99 Grand Am Checking Tranny Oil?

[jjcruz]

Does anyone know how to check the transmission oil on a 99 grand. Dont get me wrong i know how to do it but i cant locate the tranny oil stick.

[zirb]

Good question. Just a bump, I got the same problem

[grfnkl]

The grand am doesn't have a dip stick to check the tranny fluid dumb design if you ask me.....
the way you are supposed to check it, is there is a drain plug on the one side of the trans, take off the plug, if a little fluid comes out then you have enough, if none comes out then you need to add.... you have to do this on level ground. You may have to run the car as well.... this will give you some direction, someone else who actually has done this can verify this fact...

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by grfnkl

The grand am doesn't have a dip stick to check the tranny fluid dumb design if you ask me.....
the way you are supposed to check it, is there is a drain plug on the one side of the trans, take off the plug, if a little fluid comes out then you have enough, if none comes out then you need to add.... you have to do this on level ground. You may have to run the car as well.... this will give you some direction, someone else who actually has done this can verify this fact...

Correct. For all RPO MN5 4T45E and older 4T40E autotransaxles see link below:

http://www.quality-trans.com/faq/faq8.htm#41

[jjcruz]

That drain plug you are talking about is underneath the hood or do i have to get underneath the car?

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by jjcruz

That drain plug you are talking about is underneath the hood or do i have to get underneath the car?

Underneath the car so it must be jacked up. It will be parallel to the engine oil drain plug.

[jjcruz]

Originally Posted by bnaylor3400

Underneath the car so it must be jacked up. It will be parallel to the engine oil drain plug.

Thanx for the help much appreciated.

[98gpking]

the transmission in those is a sealed unit. you can not check it. they did that becuse there was to much faulty reading by the owners and that would lead overfill or underfill. they are making most cars these days with sealed systems or sometimes they put a lock on the dipstick so its a dealer check only. i think its good for the car illiterate ones but shitty for the enthusiasts. be sure when you get under your car and pull that plug to check the level to have been driving your car for a while make sure it fully heats up and cools down before you get out run the gears this will give you the most accurate level reading. just to let you know though there is a cap under the hood its to right right of the engine burried under the air box throttle tube. its suppost to be red if you engine bay is dirty its about the size of a silver dollar and about an inch high. if you see that its for sure a sealed system. hope i could help.

[phaderus]

Also it is very important that the car be level to get an acurate reading. You really need a lift to do it right, or four jack stand at the same height at the same spots on the car on level ground. Which is not likely or at least a real PITA