How to Change Tranny Fluid
Changing your vehicles automatic transmission fluid is super simple and can be easily handled by any determined do-it-youselfer with just a few basic tools.
Both rear wheel drive and front wheel drive vehicles have the same basic set up on their transmissions, with a transmission fluid pan located underneath the vehicle. Lets go over some simple sets to get you through changing your transmission fluid.
First, lets discuss what you will need:
-A basic socket set with a small ratchet
-A Jack and jack stands
-A Pair of goggles
-A Pan to drain the transmission fluid into
-A New Transmission Fluid Pan Gasket
-Transmission Fluid
-A Transmission Filter
-A Gasket Scraper tool
-A Flashlight
Step 1: You will want to wheel out your floor jack and hoist up your vehicle high enough so that you can comfortably get under the front or side of it. This will enable you to be able to locate the transmission pan. If you have a rear wheel drive vehicle you will find your transmission under the middle of the vehicle and the pan on the bottom. If you own a front wheel drive vehicle, you will find your transmission or transaxel at the front of the vehicle and its pan will be next to the oil pan.
Helpful Hint* Most transmission pans do not have a drain bolt like the oil pan does, which will give it away when locating the transmission pan on a front wheel drive vehicle.
Once you have located your transmission pan, you will know where to place the jack stands under your vehicle, and you should make sure to replace them there securely so that you can safely work under the vehicle.
Step 2: Get your socket set, drain pan and flashlight, and put your goggles on to avoid transmission fluid in the eyes. Climb under the vehicle and place the pan near the transmission fluid pan so that it is ready when you need it. Get out your basic socket set and find an appropriate socket to fit the bolts along the outside of the transmission pan
Hint* In most cases, the bolts around the transmission pan are small and will fit a 10 mm or smaller.
You will want to take your socket and ratchet and start losing the bolts around the tranny pan a little at a time at first. Go around a few times, and make sure not to pull any out yet. None of them should be lose enough to pull out at all. Once you have done this, choose a corner and loosen enough of the bolts to get that corner open. Keep removing bolts in that corner until red transmission fluid starts to spill out.
This is the time to grab your pan and get out of the way!
Place your pan under the transmission pan and let the fluid drain until it is just a small stream, and then start loosening more bolts to drain more fluid. As you go around the pan, the fluid will drain itself into your drain pan. Continue this process until you have drained all the transmission fluid from your transmission.
Step 3: Once you have pulled the transmission pan from the bottom of the transmission, make sure to place it on a rag or something that can absorb fluid and keep the pan from getting dirty.
Step 4: Now is the time to change your transmission fluid filter, which is vital to your transmission and should be changed any time the pan is removed. Most auto parts stores carry them and you can check outwww.overnightautoparts.comto find most of your needs.
You will need to remove three to four bolts to get the filter off of the transmission. Make sure to remember exactly where the bolts came off as it can get confusing putting the new filter on if you don't remember how the old one came out. Pull it off and place it in your drain pan as scarp garbage.
Get out your new filter and replace it in the same way you pulled off the old filter.
Step 5: Once you have replaced your transmission fluid filter, it is time to get ready to replace the pan. Before you can do this, you will want to make sure there is no gasket left over on either the pan itself or the transmission housing. Use a scrapper tool to get all the little bits off and ensure that your new gasket gets a good strong seal. You don't want to have leaks when you replace the pan.
Once you have made sure the surfaces are clean, get out your new transmission fluid pan gasket place it on the pan before you go to line it up with the transmission housing.
Helpful Hint* Put a couple of bolt through the pan and gasket to keep the gasket where you want it and make it easier to get the bolts to thread back into the transmission housing.
Place the pan up the transmission housing and use your fingers to hand tighten a few of the bolts in their positions. Then pull out your socket and rachet and tighten them up enough to hold the pan in place, but not all the way. Once it is up there, start replacing all the bolts, but remember not to tight any off them all the way.
Once you have all the bolts in their respective places, then you can take your wrench and go around tighten them up completely. Make sure they are all secure, but don't over do it, as you could very well squish your new gasket. Just make sure they are pretty tight.
Step 6: Once the transmission fluid pan is secure on the transmission, its time to pull everything from out from under the vehicle and get it back on the ground.
After you have let the vehicle off of the jack stands and jack, get out your transmission fluid and go open the hood. Find your transmission fluid dip stick and use a funnel to fill your transmission up.
Warning* Make sure you know exactly how much transmission fluid your particular vehicle needs. You don't want to over fill it and create leaks and damage your transmission, but you also don't want to leave it under the level it needs.
Step 7: Once you have filled your transmission with fluid, start your engine and let it run for a few minutes to help push the new fluid through the transmission.
I also recommend taking the vehicle for a test drive to check and make sure the fluid is running through the transmission and to make sure you have replace the filter the right way.
Now you are done! Your vehicle should shift smoothly and you should have a lot of pride in the fact that you can change your automatic transmission fluid!
