don't laugh- how do i change trans fluid?

WarHawk5051 said:

Hey guys. i need to know how to change out my transmission fluid on my 98 coupe. i got all of the supplies and i think its the main thing wrong with it. Me and some of my friends got up in under my car one time and we couldn't tell where to start and my auto teacher didn't tell anything.

help me please.........

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automatic? manual?

from how ive done them all
jack it up unbolt pan.


fluid will pour out so have some kitty litter ready

repalce filter


put on new gasket/gasket maker

bolt up

and dump the proper ammount in the trans fluid dip stick.


thats how ive always done mine.

make sure your car has a auto trans fluid dipstick first and you can get a funnel in it.

ive herd some of the newer ones you cant lol.... but i bet yours can.

05horse said:

from how ive done them all
jack it up unbolt pan.


fluid will pour out so have some kitty litter ready

repalce filter


put on new gasket/gasket maker

bolt up

and dump the proper ammount in the trans fluid dip stick.


thats how ive always done mine.

make sure your car has a auto trans fluid dipstick first and you can get a funnel in it.

ive herd some of the newer ones you cant lol.... but i bet yours can.

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i know like what to do. its just i can't find the pan. the only pan that me and my friends seen was my oil pan. we were under it for about 2 or 3 hours looking for it......

it teh only pan attached to the bottom of your transmission its prolly black lol


it may be a case, look on the side of trans for 2 1 inch bolts with no heads just a sunk in square ( a 3/8 ratchet fits perfect )

that maybe how. like on the T5 its on passenger side.


what trans do u have?

05horse said:

it teh only pan attached to the bottom of your transmission its prolly black lol


it may be a case, look on the side of trans for 2 1 inch bolts with no heads just a sunk in square ( a 3/8 ratchet fits perfect )

that maybe how. like on the T5 its on passenger side.


what trans do u have?

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well the only pan we seen was the oil pan. i will see if i can find it but i don't have lift or anything. i used my friend's bay last time and he hasn't been home for a long time. the only thing that is black on the bottom is probably just grease lol

jrglenni said:

If you need some pics, here's a nice write-up.

I changed My ATF Today*Pics* (no 56k) - MustangForums.com

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wrong transmission...

the 05+ V6's have 5r55s 5 speed automatic transmissions. (or 5 speed manual T5's)

94-04 V6 automatic mustangs have 4r70w's.

i've done trans. fluid changes on a few 4r70w's, and 05Horse broke it down for you pretty well;

there is no drain plug, which means you have to unbolt the entire pan (black in color), and try not to spill it all over yourself. i've found it works best if you loosen them all a little bit, and then pick one side of the pan and start loosening it, so as to tip the pan to one side and drain as much fluid as possible before completely bringing the pan down. once the pan is off, you'll see the trans filter, simply pull it off. in the pan is a magnet, clean the magnet as best you can of any metal shavings that should happen to be stuck to it. some people use black RTV for a gasket, some use cork gaskets, there are also other gaskets that are metal with a rubber insert...whatever works for you, they all do a pretty good job. pop in your new filter, install your gasket & trans pan, bolt it up. when putting the bolts for the pan back in, snug them all in finger tight, and then start torquing them from the center working your way outwards. once the pan is torqued down evenly, get yourself a funnel narrow enough to fit into the trans dipstick tube, and fill it up. i *believe* the capacity is somewhere around 4.5 qts; put in 4 qts and then start the engine, shift through PRND21 a few times, then while the engine is idling in nuetral, check the fluid level, and top off as needed. dont overfill it, because i mentioned earlier, there is no drainplug...

Good Luck! :wavey

Hi,
Unless you like getting oil & dirt all over you & the ground I suggest letting a shop do it. Also if your not a good mechanic the pan has a good change of leaking when put back on. Then you have to remove the pan & the "new" fluid again. That's why I had my trans "flushed" & new fluid put in. The pan does not come off & no leak. My Mustang has 170,000 on it & not trans problem.

WarHawk5051 said:

ok. thnx guys. i got it put in the shop to change my oil pump and it runs better. now i will try doing some more stuff to it because i got a job now. i think i am gonna start by putting a new muffler/exhaust on it because i am tired of it sounding like a bumblebee... lol. later!

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Just to let you know, once you get bit by the mod bug it's hard to shake off. I was just goin to put on dual exhaust a while back. . .then came the long tubes. . .then the MAC CAI. . .Then a tunner. . .then the gears and detroit tru trac. . . .then the windstar upper intake. . . . then the short throw shifter. . . H/C/I in February and supercharger next august.

Gl man, let us know how it turns out.