Checking your transmission fluid used to be as easy as using a dipstick, but these days it’s a little more complicated. In this video, Pat Goss explains why it’s not really a do-it-yourself job anymore.
Video Transcription
How do you check the level of the transmission fluid? Well, for all of those of you who are used to the old school where you had a dipstick, forget it! No more dipsticks these days. The majority of transmissions do not have a dipstick. The way you check the fluid level can be very complicated. In most all cases, it requires a scan tool to interface the computer on the car to look at certain temperature readings. Then, there is going to be a plug in the center of the pan on the bottom of the transmission that has to be removed to see if fluid runs out. If fluid doesn’t run out, then you have to add fluid to it until it does, but this all has to be done at a certain temperature, so not really a do-it-yourself operation anymore.
