ok basically i dropped the trans pan, was going to change the filter and i cant take one of the bolts off, well actually its the one thats a nut, it just spins, but the nut isnt loosening . Advice please?

 

Has there been any previous work on the transmission? Are you (or whoever) the original owner?

 

Im def not the first owner but it looks like i was the first to drop the trans pan. There was a good amount of metal shavings on the 2 magnets at the bottom and the filter was probably filthy, never got that bolt off, was afraid of using a propane torch to heat the bolt up and somehow damaging the trans. So i just stuck a paper towel in the filter thing and cleaned it best i could.

 

I once bought an aftermarket trans filter from pep boys for a '99 4th gen and it came with the following warning on a little slip of paper in the box. This was about 4 years ago but it went something like this: "On certain models the trannsmission filter can not be removed because loosening the retaining nut will cause the xxxxx nut (they called it something weird) to be displaced, requiring removal of the valvebody in order to re-install the xxxxxx nut" I promptly returned the filter and decided to just change the fluid after reading that, r&r of the valve body is a bit on the complicated side, I've never heard anything else regarding this the entire time I've been on the .org, until I came across this post...... My advice would be to tighten it back up if you can, change the fluid, and call it a day. If you can't tighten it back up then I'd start looking for a reputable auto trans shop in your area and get some quotes for removing the valve body and explain the situation.

 

Any updates, I'm curious on this?

 

I experienced the exact same thing once while changing the fluid on a 4th Gen Max, don't remember the year though.

Only time I ever had this happen. One of the bolts holding the screen just continued to spin, so I removed the remaining bolts and came back to that one. It never would come out, It would only spin. I got concerned that I might not be able to put it back if I did get it out. So I left it alone. Cleaned out the screen in place and called it a day.