Rev up your engines!
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It's time for scottykilmer.com.
If your car's automatic transmission
is starting to shift radically and jerking,
then stay tuned, because I'm gonna
show you how to fix a transmission that's acting up.
All right, as you can see by this automatic transmission
control computer, modern vehicles
have a lot of electronic computer controls.
So the first thing you want to do
is check the electronics of the transmission,
because it's useless trying to fix mechanical parts
if you have an electronic one.
So check the electronics first.
So start with a good scan tool, and plug it into the dash.
In this Grand Am, it plugs in right under the right leg.
And in this case, there's no codes or bad data.
So there's no obvious electronic problem,
so let's check the fluid next.
And in this Pontiac, you leave the engine running, in park,
on a level surface.
Then check the level.
Pull out the dip stick, and then, wipe the end off
and check it.
Put it back in and pull it out.
In this case, it's up to the full mark,
but it's kind of dirty.
It's supposed to be red and it's black.
So we're gonna change the filter and fluid
and see if that helps.
Now, when you change the filter and fluid in an American car,
since they don't have drain bolts,
it's a good idea to have one of these transmission drains
to put the oil in so it doesn't make a mess.
They only cost about $10.
And here we are under the car.
Here's the bolts that hold the transmission pan on.
We've got to take them all off and then crack it
to get the fluid out.
Be prepared for a giant mess because the moronic engineers
decide not to put drain bolt holes in them
so you can drain it out first.
Now, here's a good tip--
take off the end that's lower.
Since you jacked the car up, it's lower on this side.
Take those bolts off first, and then,
it will start dripping on that side
and it won't make such a mess.
A lot of guys will just loosen that one side and then let
it drip for 10 minutes so most of the fluid's out,
and you won't make such a mess.
That way the drain pan will catch most of the drippings,
and you won't make much of a mess in the driveway.
Then you just pull the pan out, and as you can see,
there's a lot of black crud inside.
Then go back under the transmission.
On the GMs, the filter just pulls right off,
and you replace that too.
Now, here's a tip--
I always use fully synthetic automatic transmission fluid
in cars that have problems because it works better
under high heat.
And in this case, I'm also using Lucas Transmission
Fix because it works great on cars that have rough shifts.
Now, before you put the pan back on,
clean it with some carburetor cleaner to get the crud off.
As you can see, there's a lot of black stuff coming off.
Then, you just get the new filter
and pop it in the transmission.
It just fits in the hole that it came out of,
and you lock it in.
Then, the pan with the new gasket slips on,
and you put all the bolts on.
Now, here's a little trick to fill the transmission up.
You already checked and knew it was full.
So you measure how much came out, pour it in a container
and put that same amount back in.
Just pour it all in and then you know.
In this case, seven quarts came out, so we put seven quarts
back in.
And in it goes.
Now, I know we live in an instant gratification society,
but it's best to drive the car about 250 miles
to see how the cleaner and everything works
before you dismiss it.
Now, if after driving it, it works great, well,
that's fantastic, but if not, then you're
gonna have some serious internal transmission work done
and that's expensive as can be.
So the next time your transmission acts up,
why not try fixing it yourself?
And remember, if you've got any car questions, just
visit scottykilmer.com, and I'll answer them
as soon as I get back from this ride.
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