How do you check transmission fluid on a car with no dip stick?

Answer 1

Cars that don't have a dipstick have a manual transmission, manual transmissions don't have a dipstick because the "oil" that is used is much thicker than Automatic Transmission Fluid and is generally only changed every 30-60 thousand miles. Alternately if you do have a automatic and it absolutly does not have a dipstick, then you have one of the the new "sealed units" that are designed to be serviced at a dealership. The new "sealed unit" transmissions have been appearing more lately as manufacturing practice moves toward "lifetime" guarantee's or at the very least-"non user serviceable parts inside". In the event that you have a manual transmission-the procedure is as follows:

1. Park car on level pavement-not grass or dirt

2. Set parking brake, block wheels, raise hood and determine where transmission is at in car, if front wheel drive-transmission fill plug will be at top of transmission 4-6 inches behind "bell housing". Fill plugs differ but generally will require either a 3/4 diameter hexagon wrench "Allen key" or conversly will require a "special key" only available thru a dealer or auto specialty tool shop"

3. If car is rear wheel drive, transmission will be along centerline of car-fill plugs on these are on left or right side of transmissission and generally don't require a special tool other than a 3/4 or 1 inch Allen key.

4. After determining what type and location of transmission, one can squeeze under car if room permits or if car is low enough car must be jacked up to permit the use of jack stands-consult owners manual or autoshop for proper placement of jacking points and jack stands-don't work under a vehicle supported only by a jack as this is a recipe for the car to fall on you

5. after locating fill plug, checking oil in a manual transmission is actually a 5 minute task, oil is checked by removing the "oil check plug" located 90 degrees from the fill plug--"only on a top fill transmission", on transmissions that have the fill plug on the side-that is the fill and check plug.

6. remove side plug in transmission, if oil immediately begins to run out then tighten plug back up-you've got enough oil-if oil seeps out but does not run out then continue to remove plug until you can stick a finger in hole-if you can feel oil at tip of finger inserted in hole then you have enough. replace plug and tighten to proper torque specs indicated in "shop manual" not what your "buddy says is good enough"!!

7. As for adding oil, top fill transmissions are easy, with top plug "the one that requires a special key" removed, and the side plug removed, add oil until oil begins to come out side hole, then replace and retorque plugs. As for side fill units, this becomes more complex as the unit fills thruogh the same "check" hole. Many autoparts stores carry a small "transmission fill pump" that screws onto a bottle of oil. This is the item to use as it is the only way to pump oil into the fill/check hole-when oil begins to run out of hole-you've got enough-replace plug and retorque

8. Additional info-make sure car is fairly level and engine is not running, allow time before starting this procedure for exhaust pipes to cool down-exhaust burns don't heal that quickly "trust me on this, i know this one too well". If in doubt about the validity of this procedure, refer to any shop manual for repudiation and Have a nice day and use a pressure washer to clean the spilled oil off your drive way as the wife hates the smell on her shoes!!!!

On a lot of late model Chrysler products the transmission dipstick is a special tool only available to the dealer. You have to take it to them to have the fluid checked.