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Dear Mark,
Good p.m. and hope this finds you well. The AW71 transmissions are hard to ruin. One sure way: to allow coolant to get into the automatic transmission fluid (ATF). This happens, when the ATf cooler - part of the radiator - fails, allowing coolant and ATF to mix. Some signs: ATF is cloudy, instead of being clear/rosy red/pink. Coolant overflow tank will show a pinkish film. on top.
Recommendations: get the tranny flushed with Mobil 1 ATF. You can do this yourself - see the 700/900 FAQs under Site Features. Flushing removes all of the old fluid: 9 Quarts. Have a quart or two spare, to err on the side of caution.
If the ATF is brown/black, it is dirty. If it is orangey, it is burnt. If it is watery (pink, but watery), it has been overheated. If it is milky, there's coolant in the fluid.
In any case, part of your preventive maintenance should be to flush the tranny. I'd guess this will ease shifting problems.
You should also replace the radiator (unless you have documentary proof, i.e., maintenance receipts). These radiators have a 10-year working life. Failure mode: cracks/breakage at the nipples, where the hoses connect, especially at the top.
Radiator Failure mode: rapid, total loss of coolant. Failure results: overheated engine and a headgasket replacement.
Hope this helps.
Yours faithfully,
spook
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