On a rear-wheel drive vehicle, the dipstick is usually in the rear of the engine, above the valve cover. Rear-wheel drive cars will have a transmission fluid dipstick closer to the passenger compartment, while front drive cars will have a transmission fluid dipstick close to the front of the car. This article was co-authored by Mike Parra. You pull the dipstick with the yellow loop. The manufacturer just doesn't tell you this because they want you to spend your money on the overpriced fluids. Pop open the hood by operating a switch and keep it raised at a comfortable height. Park your car on a level surface with the engine running. You need to check the fluid 60 seconds after the cooling fan comes on but before the 90 seconds mark. The first thing you should do in such cases is to check the transmission fluid level. check your book first as not all cars need to be running. To do the job, you’ll just need to collect two products– a bottle of transmission fluid as well as a clean fabric. It should show the engine layout with the locations of specific components, including the dipstick. Leaks Underneath The Vehicle. On other models, you can check the fluid with the engine off but at operating temperature. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. The engine in your 2011 Chevrolet Malibu should be running when you perform a transmission fluid level check, otherwise it will be inaccurate. Some newer vehicles do not have an accessible dipstick or may have a fluid level sensor and should be checked by a professional if the level is suspected to be low. Your car’s owners manual should provide a detailed description on how check your transmission fluid … Depending on the manufacturer, it could be as high as $3500.00. By using our site, you agree to our. If my transmission fluid has bubbles, should I get a fluid and filter change, or does the transmission need to be replaced? to tell you the truth this is the only car I have ever owned that wanted the check done while the engine is off but they are out there. If you suspect leakage but can't see it, place white butcher paper under your car so you can seek the leakage better. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. https://www.wikihow.com/Check-and-Add-Fluid-to-Your-Automatic-Transmission Your car's automatic transmission system is one of several hydraulic systems in your car. Take it to the closest dealership that sells your make of vehicle. Once you have located the dipstick, you can now check your fluid level: Ensuring that your vehicle is in Park or Neutral and that your parking brake is on, start running your engine. You can check your transmission fluid the same way as your engine oil, except the car should be running when you do it. If you'd like to learn more about this all-too-common engine problem, keep reading. Most auto manufacturers will recommend that you check the fluid level every 40,000 miles. The transmission fluid is stored in the transmission oil pan. If you’re having trouble finding the transmission dipstick on your vehicle, or if you’re just not sure what to look How To Check Transmission Fluid - Quick Guide To Check Levels Today This article and video show you how to check transmission fluid on most cars or trucks. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 687,264 times. The transmission fluid can appear to be low in a car that hasn’t been running. Keep your car in park with the handbrake on while you check the transmission fluid. Awesome job guys, keep up the good work. Do not think that the transmission fluid is okay just because it isn't dark-colored. check for leaks and start engine. Add fluid … We suggest that you check your owner's manual, however, since some manufacturers may have a different procedure. Running Low on Transmission Fluid. If it’s running low, you can try adding some and possibly save yourself from an expensive trip to the mechanic. Physically you can add while running; however, the dipstick markings are not calibrated to a running engine. Will the car stop moving without transmission fluid? Quality Auto Repair, Diesel Truck Repair, Brake Service & More, Quality Auto Repair, Diesel Truck Repair, Brake Service, DOT Inspections & More, 8 Bad Driving Habits That Ruin Your Transmission, 2 Important Hondas are unique because they don't need the engine running to check the transmission fluid; although, the engine still needs to be warm, but not hot. Of course, you can look in the owner’s manual for your vehicle to confirm the number of miles. Transmission fluid is an important fluid in your car and needs to be topped up on a regular basis.If your transmission fluid is leaking, it can cause damage to your engine.. Notes. The car must be in the air and level. Look for the signs below to determine if your alternator is going bad and needs to be replaced. Your transmission fluid is what keeps the gears on your car moving smoothly. One of the main fluid compartments of the transmission is the torque converter. Pop the hood and locate the transmission fluid dipstick. Here’s how to locate the dipstick: Step 1: Leave the engine running and open the hood to your car.The car must be warm when you check transmission fluid. Unlike your engine oil, transmission fluid is part of a closed system, so it should never be low. On other models, you can check the fluid with the engine off but at operating temperature. If the fluid is cold, it won't give the proper level reading, thus overfilling will ensue. Ok, now you’re ready to check the transmission. Reference your owner's manual for the proper