How to change transmission oil

[Paradox]

Wanting to change my sonic's trans oil, I have the auto trans. I have had problems with my transmission from day one, slips badly when it's cold out and rough shifts 2-3 3-4, hates stop and go traffic, and whenever I let off the gas pedal in any gear going down a hill and hit the gas again, revs anywhere from 2.5k-3.5k to find the gear. Hates when I slow down for turns stays in 5th gear even though i'm going 20km/h and of course I have no power because it's in 5th gear=700 rpm car shudders and struggles. Anyways just wondering if there's a write up on how to change the auto trans oil, can't find any threads.
Are there any recommendations on the type of fluid?

On a side note, is there a service manual for the sonic now?

Cheers:banana:

 

[SPOTWORK]

How many miles are on your car?

 

[Paradox]

How many miles are on your car?

20k miles.

 

[Paradox]

SPOTWORK just realized you live in vancouver, where abouts? I live in burnaby.

 

[sx sonic]

Have you tried the dealer, sounds like you might need a trans update.

 

[Paradox]

Have you tried the dealer, sounds like you might need a trans update.

Hey sx, will it effect my trifecta tune?

 

[SPOTWORK]

Just moved to Langley, its nice to see Sonics are getting love up here from other people lol, 20k isn't a lot how does the fluid look/smell?

 

[ColonelPanic]

Don't remember seeing a howto on here yet for the automatic...

But it kinda sounds like the problem may be deeper than just needing a fluid change. 45k is the severe ATF replacement interval, if yours is trashed at less than half that something sounds terribly wrong.

 

[Luv2xlr8]

I have the exact same symptoms you just described. Have you been driving my car? Lol

I'm going to assume you have the 1.8 auto? If so, that's what I have.

 

[Paradox]

I have the exact same symptoms you just described. Have you been driving my car? Lol

I'm going to assume you have the 1.8 auto? If so, that's what I have.

Ya 1.8 auto, drives me insane, if i don't go into manual mode first thing in the morning especially now when it's cold out, it will easily rev to 3-3.5k before shifting and on a cold engine that just pisses me off... compared to when its warm at same throttle position when it's warm it shifts at 1800-2k rpms. When I do go into manual mode and shift up where it normally does it just slips badly. revs are really high for the gear, and eventually it catches on.

 

[Luv2xlr8]

You and I have the same problem, I wait until I reach at least 120f on my ultra gauge before I start moving. Now that it's soo cold, when I get into the car it shows 36f my engine. Today it was minus 29c with the wind chill, car took to long to warm up.

 

[CarrollComputing]

Its really easy

I replaced mine a while ago. The type of fluid is in your manual. I went with full synthetic and it has made a world of difference. Underneath of your car you will see a bolt on a large square metal thing (transmission) which is NEXT TO YOUR ENGINE. not behind like you would think. Drain it out and the cap is under your hood to fill it. it is not in your manual but its like a gear with water in it. Measure how much comes out and put the same amount back in and your done!

 

[Blue hedgehog]

I replaced mine a while ago. The type of fluid is in your manual. I went with full synthetic and it has made a world of difference. Underneath of your car you will see a bolt on a large square metal thing (transmission) which is NEXT TO YOUR ENGINE. not behind like you would think. Drain it out and the cap is under your hood to fill it. it is not in your manual but its like a gear with water in it. Measure how much comes out and put the same amount back in and your done!

That sounds good but what if you were low on fluid? Now your still low on fluid. There has to be a level plug or a specified refill capacity.

 

[trollbait]

That sounds good but what if you were low on fluid? Now your still low on fluid. There has to be a level plug or a specified refill capacity.

If it had been an HHR, the 'drain' plug would have been the level plug. Fluid would gush out if the engine wasn't warmed up and running.

 

[Blue hedgehog]

If it had been an HHR, the 'drain' plug would have been the level plug. Fluid would gush out if the engine wasn't warmed up and running.

Either way its not how it's supposed to be done.