Draining & Refilling: Draining
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003 GMC Envoy XL, 2003 GMC Envoy, and 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
WARNING:
When the transmission is at operating temperatures, take necessary precautions when removing the drain plug, to avoid being burned by draining fluid.
- Raise and support vehicle.
- Place a drain pan under the transmission oil pan.
- Remove the oil pan drain plug, if equipped.
- If necessary, remove the bolts and position aside the shift cable bracket for clearance while lowering the pan. It is not necessary to remove the shift cable from the lever or bracket.
- Remove the oil pan bolts from the front and sides of the pan only.
- Loosen the rear oil pan bolts approximately 4 turns.
- Lightly tap the oil pan with a rubber mallet in order to loosen the pan to allow the fluid to drain.
- Remove the remaining oil pan bolts.
- Remove the oil pan and the gasket.
- Grasp firmly while pulling down with a twisting motion in order to remove the filter. See Fig 1 .
- Remove the filter seal. The filter seal may be stuck in the pump; if necessary, carefully use pliers or another suitable tool to remove the seal. See Fig 2 . Discard the seal.
- Inspect the fluid color.
- Inspect the filter. Pry the metal crimping away from the top of the filter and pull apart. The filter may contain the following evidence for root cause diagnosis:
- Clutch material.
- Bronze slivers indicating bushing wear.
- Steel particles.
- Clean the transmission case and the oil pan gasket surfaces with solvent, and air dry. You must remove all traces of the old gasket material.