albert88

Hey everyone I just bought a 97 CL 2.3 4 speed auto. It's got 170K miles but it's been kept in unbelievably good shape. I need some questions answered about the tranny - I'm heading to the dealership to pickup some ATF..

1. Where can I find a guide to drain and refill the tranny? I don't know if the car needs to be on while I'm draining, how much will drain, how much do I put back in (I know it's 3 quarts but will all 3 quarts come out when I open the drain plug?)

2. Can I fill fluid through the dip stick for the tranny?

3. Do I check the fluid level for the tranny while the car is running and fully warmed up?

Does anyone recommend any additives? I feel like the tranny holds 3rd gear a bit too long sometimes.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Searching around will help you find a lot of answers to these questions, here's a pretty good thread

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...y+fluid+change

You don't want to fill through the dipstick, there's a bolt on top of the tranny 17 mm I believe

Check fluid while car is off

albert88

Awesome thanks. Is the tranny drain and fill a DIY project for someone who's never done a tranny fluid change? I read so much about the tranny problems, I'd hate to ruin this.

OttaWacK

Search is good.

But for the 2.3, I thought you filled through the dip stick. 3.0 you fill through that 17mm bolt. I might be wrong.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

I don't know for sure since I have the 3.0, but I thought the 2.3 had a bolt as well

The drain and fill isn't bad for a diy, I had to do it in a parking lot on a road trip, when my tranny seal was leaking, I had to stop in VA and fill my tranny, took like 5 mins

albert88

Will I get banned if I give my vin number on this thread for someone to run me a carfax?

albert88

Should I empty the tranny fluid while it's hot or first thing in the morning?

big1128z

What year is this car? There is service information on a 97' 2.2L but 2.3L was supposedly only available in the 98' and 99' models.

big1128z

Drive the car to operating temp (Untill the radiator fan comes on). Turn the engine OFF! Make sure the car is on level ground and in PARK. Then drain the fluid through the 18mm plug. Make sure to replace the o-ring on the plug as well or you will risk leaks. If you want to flush the ATF then that will require lots of ATF fluid and another post.

mitch14

^probably won't get banned, but that request is not tolerated here anyways

albert88

I jacked up the car to change tranny fluid but there is no 17 mm bolt for draining the fluid. I saw another kind of thing, one that needs a big allen type screwdriver to open and is round. Any ideas guys?

jahnemann

i was talking to a mechanic about three days ago and he said it was never a smart idea to do tranny fluid changes on high mileage automatic transmissions. i think you should look into that before you do anything to your car, cause you might f#*k it up. hopefully not though! good luck!