OK, I changed the fluid & filter plus did rear band adjust, but I let the tranny drip for almost 3 days after I put on the new filter cuz some other stuff came up.

After finally putting the pan back on, I followed the Haynes manual which said to do the following: add approx 3.5 qt. (I did 3.75 cuz of the extended drip time), then start it, hold it at a high idle, then move the gear selector through all gears, then check it while running and if the level's between the 2 dimples (more like 2 small engraved circles) on the dipstick it's good. It then said to drive it and to check it again while the tranny's hot and get the level into the hatched area (while in N). This a.m. when I went to drive it for the first time, I let it warm all the way up, then backed up my driveway (no problem), put it in drive and it didn't move. After about 15 sec, it went into gear and I slowly drove a few feet and decided to turn around and check the fluid. It barely registered on the stick. What happened? Could I have drained about 5 qts? I'm gonna add more, but did I do any damage trying to drive it even for a short distance?

 

Maybe someone else will chime in, but I am pretty sure it takes more than that with a filter change. Try adding maybe 2 more then check it to get it up to level. When I changed mine it was like almost 6 quarts.

 

Mine takes about 7 quarts after a fluid change and filter. Just add more, you didn't hurt anything.

 

OK, but I found a sticky on here that said 4.1 qt initial fill after change, but I guess that's if the pan gets put back on right away.

thanks, guys.

 

5-7 qts depending on how much you let drip I guess.


Just put more in and watch it.

 

Same here.

 

me too. Haynes manual is wrong.

 

I think the problem here is a misunderstanding about what the Haynes manual is saying. The key word here is "initial". In the case of the manual, its simply stating that you should add 3.5 qts as a starting point to run the vehicle in order to get a proper reading and then add more as necessary to bring it up to the proper level.

They are not saying nor is it even implied that 3.5 qts is all that is necessary after a filter/fluid change.

 

But, it does imply that 3.5 quarts should be enough to drive it as long as the fluid is between the dimples (mine was) after you initially crank it and rev it up a little. And yest, it does go on to say check it after driving it and the transmission is warm. NOTE: It also says to add 3.5 qt after only changing the park/neutral switch and I know that's wrong (probably more like 1 qt).

Also, when I went to Autozone to get more ATF+4, I asked them to look up how much and they also said 4.1 quarts (same as what's listed in the sticky on this forum).

 

Two things:
Autozone sucks ***.

You can get ATF+4 at walmart for $4 a quart.