cleaning trans filter

["Walter" <Whalt@xxxx>]

After I drained my fluid and dropped my pan, I took a digital picture of the
filter with its attached magnet. Some filtrate is to be expected, but I
would like some second opinions. For those of you who are familiar with
what a normal transmission change should be like, give me your opinion about
what you see on this filter magnet. Is it a reasonable amount for what
should accumulate after 12,600 original miles?

The photo is at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/files/transmissionfilter.jpg

Thanks,
Walt Tampa, FL

-----Original Message-----
From: jtrealty@xxxx <jtrealty@xxxx>
<snip>
>Your magnets will only capture steel and cast iron particles. The
>filter is meant to keep out the big chunks and any friction materiel
>which is a natural by product of the aging of the automatic
>transmission, not metal. You should not expect to catch much metal,
>especially magnetic, although you will see flecks of brass and bronze
>from the thrust washers as they wear normally. If you find large
>amounts of friction materiel or any significant amount of magnetic
>particles the transmission is nearing the time for a rebuild.
<snip>
and Yikes!
and
-----Original Message-----
From: srubano@xxxx <srubano@xxxx>
>It's not a good thing to find metal flakes on that magnet especially
>for an automatic transmission! Those flakes are from the gears which
>mean they are grinding and wearing out.
<snip>
and Yikes again! So how bad does mine look?