Transmission Fluid or 98 Malibu LS

[cheerios1]

Some advice needed from you malibu pros...this car has been great..ah regular kinks as usual, the brakes, the AT sensor headaches, usual stuff from a malibu.
Owned the car since 98, actually girlfriend then wife did, i took it over 2 yrs ago and bought her a new vehicle. So had it ever since...
I recall back in 2002 my wife poored a coke on the transmission lever area and we had to have it towed cause the plastic stuck. Now I recall this being the only time the dealer may have been in it.
My Q. how often or should I even bother to change the tranny fluid at all???
Car now has 134xxx miles on....runs great....

[maxwedge]

Almost too late now, this should be done at about 60k depending on driving habits. No good answer here for you on this one. Look closely at the fluid see if it is discolored, if so it may really be too late.

[Speedy_1234]

Well, if you like to change it ok. But just try to pour a littl out so you can see what color it is if it brown and smell burn your in trouble but it faded red it ok the only thing is (my opion) is that you change the tranny oil new gasket new filter and a smart shift fluid.

[fiberglasscivic]

If you have the 2.4L engine, then checking the transmission fluid won't be a simple task. There's a fluid level check on the side of the transmission, under the car. You have to remove a bolt and look into the transmission to check the level. While there, you will notice that there is no drain plug either. To drain the fluid, you have to remove the pan (if you can call that shallow thing a pan) from the bottom of the transmission. That's why I haven't changed my fluid yet. I'll pay someone else to deal with the trouble.

[Speedy_1234]

Ok Sorry I was talking about the 3.1L malibu