AutoMatic Trans fluid & filter change - DIY Style
xeroinfinity
05-03-2007, 10:59 PM
This is just a general procedure for most all automatic transmissions FWD Grand AM's.
First you need:
- 7-8 quarts of your favorite trans fluid, depending on your vehicles manufacturers specifications, of Dextron III which is for GM.
- Trans funnel
- Transmission filter & seal (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/newfilter.jpg)
- Jack & jack stand(s)
- Wheel block
- Two drain pans, or one large one that can hold 7-8 quarts.
- Sockets and Ratchet- 6-8 mm (I used 5/16 on the 4T40E-45E)
- Inch lbs torq wrench - the 4T40E & 45E torq too 108 inch lbs
- Lots of rags & or paper towles
- Rubber gloves wouldnt hurt
- screw driver to remove filter seal
- small hammer to install filter seal
- Gasket scraper
- Solvent to clean out trans pan.
- Safty glasses!
- Hand cleaner(s)
- Something to clean up spills like floor dry/kitty litter or newspapers
- First run engine or drive for 4-5 minutes to warm up fluid.
- Park on a flat level place shut off engine.
- Block the oposite rear corner to that which you are jacking up.
- Jack up vehicle, secure with jack stand so its out of the way.
- As shown here (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/thingsneeded.jpg).
- Locate trans pan here (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/transpan.jpg)...
- Place a drain pan (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/drianing1.jpg)under the trans to catch the old fluid.
- USE CATION it will be HOT.
- Remove 4-5 bolts on the side in which you will start draining fluid (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/drianing2.jpg).
- Start loosening the bolts working your way from the 4-5 removed first.
- This will allow the fluid to drain out a little at a time instead of all at once.
- It will look something like this (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/drianing3.jpg)when done draining.
- Now remove all the bolts around the pan.
- Slowly lower the pan as thier will still be (warm) fluid in the very bottom.
Set aside.
- Slowly twist & pull the old filter down.
- Use gasket scrapper to clean up gasket surface on the trans.
- Now use the screw driver to colapse one side of the old filter pick up tube seal shown here (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/sealinside.jpg).
- It should look like this when the seal is removed (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/sealremoved.jpg).
- Wipe down the tubes inside and anywhere that looks like it has old black/brown fluid on it with clean rags or paper towels.
- Now clean the edges of the pan with the gasket scraper if it has a build up around it.
*Try not to gouge or nick the pan or trans surfaces.
- Clean the trans pan out with the solvent, removing the square magnet and cleaning it up also. Remove all the silverish stuff too if any.
- Once thoroughly cleaned & dry , appy a small dab of grease to the pan in different areas so the gasket will stay in place while installing it. Shown here (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/cleanpanready.jpg)
- With one hand hold up the trans pan to the transmission and start the bolts with the other hand.
- Once they are all finger tight, start torqing them down in a criss cross fashion to your transmissions torq specs. The 1999+ 4T40-45e is 108 in Lbs.
- Remove jack stand(s) lowering vehicle and remove jack, also removing wheel block.
- Refill the trans to the manufacturers specified level for your trans.
- Run engine to warm the fluid and check that the trans is operating by shifting then check for any leaks.
- Now check your fluid level while the engine is running and wramed up, do not over fill.
- If you have the 99+ Grand AM/Alero/Malibu/Cutlass with the 4t40e or the 4t45e see here (http://www.quality-trans.com/faq/faq8.html#41).
Dont post questions here! :grinno:
If anyone has questions, post in the grand am thread or PM me and someone will try and assist you.
Also most auto parts stores and Quick lube facilities will take your old fluids.
Dont just throw it on the ground as old trans fluid does contain small amounts of PCB's which are toxic, be responsible & recycle. :thumbsup:
First you need:
- 7-8 quarts of your favorite trans fluid, depending on your vehicles manufacturers specifications, of Dextron III which is for GM.
- Trans funnel
- Transmission filter & seal (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/newfilter.jpg)
- Jack & jack stand(s)
- Wheel block
- Two drain pans, or one large one that can hold 7-8 quarts.
- Sockets and Ratchet- 6-8 mm (I used 5/16 on the 4T40E-45E)
- Inch lbs torq wrench - the 4T40E & 45E torq too 108 inch lbs
- Lots of rags & or paper towles
- Rubber gloves wouldnt hurt
- screw driver to remove filter seal
- small hammer to install filter seal
- Gasket scraper
- Solvent to clean out trans pan.
- Safty glasses!
- Hand cleaner(s)
- Something to clean up spills like floor dry/kitty litter or newspapers
- First run engine or drive for 4-5 minutes to warm up fluid.
- Park on a flat level place shut off engine.
- Block the oposite rear corner to that which you are jacking up.
- Jack up vehicle, secure with jack stand so its out of the way.
- As shown here (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/thingsneeded.jpg).
- Locate trans pan here (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/transpan.jpg)...
- Place a drain pan (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/drianing1.jpg)under the trans to catch the old fluid.
- USE CATION it will be HOT.
- Remove 4-5 bolts on the side in which you will start draining fluid (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/drianing2.jpg).
- Start loosening the bolts working your way from the 4-5 removed first.
- This will allow the fluid to drain out a little at a time instead of all at once.
- It will look something like this (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/drianing3.jpg)when done draining.
- Now remove all the bolts around the pan.
- Slowly lower the pan as thier will still be (warm) fluid in the very bottom.
Set aside.
- Slowly twist & pull the old filter down.
- Use gasket scrapper to clean up gasket surface on the trans.
- Now use the screw driver to colapse one side of the old filter pick up tube seal shown here (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/sealinside.jpg).
- It should look like this when the seal is removed (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/sealremoved.jpg).
- Wipe down the tubes inside and anywhere that looks like it has old black/brown fluid on it with clean rags or paper towels.
- Now clean the edges of the pan with the gasket scraper if it has a build up around it.
*Try not to gouge or nick the pan or trans surfaces.
- Clean the trans pan out with the solvent, removing the square magnet and cleaning it up also. Remove all the silverish stuff too if any.
- Once thoroughly cleaned & dry , appy a small dab of grease to the pan in different areas so the gasket will stay in place while installing it. Shown here (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Transmission/cleanpanready.jpg)
- With one hand hold up the trans pan to the transmission and start the bolts with the other hand.
- Once they are all finger tight, start torqing them down in a criss cross fashion to your transmissions torq specs. The 1999+ 4T40-45e is 108 in Lbs.
- Remove jack stand(s) lowering vehicle and remove jack, also removing wheel block.
- Refill the trans to the manufacturers specified level for your trans.
- Run engine to warm the fluid and check that the trans is operating by shifting then check for any leaks.
- Now check your fluid level while the engine is running and wramed up, do not over fill.
- If you have the 99+ Grand AM/Alero/Malibu/Cutlass with the 4t40e or the 4t45e see here (http://www.quality-trans.com/faq/faq8.html#41).
Dont post questions here! :grinno:
If anyone has questions, post in the grand am thread or PM me and someone will try and assist you.
Also most auto parts stores and Quick lube facilities will take your old fluids.
Dont just throw it on the ground as old trans fluid does contain small amounts of PCB's which are toxic, be responsible & recycle. :thumbsup:
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