Well, you all sure amazed me with this discussion. I had no idea. It seems
to me pulling that plug using the normal procedure (with the fluid at 250 or
300 degrees F) would constitute a serious workplace hazard to the mechanics.
But then, I've never seen the plug.

"LeBuick" <UseLinkToEmail (AT) AutoForumz (DOT) com> wrote

Joe wrote:

The fluid is not under any pressure at the plug. So even if it is
slightly overfull....you just let it drain out until is stops flowing
out rapidly. It's located about 6 inches away from the oil
drain plug on most vehicles...so it's not much more effort to
unscrew it and check the fluid level.

Ian

cavalier_man_93 wrote:

The Pontiac Grand Am from 2002-onwards, Oldsmobile Alero from 2002
onwards, Chevy Malibu from 02 onwards, Pontiac Sunfire from '03 onwards
and the Chevy Cavalier from 2003 onwards have transmissions that do not
have dipsticks. The lack of dipstick may actually go back to earlier
model years.

Page 5-19 of the 2004 Chevy Cavalier's owner manual:

"AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FLUID - It is not necessary to check the transaxle
fluid level. A transaxle fluid leak is the only reason for fluid loss.
If a leak occurs, take the vehicle to the dealership service department
and have it repaired as soon as possible. You may also have your fluid
level checked by your dealer or service center when you have your oil
changed."

While nice of GM to think so, even if I went by their assumptions I
don't always have a cardboard or paper layunder handy to slide
underneath my car to detect such leaks (in fact that's kind of rare that
I do have one). So why they decided to remove the dipstick, so that I
could not make sure the transaxle *isn't* leaking, is beyond me. And to
be honest, GM dealers sometimes can't be arsed to check the fluid level
either, seeing as the actual procedure is a royal pain the neck to do
(put the car on a lift, let the engine run to normal operating
temperature, then slowly add a very small amount of transaxle fluid and
wait for a small amount of fluid to leak from a weephole somewhere
underneath the vehicle to let you know the fluid level is okay),
compared with just pulling a dipstick and checking the level that way.





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"Isaiah Beard" <sacredpoet (AT) sacredpoet (DOT) com> wrote

I could do it at home, no big deal, but there's no way anybody would be
doing a procedure like that on the job. That's nuts, poking your finger in
300 degree F hot oil over your head.

Drop the late model. My 96 doesn't have one......


"shiden_kai" <violet_lightening_modified (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

Woody wrote:

No tranny dipstick since '96 at least, wow.

Questions for ya:

1. How many miles?
2. Any tranny problems?
3. Have you done service/had service done on the tranny?

I'm trying to get a feel for what to expect as my cavalier ages.


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Joe wrote:

You don't "poke" your finger in the hole...it's too small. You
add fluid from the top until it runs out the hole. There is no
safety issue here.

Ian

"shiden_kai" wrote:
So let’s picture this, with the motor running and car on a lift you
lower the car and add a small amount of fluid in at the red cap. Then
you raise the car back up and see if it leaks from the plug hole. All
this just to check the tranny fluid level?

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LeBuick wrote:
I guess I'm one of the few that sees the lack of a dipstick as a step
forward. As long as there's no leaks, the fluid's not going anywhere.
And it's not like anyone changes their tranny fluid on a regular basis
anyway, so they may as well make it a sealed system.

Manual gearboxes have not had dipsticks forever... if they ever did.

Although, they could have gone to an "overflow" tank like a radiator
setup...

Ray

....I had a 1985 Cavalier Type 10 Hatchback, 5-Speed...it had a dipstick,
and the transmissiion used 5w30.