.

JagTV | Live. Love. Learn. Jag

 

Thanks for the link jagstuart, that is definitely a keeper. I won't get to look at it until later but I think you are suggesting that it takes some care and specific knowledge to get it right and someone that has never touched a ZF might not be the person to choose.