Hi, Everyone.

I have a 2001 SE auto (automagically delicious). I want to change the transmission fluid and the owner's manual only gives instructions on how to check the fluid level.

I did a search on the site, but have only be able to find info concerning manual transmission fluid changes.

Can anyone with an auto please provide me with some instructions on where to look for the drain bolt is for the auto and how much fluid I should put back in once all the old stuff has been drained out?

Thanks in advance!

 

If you're standing and looking down at the engine bay, the transmission is on the right. Towards the front, you should see a dipstick to check the fluid level. This is where you put the new fluid in. Under the car on the same side there is a drain bolt directly on the bottom of the pan. When you drain it, you'll get about 4-5 quarts, or half the total capacity, out. I would measure it before you fill the transmission with clean fluid, that should give you a good idea of how much to put it in at first. T

I believe the 5th gen is set up the same as the 4th gen, if not I'm sure people here will let me know, but there are lots of instructions in the 4th gen forum on how to do this.

 

And a suggestion, for whatever reason the fluid level should be at or bit over the HOT mark on the tranny dipstick. If it isn't you'll start to notice the car getting stuck inbetween shifts at about 4k

 

I removed the trans cooler return line. Then I started the car and let 2 quarts pump out into a container. Turn off car. Pour in 2 new quarts.

Repeat 5 times. Then hook line back up and recheck fluid level. Adjust as required.

 

If you change your own engine oil it's easy to change about 1/2 the ATF. There is a drain plug on the transmission pan and you don't even have to jack up the car to access it.

Let the car sit overnight, that will let as much of the fluid as possible drain out of the tranny. Drain the fluid, it may take a little while with just a dribble running out. Then replace the drain plug gasket and the plug. Replace the same amount that drained, minus a little. Start the engine run the tranny through the gears for a minute, then put it in park top off JUST to the cold mark. Drive around a while to heat it up and adjust level... aim for the middle of the hot range. DO NOT over fill, EVER. You could have a void warranty if you take it in with a problem and the level is over the high mark.

That only gets 1/2 the fluid, the rest is in the TC and cooler. The best way to get it all is to get a power flush at a lube-n-go. Here's a do-it-yourself power flush: remove the cooler return line, idle the engine, run it through the gears, and drain the old fluid into a drain pan from the cooler return line. Refill at the same rate it is running out. It can be messy and little harder but it works.

I have drained, refilled and warmed it up, and drained it again to get about 3/4 the fluid. Wasteful but it works. The best practice is to drain the pan every 10-15K and replace that to keep the fluid fresh; it's so easy, much easier than an oil change actually.

If you have over 40K on it you should also consider dropping the pan and cleaning the fine metal filings that accumulate around the magnets in it. You could then replace the screen, but it's rarely necessary. It's a screen, not a filter, if it should ever clog you have more problems than that to worry about.

BuddyWh

 

I have a 1992 (3rd Generation)Nissan Maxima. I don't know where the drain plug is, but from reading what has already been posted, I am going to look there.

One thing that I still do not understand, is how much transmisson fluid that I put in... Can someone help me on this?

-Evil Twin

 

First off, I have to use this Icon. This is some funny ****.


Question #1
I plan on doin a crappy tranny fluid flush on my mother-in-law's Blazer, and I just had a quick question..
Her tranny's kicking a lil bit going from 1st to 2nd, Will only flushing out half the fluid help it shift well enough to sell it?? I'm jus trying to help her out some, y'know, cus she's a when it comes to anything automotive. Can you feel the resentment??????



Anywho, as far as Maxima- Related stuff, does anyone use and recommend the above procedure to just drain your tranny pan and refill every 15K miles or what-not? And swap your filter every30-45K, I assume? My 2000 I30 has 42K miles, and I'm thinking about doing this.

 

SORRY ALL, nevermind. I didnt see the HUGE sticky for auto trannies. only saw the manual tranny one.

But would still like to know if you recommend the draining fluid every 15K as a good way to maintain.

 

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/335521/3

 

I just finished my tranny flush tonight, after dropping the pan and screen, there was a lot more than 4-5 quarts, more like 6.5 or there abouts. Anyone else get this much fluid from the pan? Dropping the pan is a great idea if you haven't changed your fluid in a while, there's quite a bit of junk stuck to the magnets! I don't think the drain plug needs to be changed, I reused mine. However I did get the 21 new pan screws, greatest thing I did, the old ones were in pretty sad shape.

If you want to drain the pan every 10-15K, why not, it wouldn't hurt for sure!

 

I have a 99 I30 with 107k miles, the atf fluid still looks red, just a little dirty, should i just take it to a local shop and have a drain and fill? would a flush and fill be too risky?

 

hey newb - I'll help you get your post count up. answer a few questions:
1) do you know service history of the trans?
2) does the fluid smell burnt? (like burn toast)

do NOT take it in for a t-tech flush! either do a drain/fill yourself, or do a "fluid exchange" via the cooler return line yourself.

but to answer your question -- yes, you should service the tranny. when in doubt at least do a drain/fill. it takes 10 minutes and only costs $10. personally, I would go ahead with the cooler line exchange. if you're feeling brave you could even drop the pan and clean the magnets (at 107k miles they will be coated in metallic goo).

 

I am looking at an tranny flush but first I checked the dipstick on the hot side i already had warmed the car up for 5 mins i had the gear selector in D then in R then checked again to see where the redness of the fluid was below the hash mark and the color is slightly dirty then the thin line of the fluid was slightly in between the hash mark. Know should i just add and just drive or flush it.
Thanks.

 

whats the cap spec for a 4th gen??

 

I'm in the same boat. Looking to buy a '97 GXE for my daughter. The car has 109k on it and the owner (original) doesn't think it's ever been changed. Good thing is it shifts fine and the fluid smells good and still has a red tint to it. Bad news is there's a leak (I'll post more later). If we do buy the first order is to flush (exchange) out the old and clean the pan. The procedure with the Max looks no different than my other cars. Good thing is it has a drain plug in the pan which makes for less mess.

 

As per what other people have said, put back in as much as you have taken out. That's the simplest approach. I looked in my Haynes manual to find a specific number and here is a direct quote on the amount of transmission fluid:

"The best way to determine the amount of fluid to add during a routine fluid charge is to measure the amount drained." I think the text was suppose to read "change" and not "charge."

So, there you are.

Just a quick tip. If you want to raise the fluid level from the bottom line of the crosshatched area of the dipstick to the MAX line use about a pint. This applies to HOT fluid, not warm/cold. I don't know how much fluid you would need for warm/cold fluid.