Low tranny fluid=flashing check trans light!

[Triathlete]

Are any brand better than the others for the filter? Here is what checkers has. The fram is available for store pick-up and is hugely discounted.

And don't worry, I knew what you were saying about the "idiot" lights...I rarely take anything TO serious!

[tom4bren]

Billy,

I did a pdf of the ATF change. Lemme know if you need me to send it to you to print a copy to have outside when you do the job.

Tom

[nfpgasmask]

Billy, I am not sure what brand I got. Both times, the filter and gasket came in a thin white box with no markings on it at all. AutoZone just said it is OEM.

Bart

[Triathlete]

Well, the deed is done! Today I dropped all my skid plates, dropped the cross member, dropped the trans. pan and changed the trans. filter. Buttoned it all up and filled it up again. Test drove it and all seems well...will give it a few weeks to see if the CTL comes back on again. All in all this is not a hard job to do yourself with just a few basic hand tools...although if you have access to a lift it would make things WAY easier. Took me about 4-5 hours. Could probably do it in half the time now that I know what to do. I used the Fram filter. Was $40 at Checkers. Filled the trans up with Valvoline Max Life. The fluid smelled like fluid...no burnt smell. It was dirty but not black. There was a bit (maybe 1/18th of an inch) of sludgey metal on the magnet...but I guess for 115000 miles thats not to bad. I cleaned everything up...that is a pretty good size magnet! I'll post a few pictures I took in the morning. I am tired now!

[nfpgasmask]

Good job, Billy. Personally, I noticed smoother shifting after my trans fluid/filter change.

Bart

[Triathlete]

Sooooo, as promised here are a few pics from the filter change job...

The filter/gasket kit. Fram part# FT1170


The new Fram filter




Gasket (comes in kit)


The pan dropped and old filter removed. There are 16 bolts that hold the pan.




The cross member dropped to allow access to the rear 4 pan bolts. There are 3 bolts on each side that hold the cross member on.


Old...dirty filter

[Triathlete]

New filter installed. 3 bolts secure it in place.


$10 pump I used to pump the fluid into the tranny

[nfpgasmask]

Wow Billy, you went the hard way with that hand pump, eh?

Bart

[Triathlete]

Nah, actually it works pretty good.

[Ldub]

Nah, actually it works pretty good.

LOL...that's what I keep tellin' him...

Bart just ain't the hand pump kind of guy...

[CoastieCosta567]

Is everything still fine? cuz my VX Tranny light just turn on flashing a few days ago. I was heading to my buddies house 150 miles from me and i was 50 miles to his house when the light started flashing, so i stopped right there and got it towed to his house and is there right now. The VX feels great and runs and sounds light a champ. the next morning i added some fluid cuz it also has a small tiny leak and rebooted the VX Computer and test drove it and felt really good like it had no prblem and no light came back on. But again it's still in my buddies house and i have not been able to test drive it more and see if it the light comes back on. I did a tranny fluid flush and filter change like maybe 6,000 miles ago, do you guys think i should change it again incase if the shop i took it did a poor job or didn't really change my filter?

[Triathlete]

My light comes on every once and a while. My code is a "slipage" code so I probably have some worn cluthes in there. Still shifts smooth and no foreign noises.
Have you had the code read yet?

[Ldub]

I did a tranny fluid flush and filter change like maybe 6,000 miles ago, do you guys think i should change it again incase if the shop i took it did a poor job or didn't really change my filter?

I would check the fluid level myself...the RIGHT way.

[CoastieCosta567]

No i have not yet, it's still 2 hours from my house won't be able to pick her up till this coming weekend. Thanx Ldub, I have always tried to do the change my self but ever time i try to add more fluid, after like 5 min's running i pour some in and barley get 1/5 of a Qt and the fluids starts coming out and more then i put in cuz the old stuff starts to pour out, and i'm forced to plug it and stop with the process, i have to say this is the 1 thing that drives me nuts about the VX. Can you guys give some tips on how this will work and if starets coming out will it drain all of it and just the extra fluid?

[Ldub]

No i have not yet, it's still 2 hours from my house won't be able to pick her up till this coming weekend. Thanx Ldub, I have always tried to do the change my self but ever time i try to add more fluid, after like 5 min's running i pour some in and barley get 1/5 of a Qt and the fluids starts coming out and more then i put in cuz the old stuff starts to pour out, and i'm forced to plug it and stop with the process, i have to say this is the 1 thing that drives me nuts about the VX. Can you guys give some tips on how this will work and if starets coming out will it drain all of it and just the extra fluid?

If you're following the instructions posted (getting it up to the proper temp., cycling it through the gears, being on level ground, etc), & opening the correct plug (upper fill/check plug), then anything coming out is overfill, & shouldn't be in there anyway.
Look at what is said in the posted instructions (right below where it says "DO NOT OVERFILL") about too much fluid in the system...
If you don't have a thermometer (cheap @ Harbor Freight) lay your hand on the bottom of the pan, it should be warm to the touch, (a bit above body temp) not cool, & not so hot that you can't leave your hand on it.