How To Change Transmission Fluid

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Below is a step-by-step guide for changing your transmission fluid, from start to finish. Before attempting to change your fluid, you should:

1. Check and make sure that you have choked the wheels of your vehicle, so as to prevent your vehicle from rolling.
2. Raise up the front of your vehicle with a jack, high enough that you can get underneath and work comfortably. (Transmission fluid is
3. Find the bolts that are holding up your transmission pan. You will have to find the proper size of Socket to remove the bolts and drop the transmission pan.
4. Then start by removing all of the bolts except the corner bolts.
5. The transmission pan will be completely full of fluid, so you will have to use a 6-10 quart drain pan. This is to prevent the fluid from spilling on the ground.
6. Loosen the remaining corner bolts and place the drain pan under the end of the pan that will remove first.
7. Remove either the front corner bolts or the back bolts and catch the fluid and drain as much as you can before completely removing the transmission pan.
8. Place one hand underneath the transmission pan while removing the remaining bolts.
9. Slowly lower the pan to the ground and place the pan out of the way, so as not to spill the remaining fluid. (Look up at the bottom of the transmission, you will see a filter hanging in place, it's just held on loosely by a rubber grommet.)
10. Gently pull down on the filter, and remove it. (When buying a new filter, it is a good idea to take the old one with you so as to buy the proper filter for your car)
11. Take the new filter out of the package and place it in the same location where you took off the old one. (Be sure that the rubber grommet is in place on the new filter) Place the filter in the proper location on the transmission and push up firmly so as to get it in place.
12. Drain old fluid out of transmission pan, completely.
13. Replace the pan bolts, corners first.
14. Then put in the remaining bolts all the way around the pan.
15. Use your socket and ratchet and tighten the bolts one across the pan from the other until all the bolts are snug.
16. Replace transmission fluid as recommended in your owners' manual.