STEP 6: Refill the transmission fluid.įiguring out how to fill transmission fluid is straightforward. If your transmission fluid pan has a drain plug, be sure to reinstall the plug before sliding out from under the vehicle. Use a socket wrench or crescent wrench to tighten the bolts, but avoid over-tightening to prevent accidentally cracking, warping, or otherwise damaging the pan. Line up the pan according to the bolt pattern, then hand-tighten the bolts to hold the pan in place. With the new filter in place, you are ready to reinstall the transmission fluid pan. Related: How to Change a Car Battery Like a Pro STEP 5: Secure the transmission fluid pan. Push the filter fittings in to properly seat the O-rings, then use the bolt that you had previously removed to secure the new filter to the vehicle. Lubricate the new filter O-rings with transmission fluid and line up the fittings with the transmission valve body. Take this opportunity to tighten the transmission valve body bolts, but make sure not to over-tighten them. With the bolt removed, pull down to take the filter off. If the transmission fluid filter requires replacement, purchase a compatible filter for your vehicle, then slide under the car and remove the bolt that is securing the old filter.

In most cases, the filter doesn’t need to be replaced every time the transmission fluid is changed, but inspecting it is a good way to identify problems before they can have a greater impact on your transmission system. Inspect the filter for any damage, like cracks or leaks. STEP 4: Inspect the transmission fluid filter and change if necessary.Īfter draining the transmission fluid from the vehicle, remove the transmission fluid pan entirely to access the transmission fluid filter. It’s normal to see metal shavings in the old transmission fluid, but larger pieces are a sign that the transmission is in need of immediate attention from an automotive professional. Check the contents of the drain pan to see if there are any large or odd-shaped chunks of metal that could indicate severe damage. Put the transmission fluid pan and the bolts in a safe spot until reinstallation. Completely drain the remaining transmission fluid by removing the final bolts and freeing the pan. Proceed to loosen and remove the bolts along both sides of the fluid pan, allowing the transmission fluid to continue to drain. Use a socket wrench or crescent wrench to loosen and remove the bolts at one end of the transmission fluid pan and position the drain pan to catch any falling transmission fluid. Transmission fluid pans without a drain plug will need to be completely removed. If the transmission fluid pan has a drain plug, then use a socket wrench or crescent wrench to loosen the plug and begin to drain the old transmission fluid into a suitable transmission drain pan. Put on gloves to keep your hands safe during the replacement process and wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from falling transmission fluid.

Related: How to Change Windshield Wipers Yourself STEP 3: Drain the old transmission fluid. If your transmission fluid pan doesn’t have a drain plug, make sure that you find a drain pan that is at least as wide as the transmission fluid pan to avoid creating a mess under the vehicle. The pan has a broad, flat shape and it’s attached to the bottom of the transmission with six to eight bolts, so it should be relatively easy to find.Ĭheck whether the transmission fluid pan has a drain plug for releasing the transmission fluid or if you will need to remove the entire pan to drain the transmission fluid. Typically, this pan can be found on the left or right of the engine bay on front-wheel or 4-wheel drive vehicles, while it is located under the center console area on rear-wheel-drive vehicles. Similar to changing the oil, you will need to slide under the vehicle and locate the transmission fluid pan. STEP 2: Locate the transmission fluid pan. Just make sure to allow the engine about 5 to 10 minutes to cool down after turning it off, so that you aren’t working with incredibly hot parts and transmission fluid. These tools are made to support the weight of a vehicle and they have depressions at the top of each ramp to help prevent the vehicle from shifting or otherwise moving. With the vehicle suspended on the jack, you can position wheel chocks behind the rear tires to prevent the vehicle from moving or shifting while you work.Īn alternative to using a jack to lift up the car is to drive the vehicle up onto steel wheel ramps. To get access to the transmission fluid pan for the purpose of draining the old transmission fluid, you will need to use a jack to elevate the vehicle off of the ground. Put the vehicle in park, take out the keys, and apply the parking brake. Like many maintenance tasks on a vehicle, a transmission fluid change begins with parking the vehicle in a safe space, like a garage or level driveway. Photo: STEP 1: Park and elevate the vehicle.

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