Transmission Fluid Level

[lonnie]

Well I need to know if the only way to determine the transmission fluid level is by pulling the plug at the bottom of the car. I know my car needs cause I haven't added any in the three years I've had it and now I need to know. I know where the fill is but need to know how to check the level. I've searched and nothing answered this question speciffically for a 2.4L.

[Nate's Alero]

is it acting up or anythin? if its ok, assume the level is ok

[surreal_awakening]

Start the car, let it warm up, shift through the gears (a couple seconds in each gear...with your foot on the brake, of course!), then pull the plug on the side with the engine still running (careful of the hot fluid!). Then add fluid through the fill until it comes out the plug on the side. This is the tricky part since the filler is underneath the exhaust crossover pipe which is obviously HOT since the car is running. You really need some high-temp gloves, similar to the old asbestos gloves. Let it run out until it stops, then plug it again, cap your filler and you're done.

[CactusWill]

After 3 years you don't need to just check the fluid, you need to change it.... Drop the pan and replace the filter, and theres a red cap on the drivers side top of your tranny that unscrews, you add new fluid in there with a nice long funnel.

[lonnie]

Thanks guys for the response, going to get the service! Although I have to say this is the dumbest design I have ever seen.

[Redog]

It's not really a dumb design, it's the way GM designed the tranny so that the regualar guy can't check the tranny fliud and bring the car in for service. It's still BS

You can't drain all the fliud by just dropping the pan, you will only get out about /13 of the fliud. There is a machine that gets hooked up to the tranny that sucks all the fliud out of the convertor and the rest of the tranny. I think it holds around 11 quarts, dropping the pan only gets out 3 quarts

[meadus101]

How mucha re you talking to have it done at a dealer or tranny shop?

[CactusWill]

How mucha re you talking to have it done at a dealer or tranny shop?


The local gm dealers near me all quoted $200. You can do it yourself for about $35.

[whiterider00]

for a drain, flush and refill, i paid around $130.

[lonnie]

Well the shop here only charges 70 for a 4 cyl. yeaaa me!

....I'm sure they will find some way to make it cost more though.

[lonnie]

It's not really a dumb design, it's the way GM designed the tranny so that the regualar guy can't check the tranny fliud and bring the car in for service. It's still BS

You can't drain all the fliud by just dropping the pan, you will only get out about /13 of the fliud. There is a machine that gets hooked up to the tranny that sucks all the fliud out of the convertor and the rest of the tranny. I think it holds around 11 quarts, dropping the pan only gets out 3 quarts
Wow GM screwed us on this one. I'm surprised as to how much fluid these cars hold....

[meadus101]

Well, I know how to do my own grease and oil and all that stuff, but for the sake of a few dollars to have Wal-mart do it, I'm not getting under that car.

I pay about 40 bucks for everything.

I use Premium oil and stuff, So When I bought the Oil filter, Oil, Air Filter, and some Antifreeze to keep it all up, it was over 35 bucks.

Especially in the winter, I told em how to reset it all, the easiest way to get to the Oil filter, I'm assuming the guy was new.

He said "Gee, You know how to do it all, why not just do it yourself?" "Like hell I'm lying on the snow and getting full of it when I can pay a little extra to have someone do it"


But I'm not sure if I trust myself to drop the tranny pan, plus the fact that it only gets 1/3 of the fluid, it seems better to pay the extra to have a shop do it right.

[super white alero1]

You want Walmart to change your tranny fluid? Do they even know how to fill it? Do yourself a favor and either do it yourself or have it service at a dealership or a local shop. Don't let Walmart do it.

[CactusWill]

You want Walmart to change your tranny fluid? Do they even know how to fill it? Do yourself a favor and either do it yourself or have it service at a dealership or a local shop. Don't let Walmart do it.


Agreed. Cheap prices can = cheap service. And at walmart, cheap prices and cheap service are both very much guaranteed.

[meadus101]

Wal-mart are for oil changes only.

I worked for them, I know the training those guys go through, at least, in Canada.

Basically, I was pointing out that it might be a good idea to let a shop do it if you're not sure on what you're doing. plus, a shop can get all the fluid.

[Redog]

If I went to Walmart, I sure wouldn't let them touch my car.

A kid making $7/hr changing the oil? I heard they can't even do that right ;)

Around here a tranny flush is about $130 at the dealership :ninja:

[cherrington17]

so i guess this goes on my list of things i should have done, when spring comes around (or free time and some cash) @ 61k and tranny fluid has never been touched.