1998 Buick Park Ave. 3800-4speed auto trans

[snobrd]

took my car to get the trans oil changed and the pump would not pump the oil through. it would pump out aprox.2 quarts then just stop.I took it to 3 different shops and the same thing. It seems to burn the trans oil faster than it should. black at 30000 miles
I went to the local Buick dealer today and the service rep had not heard of this problem. same old song bring it in and we will check it out for a price. Doe's any one know or heard of this problem. I changed the oil myself by dropping the tranny pan. i blew the cooler lines out so they are not pluged
Thanks in advance for any help.

[Fastcar]

Dayam! Trans fluid black at only 30K miles? Your tranny's overheating the fluid big time - that's why it's deteriorating and turning black. I don't know if you have an external trans fluid cooler or if it's integrated with the radiator, but it definitely looks like the fluid is not getting all the way through the cooling system. The lines could be clear and unplugged, but the heat exchange coil/radiator could be plugged. And, did you ever change the trans filter? Is this with only normal driving? Do you ever tow anything?

[snobrd]

Dayam! Trans fluid black at only 30K miles? Your tranny's overheating the fluid big time - that's why it's deteriorating and turning black. I don't know if you have an external trans fluid cooler or if it's integrated with the radiator, but it definitely looks like the fluid is not getting all the way through the cooling system. The lines could be clear and unplugged, but the heat exchange coil/radiator could be plugged. And, did you ever change the trans filter? Is this with only normal driving? Do you ever tow anything?

Yes i have changed the filter twice in the last 3 years [Middle year just oil change] A lot of expressway driving From mi to fl twice a year. No towing.
this last change it has not burn as bad still a little red been about 18 months since last change. It has 140000 and has been changed 4 times once at a dealer and three by me.

[Vince @ FLT]

There are two fittings for the cooler lines. The one that points straight down has a check valve in it I believe. What happens is the plastic melts and restricts the cooler flow. With the black fluid it sounds like the trans is hurt. Vince