Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle Tranny Drain/Fill How-to W/PICS

• Jack
• Jack stand, or suitable support methods (no, a jack doesn't count...)
• 3Qt (or more) Drain Pan
  
• 8mm Allen Wrench
  
  or a T50 Torx bit
  
  
  (will depend on your particular car)
  
• A method of getting the replacement fluid INTO the transaxle. There is a small plastic pump that you can buy made for this purpose..
  
  Autozone, or any parts store should carry them...
  Approx $5.29
  
  

• 3Qts of fluid (The classic tranny cocktail calls for synthetic ATF. Mobil 1 and Redline ATF work well. Yes, that's ATF, as in Automatic Transmission Fluid. Recently, many have tried Redline MTL, which is a synthetic gear lube that matches the specs for this transaxle. Redline will point out that MTL is not recommended for this application, but those that have tried it have said it works better than the other fluids available, including Ford's synthetic "honey" colored fluid. Ford's fluid (part #XT-M5-QS) runs nearly $20/qt, so MTL is quite attractive. Another option is ATF+3, a Chrysler spec'ed ATF that has the friction modifier already in it. It is much cheaper than the synthetics, but will require more frequent changes. In theory, any 75W90 gear oil will work as long as it is not rated GL-5, which contains additives that will damage the internals. GL-4 is the spec to satisfy for fluids.)
• If you choose regular ATF, then you need a half a bottle of "Ford Friction Modifier" Part number:C8AZ-19B546-A
  
  

• Raise and support the vehicle. DO NOT WORK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WITHOUT SOME MEANS OF SUPPORT (other than the jack itself). Jacks are not meant to SUPPORT the weight, only to lift it temporarily.. Failure to heed this warning could result in SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.
• Locate the MTX FILL plug. We want to find the fill plug first, even though it is full (for now). Using either the 8mm allen wrench, or the T50 torx bit, we need to loosen the plug just to make sure it WILL loosen. It would really suck to drain your tranny, then find out you can't put more in!
  The fill plug is located on the forward edge of the tranny as noted in this picture.
  
  You can make out the waterpump pulley on the upper left of the picture, for reference. It is underneath the front bumper, just to the rear of the lower splash shield.
• re-tighten the fill plug (just so no dirt gets in there, though you shouldn't have taken it OUT.. just break it loose.
• Locate the drain plug. It is located on the passenger side of the lowest part of the tranny. You can get a better overall understanding of it (and the entire process) by looking at this picture (source unknown)
  
• Place your drain pan underneath the drain plug, and loosen the drain plug, draining whatever you can from the transaxle. do not replace the drain plug, yet
• completely remove the FILL plug, now.
• Using the pump, begin adding your fresh fluids to the MTX. This is a "fill-till-spill" process, so add fluid until you have reached the drain plug's opening, and begin to lose fluid. (this is why we left the drain plug off!)
• replace both plugs (drain and fill)
• lower the vehicle
• dispose of old fluid according to locally enforced laws.
  

Quote:

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This is a "fill-till-spill" process, so add fluid until you have reached the drain plug's opening, and begin to lose fluid. (this is why we left the drain plug off!)

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Originally posted by pole120:

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thats not what the how-to says...hence my question.

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Originally posted by pole120:

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ray.....can we get a clarification on this??

josh

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I'll take a stab at this...

There is a drain plug and a fill plug. You remove the drain plug, to drain the fluid, and then replace it. You then remove the fill plug and fill the tranny until the fluid just starts to spill out of the plug hole. Then replace the fill plug.