Transmission drain plug keeps turning - update!

I drained the transmission fluid, and put the drain plug back in but the plug keeps turning. I can’t tighten it or can’t even get it back out. What are my options?

 

to get it out put a screwdriver tip under the lip of the bolt's head and push up on the handle while unscrewing the bolt with a wrench. if youre lucky the pan's threads are stronger than the drain plug's, and you just need a new drain plug. If the pan is stripped then you need a new pan

 

Try prying on it with a mini crowbar while unscrewing it. Keep the downward pressure on while unscrewing.

 

Probably a new pan. You have stripped threads. Try getting a screwdriver under the lip of plug and apply pressure as you try to remove it. Hopefully you have just a stripped plug but I doubt it.

 

Probably cross threaded and damaged the threads on either the bolt or drain hole. I would try to use a pair pliers or get something thin enough between the bolt head and drain pan and try to pull it off. I would then use a thread restore kit rental from Autozone and try to clean up the threads on the bolt and/or drain hole.

 

Dropping the pan is easy as long as there’s no fluid in the pan. Evaluate the drain plug. Clean the rubber gasket and reinstall. Once you get the drain plug out you can run a tap. Hope the threads of the plug aren’t trashed.

 

Thread insert is cheapest solution.

I would remove the pan, clean it and bring it to a shop that can repair it.

 

I’ll keep trying with pushing down with the screw driver while turning. At first try, I dropped my screw driver into the drain pan full of oil. Definitely not my day

 

The drain pug keeps spinning freely. not coming out. I’m dropping the pan. I’ll make sure to keep the hood open so my gf doesn’t drive it off while the pan is out lol.

 

I have the pan dropped - took like 3 minutes easy.

How do I get the drain bolt out of the pan? Or should I not bother and just get a new pan?

 

Just get a new pan. I would not want to take the chance.

 

Push down on it while you try to unscrew it to "encourage" it the way out. Then you can get an oversized plug if you want.

Worse case would be a new pan and bolt.

 

Thanks guys!

I suspect the previous owner or dealer had it cross threaded the drain bolt, and it held until I took it out and put it back in. Ugh!

I decided to get a new pan, strainer, gasket and drain bolt, and call it a day.

 

New pan.

 

Good move. Better safe than sorry.

 

dont forget to take the magnets and put them in the new one !!!

 

Got a new pan, gasket, strainer, drain bolt etc. Installed the drain bolt - it crushes washer at 13 lbs/ft - torqued to 14 lbs/ft. Definitely NOT 21 lbs/ft as book says.

 

Good idea on doing it right, rather than something deciding to let go on the highway... How much was a new pan for reference?

 

Good move OP. Doing shit the right way.

 

The pan was about $90 + shipping