Transmission oil

[shadow322]

I own a 1995 cavalier, how would I check the transmission fluid. There is no dipstick under the hood and I cant find anything under the car either. Its a manual. Thanks

[taillight]

There is a fill plug that you will have to remove about half way up. Fluid should be at that plug.

[Jmrec100]

Is this the same for a 1999 Cavalier? Why no dipstick in these cars? Is GM that cheap?

[taillight]

Manual transmission don't loose fluid like auto trans and there checked less often.

[shakewell]

I was thinking that a 1995 would have one of those really short dipsticks that sits right on top of the transmission. If it's the one I'm thinking of, there really isn't a dipstick tube, just a little plastic peice that you flip up and remove the short dipstick. I dunno, maybe I'm wrong.

[Blue Bowtie]

I can't recall ever seeing a domestic manual trans with a dipstick. Some imports I've seen have them low on the transaxle, but that's about it.

[shakewell]

GM used to have them - I know because I used to check them a lot. I just don't know if they had them on a 1995 or not.

[Blue Bowtie]

Originally Posted by shakewell

GM used to have them ...

Which GMs? None of the Saginaws had them. None of the Muncies had them. None of the Borg-Warners had them as I recall. The Getrags didn't have them, and the NV transmissions I've seen (like the 1500, 3500) don't have them. Even the wrong-wheel-drive GM transaxles I've seen and owned haven't had them. I must have missed them.

[shakewell]

Only front wheel drive had them. They had the same handle similar to a chevy blazer or van where you flip the plastic top straight up to unlock it and pull out the stick. I know I'm not just dreaming this one up.

[shakewell]

OK, I just checked the service info for this and it is a dipstick. You don't need to jack up the car or anything - you can see it from under the hood, but you have to look down at the transmision. Check it cold on a level surface - it should read FULL. If you need to top it off, the fluid used is GM Synchromesh Transmission Fluid ( GM 12345349 ). If you're thinking about changing the fluid, the drain plug is below the dipstick. It takes about 2qts to refill.

[Blue Bowtie]

Thanks for the update. I'll have to keep my eye open for those. I don't see many manual transaxles.