3rd Gen Automatic Transmission Fluid Level Check DIY

You can't use a regular bolt, its tapered.

Use a small plumbers pipe wrench, or a large vice grip.

Honestly you can re-tighten it with the same tools and it won't leak.

 

its really hard to grip

 

Yup, I've rounded a few, you just gotta manage. Super tight with vice grip then carefully turn.

 

You can try a slightly larger hex and hammer it in. Otherwise, vice grips and some skill and patients.

 

ill give it another go when i get a chance. if i cant get it myself im thinking of just bringing it to the mechanic and they can get it on a lift and hopefully get it out.

 

I had to use a chisel and hammer..it came Off after a couple hits.

 

I thought you could replace it with the same bolt that drain and overflow plugs use?

 

You can can do that actually.

 

Yup. I meant a standard bolt. Drain plug is tapered as well.

 

Nice write up, thanks OP.

Question on 'level'.

Are there any measuring points on the truck, like wheel well high points, that can be used to measure and determine if truck is level?

Reason I ask, I got a lift on the truck and the rear seems higher than original because of the rake I got with my ome kit, front too but with this lift I'm pretty sure my new rake is different from factory level rake.

What if I put a 4' level on the bedrail, then raised the front end until the bubble centered. Is this the best position to verify truck being level? I say all this because, even our garage floors are not level.

Tia.

 

My experience FWIW and btw thanks op for the great writeup with pics and to all of the other helpful posters!
-2022 2.7 sr 4x2 utility package on a flat carport (bone stock)1200miles on odo (ive been having the shutter feeling while moderately accelerating esepcially after 3rd gear up to 65 mph or so ..it runs flawless in S mode only does this in D
-57 degrees ambient temperature in NC ,took over 20 minutes to get "D" to come back on (warmed up properly)
-drain plugs were exactly like OP pics for the 2.7 and i didnt need to use jumper to get in temp check mode, i used post #230 as reference
-i used not quite a full quart(pump couldnt get every last drop out
-less than half a quart came back out and i drained it until it was a thin stream (it started as a fat stream about pencil thickness then plugged it up when it was like toothpick thickness or less and it was swaying in the breeze )edit*thinking about doing it again without adding to fill plug and letting it drain until its is drips instead of a slim stream
-by those estimations i was approx somewhere between half to 3/4 qt low from factory
-first test drive drives basically the same will keep watching it and bring it up to dealer at 5k service

 

I just placed my order for a replacement plug, should be at my local dealer this week.

 

My opinion, you are now good. No need to check it again sounds like you did a good job just now.

 

Oh, ok. I misunderstood. I grabbed extra bolts to do the swap when I get around to performing this procedure.

 

If you have an angle grinder or Dremel, you can grind two flats on the plug head and use a wrench. Need to be extremely careful not to cut into the pan.

 

what the hell did you do to that plug

 

When I suspect I might have trouble with an allen bolt, I do the following:
-make sure the hex hole is clean
-shock it with hammer
-use the tightest fitting allen socket I have and make sure it is fully seated
-use a sudden snapping motion; not a slow turning motion

 

Can anyone please state the temp ranges to drain with a scantool? I've read through pages with no definitive answer to it.

Thank you

 

You can drain at any temperature.
The level check range is 95-113°F

 

Tried the 'To enter automatic transmission fluid temperature detection mode' per post #230 and am unsuccessful to get to the trans temp.
Any updated procedures for this with the 2021 6 speed trans?