How to Change Your Transmission Fluid Yourself

Over time, the chemical composition of transmission fluid breaks down and can become contaminated. Contaminated transmission fluid will result in the failure of the transmission to operate properly. Although normal maintenance of transmission fluid does not normally necessitate a change of the transmission's fluid, the existing transmission fluid should be changed after any major repairs or adjustments.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wrench
• Jack stands
• Jack
• Funnel

1. Raise the car with a jack and support the vehicle with jack stands sufficiently rated to safely support the weight of the vehicle.

2. Place a large drip pan under the transmission.

3. Remove the transmission fluid drain bolt with a wrench. The drain bolt is located at the bottom of the transmission facing the pan. The pan is the large flat plate that covers the very bottom of the transmission.

4. Drain the transmission fluid into the drip pan.

5. Reinstall the transmission fluid drain bolt with the same wrench used to remove the bolt.

6. Lower the vehicle to the ground after removing the jack stands.

7. Open the hood and remove the transmission dipstick from the filler tube by pulling the dipstick. The end of the dipstick will be curved into a circle to allow a finger to slide into the circle to withdraw the dipstick.

8. Place a funnel into the dipstick tube and fill the transmission with new fluid by pouring the fluid into the dipstick tube.

9. Remove the funnel and check the fluid level with the dipstick until the fluid reaches the "Full" mark on the tip of the dipstick.

10. Start and allow the engine to run for a few minutes.

11. Move the transmission gear selector through all of the gears while depressing the brake pedal.

12. Turn the engine off and check the fluid level on the dipstick. Add transmission fluid if necessary.

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