Auto Fluid, how to check

AUIIISR · 04-07-2007, 08:00 AM

I have a AU3 Falcon, im think that my Auto may be low on trans Fluid as it bumped into "safemode" the other day, but I dunno where im looking to check it..... any help will be appreciated

**Mechan1k** · 04-07-2007, 08:48 AM

undo the bolt on the driver's side of the transmission ... and stick your finger in to see where the fluid is. Not kidding .... it's the only way of checking it.

It doesn't take too much for the fluid to drop to low ... a handpump is needed though to get new fluid in there.

When was the last time the auto was serviced????

AUIIISR · 04-07-2007, 04:34 PM

Ive had the car since it had 75000 on it, only got 107000 now and it hasnt been checked since ive had it, Ive had same problems in other cars and I no for sure that it has to be a little low. A guy I work with has the same problem as well with his AU

**Mechan1k** · 04-07-2007, 04:39 PM

I try and make it a habit of doing an auto service every 20,000km on my ute ... but it does get used a bit ... but i have replaced the auto with a rebuilt one ... and they aren't cheap at all to do ... so the $150-$200 for an auto service every 20K-30K is money well spent for transmission longevity.

Winter time really shows when levels are low ... especially cold morning when the transmission doesn't like holding Drive from initial start up till fluid gets warm and pressurises.

Also older fluid breaks down over time as well and doesn't work as well as fresh fluid does.

Put it this way ... I had my Territory trans fluid checked at 60,000km ... and it looked fine ... I had it replaced at 75,000km as the shifts felt a little sloppy ... fluid still looked cherry red though .... but with new fluid in and a new filter in as well ... the shifts were more positive and it drove a lot nicer as well. I will be doing the auto fluid more often from now on though ... just for piece of mind.

mik · 04-07-2007, 08:53 PM

you can also gravity feed some into the auto, i got some clear plastic hose (a couple of metres) and a funnel from the hardware and taped the hose and funnel to the drivers side mirror its a little slow but effective, if your doing an oil change at home its much easier than laying on your back with one of those little pumps, i had a bit of auto trans cooler pipe with a bend that i shoved in the other end to stop hose coming out, works like a bewdy.

DoreSlamR · 04-07-2007, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mik

you can also gravity feed some into the auto, i got some clear plastic hose (a couple of metres) and a funnel from the hardware and taped the hose and funnel to the drivers side mirror its a little slow but effective, if your doing an oil change at home its much easier than laying on your back with one of those little pumps, i had a bit of auto trans cooler pipe with a bend that i shoved in the other end to stop hose coming out, works like a bewdy.

I tried that when i fitted my transmission cooler, hooked the bottle into the top cooler pipe and squeezed like buggery and it didnt work...i'm trying to remember if when i got my auto rebuilt and strengthened if they said they pressurised the oil??

AUIIISR · 05-07-2007, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

I try and make it a habit of doing an auto service every 20,000km on my ute ... but it does get used a bit ... but i have replaced the auto with a rebuilt one ... and they aren't cheap at all to do ... so the $150-$200 for an auto service every 20K-30K is money well spent for transmission longevity.

Winter time really shows when levels are low ... especially cold morning when the transmission doesn't like holding Drive from initial start up till fluid gets warm and pressurises.

Also older fluid breaks down over time as well and doesn't work as well as fresh fluid does.

Put it this way ... I had my Territory trans fluid checked at 60,000km ... and it looked fine ... I had it replaced at 75,000km as the shifts felt a little sloppy ... fluid still looked cherry red though .... but with new fluid in and a new filter in as well ... the shifts were more positive and it drove a lot nicer as well. I will be doing the auto fluid more often from now on though ... just for piece of mind.

I may have lied, i went through the service history n it has been done before, I'm ringing up and getting it booked in next week and get it over and done with, may as well get the Shift kit fitted whilst its in the shop as well

:

mik · 05-07-2007, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoreSlamR

I tried that when i fitted my transmission cooler, hooked the bottle into the top cooler pipe and squeezed like buggery and it didnt work...i'm trying to remember if when i got my auto rebuilt and strengthened if they said they pressurised the oil??

perhaps there was an air lock doing it through the oil line, i have found gravity method very easey.