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When it comes to cars, a lot of maintenance requirements tin be handled by yourself. By foregoing a visit to your local mechanic and maintaining your own car, y'all can salvage some cash. Fifty-fifty though some of the maintenance tasks tin be difficult, peculiarly for those people who are mechanically-challenged, learning how to clean a manual can exist a not bad footstep towards becoming a competent do-it-yourselfer.

  1. one

    Warm up your vehicle past driving information technology around for a few minutes.

    • Draining the fluid volition go much faster when the fluid is at least warm.
    • Be careful working around hot vehicle components, specially the frazzle organization.
  2. 2

    Always piece of work on a apartment, regular surface. Place the vehicle in park, prepare the parking brake and chock the rear wheels before raising the vehicle.

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  3. iii

    Use your owner's manual to locate a expert jacking point and enhance the vehicle high plenty off the ground to clear your jackstands.

  4. iv

    Once again referring to your possessor's manual, place jack stands on both sides of the vehicle. Jack stands permit for much easier access to the relevant components. Jack stands are also much more than reliable.[1]

  5. v

    Ensure you have the right fluid for your vehicle. At that place are many types of fluid and some manufacturers fifty-fifty require brand specific fluid. Consult your owner's manual and an automotive parts professional to ensure you have the correct fluid and parts before yous brainstorm.

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  1. ane

    Drain the fluid and remove the transmission oil pan. Position a large drain pan under the manual oil pan and endeavour not to spill any fluid. Keeping the area under your vehicle clean will assistance y'all stay make clean.[2]

    • Look for a drain plug. The drain plug volition normally be a standard threaded plug located in ane corner of the transmission oil pan. Remove the plug and allow the fluid to drain, then reinstall the drain plug.
    • If there is no drain plug, draining the fluid will be a picayune more tricky. Loosen all the bolts on the manual oil pan and then completely remove the bolts from ane side. This will let the side or corner of the pan to drop plenty so that the fluid will run out.
    • After the fluid has drained fully remove all the bolts and brand note of their location. Remove the transmission oil pan. Information technology may need to be tapped loose with a safety hammer.
  2. 2

    Examine the old manual fluid. Wait for anything that seems out of place like sediment or large pieces of metal in the fluid. This could be indicative of a larger trouble, so if you find annihilation, consult a transmission good immediately. It is also a skilful idea to mensurate the amount of fluid drained because this will requite you a expert estimate on how much fluid to replace.[iii]

  3. 3

    Clean the transmission oil pan inside and out. Automatic transmissions are very sensitive to dirt and foreign matter. Utilize a degreaser to make clean the exterior of the pan and restriction cleaner to clean the within and the gasket mating surfaces.

    • Carefully remove all the gasket textile from the manual oil pan and the mating surface on the transmission. A razor bract may be helpful.
    • About transmissions accept a magnet in the pan to grab small metallic particles. Be certain to clean and reinstall the magnet.
    • Clean the bolts that secure the oil pan to the manual.
  4. 4

    Remove and replace the transmission filter. Most automatic transmissions have a filter that traps debris in the system and changing this filter is part of a consummate service.[4]

    • Well-nigh transmission filters are located on the lesser of the valve body and are conspicuously visible once the transmission oil pan has been removed. Wait for the white or yellowish plastic mesh on the bottom of the filter.
      • Some filters merely snap into place or are held on by clips. Pay attention to the location and orientation of the clips. It may be helpful to have a picture earlier removing to use as a reference.
      • Other filters are held in identify by bolts that tin vary in length. Information technology is imperative these bolts are reinstalled in their correct locations.
    • Other transmissions use external spin-on filters that resemble engine oil filters. Remove the filter with oil filter pliers and but tighten the new one by manus.
    • Utilize a little make clean transmission fluid on whatsoever o-rings or seals on the filter as this will brand installation much easier.

