Helen McGee

My father just passed away, and we don't know what he did with the
manual for the car. We need to put automatic transmission fluid in,
but have no clue where it goes. I've tried googling, but all I can
find is places to buy a manual, or people talking about the
transmission. Help, please!

Patrick

Hi Helen,
Adding automatic transmission fluid (ATF) to a vehicle can
cause major problems if said vehicle is not in fact in need. Also,
whatever you add cannot easily be taken back!
How did you check ATF level? Each vehicle has a specific
protocol to follow. Some vehicles need engine and transmission to be
at operating temperature (hot); vehicle to be running, in gear
(careful now, people have found themselves under vehicle
inadvertantly. Be sure to "chock" wheels or have front wheels against
suitably TALL curb to prevent car from driving away.)
Patrick

Bob Bailin

"Helen McGee" <helwitch@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:aea20bfa.0409181914.2899e523@posting.google.c om...
> My father just passed away, and we don't know what he did with the
> manual for the car. We need to put automatic transmission fluid in,
> but have no clue where it goes. I've tried googling, but all I can
> find is places to buy a manual, or people talking about the
> transmission. Help, please!

As you're facing the front of the car with the hood open, the battery
is in the front left corner. If you look straight down to the right of the
battery, you'll see a short dipstick on the front edge of the
transmission. This is how you check the AT fluid level and also
where you fill it, using a long-necked funnel.

PLEASE, before you remove the dipstick, clean away any
accumulated dirt/sand in the area. You don't want any dirt to
fall into the AT pan, and when you put the dipstick back in,
there's a good chance you'll hit the AT housing first. Use a
can of brake cleaner for the job.

Check the AT fluid level first by driving the car for 5-10 minutes
first to get the fluid warmed up. The fluid on the stick should be
between the low and high marks. If it's below the low mark, add
1 pint of ATF+3 fluid (NOT Dexron III/Mercon) and try again.
Don't overfill the AT! The fluid should be bright red. If it's brown
you should change the AT fluid and the internal filter.

Bob

Helen McGee

larvato@msn.com (Patrick) wrote ...
> Hi Helen,
> Adding automatic transmission fluid (ATF) to a vehicle can
> cause major problems if said vehicle is not in fact in need. Also,
> whatever you add cannot easily be taken back!
> How did you check ATF level? Each vehicle has a specific
> protocol to follow. Some vehicles need engine and transmission to be
> at operating temperature (hot); vehicle to be running, in gear
> (careful now, people have found themselves under vehicle
> inadvertantly. Be sure to "chock" wheels or have front wheels against
> suitably TALL curb to prevent car from driving away.)
> Patrick

We checked it directly after driving the car for about 15-20, within
about 2 minutes of shutting the engine down, and the fluid level was
at the low line. Someone who worked with my father told us that the
gas station up the street from where he worked will check fluids for
free, so we're going to have them check it, just to verify that it
does need the fluid, since all my mom or I have ever dealt with is
stick shifts, and so the whole ATF thing is a bit new to us. Thanks
again, to both people who replied.