So I've been wanting to do a transmission filter/fluid change in my 03 T&C 3.8L because the tranny seemed a little hesitation in shifting. So I did it last night and snapped some pics and I figured I'd share; I know this is a pretty simple DIY, but there were a few points that might be useful for people wanting to dive in themselves. Here's a parts/price list:
-Filter/gasket set ($9.99 Autozone)
-5 quarts AFT +4 ($25 Coastal, also Autozone)
-10mm socket
-Fluid collection pan
-Hammer
-Flat screwdriver
-Scraper/putty knife
-Rags (bunches)
So anyway, the total cost here is $35 and takes 1.5 hours (I still consider myself an amateur so you may get it done sooner). A lot better than the dealership cost of $150ish, so for anyone who wants to save $115, here goes:
I had just changed my oil so I had the van already jacked up, but I honestly don't think you'll need to do this. There seems to be plenty of room to work with the van on the ground, but I suppose that depends on what sort of pan you'll be using to collect the fluid. Remember that you'll want to warm the transmission up by driving around for 10 minutes or so.
Remove the 14 (??) 10mm bolts. Notice the bulky wiring harness pack right next to the pan. It just pulls out of a hole on the edge of the pan (might take some wiggling etc).
I took all of the bolts out right away because I could not get the pan loose with some of them still in, but it's probably a much better idea to remove half the bolts and only loosen the other half.
Getting the pan off was a little tricky. I used a very small sharp flat screwdriver and wedged it between the tranny and the pan in several locations. Tap the screwdriver in with your hammer and try to be patient...this took me several minutes.
Once you get a couple places worked loose from the tranny, carefully wedge the pan away and the fluid will start pouring out. Hopefully you remembered to put your catch pan down or you'll be lying in a rather large puddle of red stuff that smells like fermented urine. Nice.
Let it drain for a good long while, then take the remaining bolts out and remove the pan. Ew, mine was pretty mucky, but not a huge amount of metal which is good.
Ok, now pop the filter off, it takes a pretty good jerk to get it off.
Now its time to clean the pan and get the old gasket off the pan rim. I used a putty knife, but you need to be careful not to gouge the rim...it didn't give me too much grief. NOTE: You'll need to do the same for the tranny side of the seal, though mine didn't have much gasket residue on it at all.
ANNNNND clean out out the gunky stuff including the magnet to collect shavings...presto cleano! Again, this pic doesn't show the magnet in the pan, BUT DON'T FORGET TO PUT IT IN after you clean it off.
Install the new filter. BE SURE TO PUT THE O-RING ON THE FILTER INLET. This required a surprising bit of muscle to seat in place; you'll hear a distinctive click when it's seated correctly.
Ok, grease the rim of the pan with some tranny fluid and place the gasket over the rim. Then put several bolts through the gasket to hold it in place (you may actually want to put them ALL through the gasket). The gasket is fairly tight and will hold the bolts in place when you hold the pan up to the tranny.
Tighten the baby down! I put all the bolts in till they were snug, then tightened them by half turns in an alternating pattern (like tightening a tire rim) about 4-5 times. The gasket was squeezing out on the sides of the pan slightly but not a whole lot. This part will be much easier if you have a torque wrench and just torque them to spec (somewhere around 120 INCH pounds, verification?), Unfortunately I don't have one...
So there you have it! Voila!
My fill took about 4.5 quarts of ATF+4. Put three quarts in, start the van, put the 4th quart in, then drive it and check the fluid level to determine exactly how much you need. Monitor the pan for leaks after your next few trips...as for me, no leaks, and it seems to shift a little smoother as well.
Should be good for another 30k miles...
Cheers!
-Filter/gasket set ($9.99 Autozone)
-5 quarts AFT +4 ($25 Coastal, also Autozone)
-10mm socket
-Fluid collection pan
-Hammer
-Flat screwdriver
-Scraper/putty knife
-Rags (bunches)
So anyway, the total cost here is $35 and takes 1.5 hours (I still consider myself an amateur so you may get it done sooner). A lot better than the dealership cost of $150ish, so for anyone who wants to save $115, here goes:
I had just changed my oil so I had the van already jacked up, but I honestly don't think you'll need to do this. There seems to be plenty of room to work with the van on the ground, but I suppose that depends on what sort of pan you'll be using to collect the fluid. Remember that you'll want to warm the transmission up by driving around for 10 minutes or so.
Remove the 14 (??) 10mm bolts. Notice the bulky wiring harness pack right next to the pan. It just pulls out of a hole on the edge of the pan (might take some wiggling etc).
I took all of the bolts out right away because I could not get the pan loose with some of them still in, but it's probably a much better idea to remove half the bolts and only loosen the other half.
Getting the pan off was a little tricky. I used a very small sharp flat screwdriver and wedged it between the tranny and the pan in several locations. Tap the screwdriver in with your hammer and try to be patient...this took me several minutes.
Once you get a couple places worked loose from the tranny, carefully wedge the pan away and the fluid will start pouring out. Hopefully you remembered to put your catch pan down or you'll be lying in a rather large puddle of red stuff that smells like fermented urine. Nice.
Let it drain for a good long while, then take the remaining bolts out and remove the pan. Ew, mine was pretty mucky, but not a huge amount of metal which is good.
Ok, now pop the filter off, it takes a pretty good jerk to get it off.
Now its time to clean the pan and get the old gasket off the pan rim. I used a putty knife, but you need to be careful not to gouge the rim...it didn't give me too much grief. NOTE: You'll need to do the same for the tranny side of the seal, though mine didn't have much gasket residue on it at all.
ANNNNND clean out out the gunky stuff including the magnet to collect shavings...presto cleano! Again, this pic doesn't show the magnet in the pan, BUT DON'T FORGET TO PUT IT IN after you clean it off.
Install the new filter. BE SURE TO PUT THE O-RING ON THE FILTER INLET. This required a surprising bit of muscle to seat in place; you'll hear a distinctive click when it's seated correctly.
Ok, grease the rim of the pan with some tranny fluid and place the gasket over the rim. Then put several bolts through the gasket to hold it in place (you may actually want to put them ALL through the gasket). The gasket is fairly tight and will hold the bolts in place when you hold the pan up to the tranny.
Tighten the baby down! I put all the bolts in till they were snug, then tightened them by half turns in an alternating pattern (like tightening a tire rim) about 4-5 times. The gasket was squeezing out on the sides of the pan slightly but not a whole lot. This part will be much easier if you have a torque wrench and just torque them to spec (somewhere around 120 INCH pounds, verification?), Unfortunately I don't have one...
So there you have it! Voila!
My fill took about 4.5 quarts of ATF+4. Put three quarts in, start the van, put the 4th quart in, then drive it and check the fluid level to determine exactly how much you need. Monitor the pan for leaks after your next few trips...as for me, no leaks, and it seems to shift a little smoother as well.
Should be good for another 30k miles...
Cheers!