I just bought this minivan, and want to do a transmission flush. I've found that the left hand line entering the transmission when viewed from the front, and nearest the engine is the correct one to disconnect.

Before I use a wrench, I'd like to know if this is a standard connector, or there is a special tool or technique to disconnect it. I'll place it in a milk jug and start replacing the oil as its pumped out.

The big question is exactly how is the line disconnected from the transmission?

 

You pull back the plastic retaining ring, then use a pick or a special tool to release the spring clip and the line will pull straight out. I happened to have a lock pick that fit in there perfectly to release the clip, but they can be a bit tricky to do. Unthreading the fitting will cause leaks and possibly damage the o-ring or the threads.

Assuming of course, that yours has the retainer clips and not just hose clamps.

 

I'm attaching a marked up photo to be absolutely clear that I don't foul up this transmission flush job. The arrow points to what I think is the plastic retaining ring, that you pull out of the way and use a pick to release the spring clip?

I was going to unbolt the fastener, but apparently not.. just the end piece comes off to make life more complicated.

 

Yup, that's the ring, it slides back along the metal line, then you can see inside there will be a somewhat difficult to access clip that doesn't release with standard fuel/ transmission line tools. Like I said, I had to use a curved end lock pick to release mine. Be very very careful with that clip since it cannot be obtained separately.

 

Thanks a lot. I'll work on this next week.

 

I haven't had to remove one of those lines yet. It does intrigue me that the lines can swivel so easily at the transmission connector, yet don't leak at all.

 

There is just a flared fitting that presses up inside and against an O-ring inside the housing. Fluid pressure pushes the O-ring tighter into place and the locking clip keeps the line from pushing out of the fitting. It's a pretty clever design, so long as all the surfaces are nice and clean and the O-ring is still flexible it seals up great. The O-ring they use in there seems to have a long service life, and the plastic dust/dirt cover seems to do a good job so IMO they are a pretty great solution. I just wish they had used a different clip and housing design that you could use standard tools on.

 

I haven't done the job, as I wanted to be absolutely clear so I would not damage the fitting. I found a scissors tool when I was looking around the local Harbor Freight tools. It appears to be the missing link so that once the rubber ring is slid out of the way and the safety clip removed, the device compresses the internal springs so that the line slides out.
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece...set-38732.html.

Is that reasonable?

 

You could try, and if gentle you are unlikely to damage the fitting in any way but I am not sure if they will work.

I was told standard disconnect tools would not work on them when I was asking for advice, although I also felt that they might, hence my use of a pick to remove the clip.

Just another caution in case it hasn't been said enough times already, be absolutely sure not to let that clip fly free and become lost as they are not available separately.

 

I'll work on it and let you know. Thanks for all your help.