How To Change Trans Fluid on a Holden(PIC HEAVY)

[Jeremie]

Thought i would bring this over, i made this on another forum im on, (JustCommodores)
I realise these are not called Holdens in america but hey im aussie so 😛

Hello forum,
Once again I have made a new How To, Partly because I’m bored, Partly because I like being helpful.

Ok so if you have looked at your transmission fluid on the dipstick and it looks a little dark then it’s probably time to change it.
According to my manual it says this should be done once a year.

I was quoted by a mechanic $160 to get my transmission serviced but i managed to get all the parts from Supercheap Auto for just 70 bucks therefore saving myself around $90.

So this is what you are going to need from the store.

– 5 Litres of any Dex III Auto Trans Fluid
– A funnel (if you don’t already have one, The fairies hid mine from me so I bought a new one.)
– As for the filter kit, you can either get the Ryco RTK2 kit, which is what I was after but as Supercheap Auto nor Repco had it I bought this Transgold kit from Supercheap.

The kit includes,
– Filter
– Gasket
– filter seal

Ok so first you need to jack up your car, making sure that you are on flat ground first.

If your car is too low to fit a jack under its a good idea to drive onto some wood planks first so you can fit the jack under.

Jack up the rear of the car from the diff.

Then place the jack stands like so

Now jack up the front from here

And place the jack stands in the appropriate position.

I placed the jack back under the diff as I didn’t trust the stands I used on the rear. I have seen them crack before.

These ones are much more solid.

OK! That’s enough of he basics.

Once the car is nice and safe get under and start undoing the 13mm bolts surrounding the entire Trans pan.
I took out the front ones first, then the 2 sides leaving the rear ones in while the pan drains a little

HINT: wear safety glasses now as you are about to get covered in trans fluid

This is the trans pan

This is how dirty mine was. :

Once you have drained the pan clean it out with some old rags.
Cover it in degreaser and keep scrubbing.
Make sure you take the little black magnet out and give that a nice clean.
Once you are satisfied rinse it off and allow it to dry.

If you’re doing it as good as me it should look like new.

And here is what it looks like under there with the pan off.

[Note: The filter has already been removed in this photo

While your pan is drying replace the filter, it simply pulls out.
There is the seal right on the other side. It can be a real pain to remove. I used a little hook tool to pull it out.

Comparison of new and old filter.

Shove the new seal in and the new filter in also.
Make sure the filter ‘pops’ in correctly. I found it can take quite a lot of force to do this.

Filter in

Now if your pan has dried put the gasket on it. If your gasket had come in a small box like mine did it is a good idea to put it under a heavy book for a while so it sits right when you put it on the pan.

Now lift the pan back into place and start putting the bolts back in, making sure the gasket stays seated correctly.
Don’t tighten the bolts up to much or you will wreck the gasket. Just hand tight and then a bit more.

Now put 4L of the Fluid into the same place you check the trans fluid.
Here

Once the 4 L is in drop the car back onto the ground.
Do a quick check with the dipstick to see if there is at least some fluid on he stick.
Start the car IN NEUTRAL, making sure the handbrake is on. Now check the fluid again as it will have dropped, you should need to put another Litre in ( 5 Litres total ) Once its on the cold mark on the dipstick take the car for a drive to warm it up.
Check that the lvl is in the HOT section of the stick when the engine is indeed hot.

I had to add another Litre and a half as Mine was leaking prior changing as the gasket was screwed.
This is also the reason I didn’t drain the fluid out through the Trans cooler.
Otherwise there is other methods for getting all the fluid out.

But this is an adequate way to do it at home and save yourself around 90 bucks.

The car feels much smoother throughout the gear changes now

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