Fluid - A/T: Service and Repair

CHECKING FLUID LEVEL

1. Drive vehicle for approximately 15 minutes to bring fluid up to normal operating temperature (158-176 °F).
2. With vehicle on level surface, apply parking brake and block drive wheels.
3. With selector lever in Park, start engine, then move selector lever through each range and return to Park.
4. Remove dipstick and check fluid level.
5. Fluid level should be between the two ``HOT'' marks on dipstick.
6. Add fluid as required to bring fluid to specified level. When adding fluid use only Dexron II type transmission fluid or equivalent.




CHANGING FLUID

Under normal driving conditions, fluid level should be changed and oil strainer cleaned every 100,000 miles. To service, refer to procedure outlined below.
1. Raise and support front of vehicle.
2. Remove drain plug and drain fluid from oil pan.
3. Remove stabilizer shaft mount bolts, then the transaxle mounting member.
4. Remove oil pan attaching bolts and the oil pan.
5. Remove oil strainer to valve body attaching bolts, then the oil strainer.
6. Clean strainer and oil pan in suitable solvent. Ensure that magnet in oil pan is positioned directly below oil strainer.
7. Install oil strainer and attaching bolts. Torque bolts to 4-5 ft. lbs.

Fig. 1 Crossed groove attaching bolt location:

8. Install oil pan using new gasket. Torque attaching bolts to 3-4 ft. lbs. Two of the oil pan attaching bolts have crossed grooves on the bolt head. When installing these two bolts, coat threads with suitable sealant and install in positions shown in Fig. 1.
9. Reinstall stabilizer shaft and transaxle mounting member. Torque stabilizer shaft mount bolts to 22-40 ft. lbs. and transaxle member attaching bolts to 37-43 ft. lbs.
10. Lower vehicle and refill oil pan with approximately 1-1/2 quarts of Dexron II type transmission fluid, or equivalent.
11. Check fluid level as outlined above and adjust as necessary.