[cupidstoy]

well, i went ahead and did the transmission the easy way today before the trip. i looked at the fluid and it was starting to go form bright pretty red to darker reddish brown so when i was changing the oil and already had it up to look things over, i drained the tranny/diff and put in three fresh quarts of t-iv. it was really easy. there's a drain plug just like on the oil pan. doing it this way changes out about half of the total capacity. from talking with the dealer and reading other forums, the filter doesn't need to be replaced. it's just a metal screen. unless you let it go a really long time, you don't need to take the pan off and do anything with the filter.

so, i also looked everything over, shined up the CV and steering rod boots with vinyl protectant and looked them over, sprayed down the rubber chassis bushings with vinyl protectant, sprayed the MAF wire with electric parts cleaner, put in a can of seafoam into the gas tank, etc.

runs and drives like a new 'rolla! i'm still getting a third or forth crank start up sometimes so am psyching myself up to do the fuel pump someday. for now, it's not that big a deal.... doesn't both the wife and so i'll save it for a nice day when it's warm outside and there isn't anything more pressing going on.