Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Getting ready to change ATX fluid myself - need advice

Hi,

Last year i had my transmission flushed in a shop. Now it start to shift rought again and fluid looks dirty - so i am thinking to change a fluid myselft. As i read here there is not much to it.
So can you please do a sanity check on my plan ? And clarify some quesstion to me ?

1. Jack the car
2. Put a container for old fluid and remove the drain plug.
3. Wait for fluid to come out (5 minutes ? )
4. Pour new fluid in the ATX dipstick hole.
How much fluid do i need ? How i know when i am done ? Will Valvoline ATX mercone 3 fluid work ?
5. Srart the car and check the level with engine runnning and car in park.
6. Repeat next day.

And another question - is this thing an ATX drain plug:

dont forget to put the plug back in :p

but other than that i dont know jack about it, i should probably change mine too

Yeah, its about right, but its best if the fluid is at normal operating temp since it will drain better and also has some of the contaminants in suspension.
You will need about 4 to 4.5 quarts of Dexron III/Mercon fluid. Wrap the plugs threads with Teflon tape also.

A better way to change the fluid is to remove the tube ehere it goes into the radiator from the transmission to cool the fluid. Put the end of this tube into a drain pan. Start the car and let the old fluid drain out. At the same time it is draining, fill the he tranny with new fluid through the dip stick hole. You need to be careful to fill at about the same rate it is draining. When clean fuid is clean coming from the tube you are done. Reattach the tube to the ratiator. This method changes most of the fluid. The method of draing the tranny through the drain plug only changes about half the fluid. The fluid in the torque converter stays in the transmission. Hope this helps.

Some more answers for your questions:

3. Wait for fluid to come out (5 minutes ? ) - It'll still be drooling out after a half hour. Do it warm and let it drain for at least 15 Min.

6. Repeat next day. - You can just run the car for a 5 minutes or so and run the tranny up/down through the gears. Drain and refill.

And another question - is this thing an ATX drain plug: - Thats it! A 3/8" drive socket wrench extension fits into the hole perfectly.

Thank you guys for your replies - now i fill better about doing this.
I think i try to do drain and fill method - i barely found a drain plug, i have no clue where is radiator<>transmission link.

i drained it and put 4 quarts and now dip stick level shows to much - i haven't start it yet. You probably ment 4-4.5 quarts for two drains\refills - 2 quarts - for each drain\refill cycle ?