How to change tranny fluid

Mac0485 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-02-2005, 01:54 PM

Hey I had to replace my radiator (long story) and in order to do that i had to disconnect the tranny fluid lines from it. not a whole lot of tranny fluid came out but some definatly came out. I cant find anywhere how to put tranny fluid back in I was wondering if anybody could help me find the part where it goes in. I would just leave it but i noticed a leak because my garage has a puddle and I just needed to check the fluid and refill it. I couldnt find a whole lot because all im reading is that its lifetime fluid and you dont need to change it. well in my case i need to refill it. any help would be great thanks!

Aradaiel · #2 (**permalink**) 12-02-2005, 07:17 PM

On the transmission underside there is a bolt. It's the only place you can get to the fluid. It is the lowest part on the transmission, it looks like a cubic kind of thing. The bolt is located on I believe the passenger side of the tranny, on the side of the square thing. It looks like an oil pan on the transmission, with the bolt on the side.

Fill it untill it starts coming out, but you have to make sure your car is level.

Just for future refrence, you don't need to take the hoses off your transmission cooler. You can leave that on. First time I took my radiator out I took it off and bought new O-rings like the instructions said. The other 3 or so times I've done it I just left it plugged in, and moved it around as needed. I pulled off the alternator intake and whatnot and moved the radiator to get an angle on the bolts holding the transmission cooler on. Undid them and slid the radiator out of the top.

Mac0485 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-02-2005, 09:13 PM

Thanks for the advice im going to give it a try and get this done tomorrow. I wish I would have known i didnt have to unhook those hoses!! thanks a lot though

corwyn · #4 (**permalink**) 12-03-2005, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aradaiel

On the transmission underside there is a bolt. It's the only place you can get to the fluid. It is the lowest part on the transmission, it looks like a cubic kind of thing. The bolt is located on I believe the passenger side of the tranny, on the side of the square thing. It looks like an oil pan on the transmission, with the bolt on the side.

Are you talking about the drain plug or the fill plug?

The drain plug is the thing on the bottom, at the lowest point of the tranny. The fill plug is the thing on the passenger side of the car.

newyorkm3 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-03-2005, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aradaiel

On the transmission underside there is a bolt. It's the only place you can get to the fluid. It is the lowest part on the transmission, it looks like a cubic kind of thing. The bolt is located on I believe the passenger side of the tranny, on the side of the square thing. It looks like an oil pan on the transmission, with the bolt on the side.

Fill it untill it starts coming out, but you have to make sure your car is level.

Just for future refrence, you don't need to take the hoses off your transmission cooler. You can leave that on. First time I took my radiator out I took it off and bought new O-rings like the instructions said. The other 3 or so times I've done it I just left it plugged in, and moved it around as needed. I pulled off the alternator intake and whatnot and moved the radiator to get an angle on the bolts holding the transmission cooler on. Undid them and slid the radiator out of the top.

This is half right. As Corwyn stated, there is another bolt located about half way up the passanger side of the tranny. YOU"LL WANT TO START WITH LOOSENING THIS BOLT FIRST. It is the harder of the two to get to, and break loose. Think about it, let's say you open the lower bolt first and drain your tranny but then for some reason you can't get the top one undone Now you're stuck with a dry tranny and just like poontang, wet is much better. Also, loosening the top one first acts as a bleeder when you open the lower bolt. This will ease drainage. If you're going to do it yourself go with a synthetic like RedLine. Top notch stuff. Here is a helpful link as well. Good luck. http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/dri...ion_fluid.html

corwyn · #6 (**permalink**) 12-05-2005, 05:19 PM

Aw...come on...it's more "interesting" to drain the tranny fluid before you try and open the fill plug.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Ramius

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