position of your car's shifter. Pull out the dipstick and wipe clean. Rear-wheel drive cars will have a transmission fluid dipstick closer to the passenger compartment, while front drive cars will have a transmission fluid dipstick close to the front of the car. Do When Your Car Overheats, 4 Convincing You must have fluid in the transmission or it will just burn up and you will need to rebuild the entire thing. That's what my book says. If you see red, oily fluid on your driveway, your transmission fluid is leaking. If you discover that your vehicle has a sealed transmission, you will need to take it to a mechanic with a hydraulic car lift or an underground oil change bay to check the fluid level. For more tips from our Mechanic co-author, like how to determine how much fluid to add, read on! This article has been viewed 687,264 times. So, it is necessary to run the engine and drive the car for a little while and bring the engine up to operating temperature. The color of transmission fluid can tell you a lot about the health of your car's transmission. The brakes in your car play an important role in the safety of your vehicle. These newer transmissions are referred to as “sealed transmissions.” They’re not really sealed, but the design makes it much harder for the average DIYer to check transmission fluid level on a sealed transmission. Pull it out to check the level. Your brakes are key to making your vehicle stop fully. This will enable you to catch a slow fluid leak you may not know you had potentially saving a lot of money in damaged transmission parts. If you look at your owner’s manual it should and probably say to check it warm and car running. Many opt out and pay the shop to do it. Check the fluid with the car running and on a level surface. Whenever you check your transmission fluid, you always want to make sure the car is warmed up since transmission fluid expands when it gets hot. Is Your Vehicle Ready for Winter Weather? Just in front of that, sitting on and connected to the brake master cylinder, is the brake […] If I start up and go through each gear, when I pull out the stick, the entire thing is coated with fluid, top to bottom. If you go to your owners manual, it will tell you exactly how to check the fluid level, including warm-up time, Park or Nuetral, and to be on a level surface. When your brakes are operating as they should, you can come to a complete stop from 60 miles per hour in under five seconds. Here are four things you need to do to keep yourself and your vehicle safe this winter. Be prepared for this emergency by learning what steps you should take if your car overheats. Start your car. How do I add transmissions fluid to an 06 Cadillac 3.6 L? In order to get an accurate transmission fluid reading, you will need to check the level while your transmission is running and the fluid is warm. ", "This article was excellent. Downloading, republication, retransmission or reproduction of content on this website is strictly prohibited. Your transmission fluid is what keeps the gears on your car moving smoothly. Your car's well-being relies on the fluids that keep it in running condition. Alternatively, if the fluid is significantly low, or if it's discolored, take your car to a mechanic to be serviced. What do I do if my automatic transmission won't shift, but it will go in reverse? Last Updated: November 17, 2020 If a leak develops in your transmission system causing you to lose transmission fluid and you continue driving with low fluid levels you can permanently damage your car’s transmission leading to costly repairs, rebuilds or … Wheels can get knocked out of alignment for various reasons. Stop Driving When your car overheats, stop driving it immediately to allow it to cool down. For more tips from our Mechanic co-author, like how to determine how much fluid to add, read on! Should I add fluid when the car is running to top it off? I have a business that sells from Myrtle Beach to Summerville so I am frequently in Summerville. How am I supposed to do this? You can check your car … Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. If I check after the car sits overnight, only the tip of the stick is wet with the red fluid. Overheating sometimes occurs without warning. The only thing keeping all of the very precise parts inside of the transmission lubricated is the automatic transmission fluid, and routinely checking on the level and adding fluid if it is needed is a good practice. How to Checking Transmission Fluid. The same process works in reverse as you slow down. Transmission fluid expands and keeps expanding the hotter it gets. That is a difficult thing to accomplish. Whenever you have your transmission fluid changed, the automatic transmission fluid filter must also be changed. After adding some, wait a minute or so for it to cycle through the transmission, then check the level with the dipstick again. Mike Parra is a Master Mechanic in Arizona. He is ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certified, has an AA degree in Automotive Repair Technology, and has over 20 years of mechanic experience. *Car Care One Card Accepted With Approved Credit. If the transmission fluid is either foamy or bubbly, there may be too much fluid in the transmission or the wrong transmission fluid has been used. If the automatic transmission fluid level does not come up to the "warm" line, you'll need to add automatic transmission fluid. This is a fan requested video that I wish I’d have thought of years ago. 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