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  1. one

    Reinstall the transmission oil pan. Work cleanly, slowly and carefully and this volition be easy.[5]

    • Utilize a light coat of high-tack gasket sealant to the transmission oil pan and and then advisedly identify the gasket on the pan, lining up the holes on the gasket with the holes on the pan. Allow the sealant to set-upwardly a few minutes so the gasket won't shift during installation. RTV silicone is Non recommended for this application.
    • Advisedly reinstall the transmission pan on the transmission and reinstall the bolts. Tighten the bolts in accordance with manufacturer's specifications.
  2. ii

    Raise the vehicle off the jackstands. Remove the jackstands and lower the vehicle.

  3. 3

    Open the hood of your vehicle and find your transmission dipstick. Typically the transmission dipstick is red in colour, while the engine oil dipstick is yellow but always refer to your owner's transmission. The dipstick tube ordinarily doubles as the fill port. Slowly refill the manual fluid, checking the level frequently to avoid overfilling. A long funnel volition make this easier.[6]

  4. four

    Start the engine when the transmission fluid begins to annals on the dipstick. Let the engine idle for a few minutes and expect for leaks. Information technology is a proficient idea to motility the selector lever through all positions also.

  5. 5

    Elevation-off fluid and keep to cheque for leaks. Refer to your vehicle's possessor's manual for verbal instructions on how to check the fluid level. This is very important because some vehicles require you to check the transmission fluid with the engine running and others do not. Following the incorrect procedure may result in an inaccurate dipstick reading. Ensure you're using the right procedure and the level is correct and you're all done!

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Add New Question

  • Question

    What if I have to replace or repair the transmission?

    Community Answer

    The transmission is i of the most expensive parts of your car to repair. Find a reputable shop to requite you an estimate on price, then decide if it's more than cost constructive to do the repair or replace the whole car. As a bespeak of reference, I in one case paid about $3,000 to rebuild the manual in a '99 Maxima.

  • Question

    How practise I clean out the fluid in the torque converter?

    Community Answer

    You would have to take the transmission autonomously to do that. When it doesn't work properly, then usually the torque converter is bad. (The gas mileage goes downwardly and RPMs become upward.) This tin can happen intermittently on the freeway as the torque converter is going bad.

  • Question

    What should I practice if my transmission sometimes gets stuck and revs loftier?

    Community Answer

    The first matter to exercise is change the manual oil. Almost cars use a type of oil which has solvent mixed into the oil. As the solvent evaporates, the viscosity increases and the oil becomes as well thick. On quondam cars, calculation a transmission additive would piece of work groovy in many cases. On a CVT Transmission, doing that would void the warranty. You lot might have a bad transmission.

  • Question

    Tin can I make clean my transmission filter?

    Community Answer

    It depends on the type of filter. Some transmissions use a metal mesh that is not unremarkably cleaned. It is considered cocky-cleaning as a result of being flushed. Some transmissions utilize a disposable filter, and once yous open the cover on the filter, the filter must be replaced, because the filter surrounding seal will no longer seal properly. That type of filter cannot be cleaned. It must be replaced.

  • Question

    Why it is necessary to clean the transmission before dismantling information technology?

    Community Answer

    Because the transmission needs to be very clean on the inside for reliability. That's why in that location is a transmission filter, and sometimes a magnetic servant for metal particles. A transmission mechanic never wears the type of clothing that might leave lint behind, never wears cotton gloves, etc. The outside is cleaned to help prevent contaminants from getting within.

  • Question

    I accept ever heard that changing the transmission filter is a bad thing. It is a bad matter?

    Community Answer

    Changing the filter volition help in maintaining the cleanliness of the fluid. It is responsible for trapping pocket-sized metal filings or other contaminants from the fluid while it moves through the transmission. On older cars, it is not recommended to change the transmission fluid because the clutch plates etc., have deposits of contaminants and debris on them and take worn into running with them in place. If you change the fluid, you may dislodge these deposits, and your transmission will operate worse than earlier! Changing fluid is non going to repair a broken or worn transmission parts. You might endeavor adding Lucas Manual Set up. Bleed equal volume of fluid before adding Lucas. It may help.

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Things You'll Need

  • Jack
  • Jack stands
  • Socket set
  • Bleed pan
  • Brake cleaner
  • Degreaser
  • Razor blade
  • Rubber hammer
  • Replacement manual filter
  • Gasket sealant
  • Transmission fluid

References

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