How to Check Automatic Transmission Fluid

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By eHow Contributing Presenter

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Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Park your car on level ground and start the engine, leaving the gear in neutral or park. Wait for the engine to warm up. Unless your owner's manual directs otherwise, allow the engine to continue running throughout this procedure.
Step 2

Find the ATF dipstick, located at the back of the engine. The ATF dipstick is often shorter than the engine oil dipstick but otherwise looks similar. If you're lucky, it will be labeled.
Step 3

Pull on the dipstick and completely remove it. It may be very long.
Step 4

Wipe the dipstick with a rag, replace it in the engine, push it all the way in and remove it again.
Step 5

Look at the dipstick's tip. Observe whether there are two different full markings: one for cold readings and one for warm readings. If so, read the one for 'Warm.' If the ATF does not come up to the line marked 'Full,' add ATF.
Step 6

Add ATF (see Tips) into the hole that the dipstick came out of (yes, that little tiny hole). Use a funnel with a long, narrow neck. Add only a little at a time, and check the level with the dipstick after each time. It's easy to add ATF but fairly difficult to take it out if you add too much.
Step 7

Put the dipstick all the way back in when you are done.

Comments

brissangelopez said

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on 5/13/2009 i cant find the damn transmission dip stick?!?!? HELP!!

shwing164 said

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on 1/5/2009 I didn't read the tips on the side. I provided some extra useful information though.

on 1/5/2009 First off, this video doesn't specify the importance of using the right ATF designed for your car. Make sure you look up your vehicles specified ATF. Also most owners manuals suggest driving the car at least 20 miles, to thoroughly warm the transaxle, before checking ATF level. With the engine on, and the brake depressed, run through all the gears starting from park, going all the way down, and then back to park again, allowing each gear to fully engage, after this is completed check your fluid level; be sure to check multiple times for accurate readings.

Don't overfill, add small increments, overfilling can cause damage, the same as under filing can. Make sure to note the color and smell of the fluid: brown, dark fluid, or fluid that smells burnt, needs to be changed and can be a sign of transmission wear.