03 Cavalier Transmission Question

hi guys
ok my dad just bought a used Cavalier, everything looks nice and clean, it looks like it was taken care of..anyway..i went down to look at it when he brought it home, checked everything out..popped the hood, looked at the fluid levels and everything else, for the life of me i couldn't find the transmission dipstick, its a FWD so as i looked in the general area of where it should be..i did see a red cap i think just below the exhaust manifold, now was the dipstick optional from the dealer or what..and if your supposed to check the the tranny fluid while the car is running, how do you and wouldn't you burn your hands on the manifold?..

anybody shed some light here pls?

is it an auto? auto tranny's dont have a dipstick. but if its a 5-speed should be on top of the transmission looking down at it from the engine bay. where it is exactly i dunno.

You can actually check the fluid on those, but it has the potential to become very messy. There is a MM or so plug near the right CV axle on the trans. With the engine running and vehicle level, fluid should just come out of that plug when removed. Many times the fluid doesn't just peek out, it screams outta there making a mess. If there are no leaks, there really is no reason to check the fluid, unless you really feel the need to.

sorry guys its actually an 2002

it is an automatic transmission and from what i've always known, automatic trannys always have a dipstick.

I'm still gonna get to the bottom of this

it is an automatic transmission and from what i've always known, automatic trannys always have a dipstick.


well you learn something new everyday, and today your learning that cavalier automatics do NOT have dipsticks, its true, BUT, if ya want, go ahead and keep looking...

I have checked more than my share of automatic transmission fluid levels without a dipstick. I hate it, but it's the way they designed 'em. Most German automatics don't have dipsticks either. For that matter, most higher end Mercedes don't even have an engine oil dipstick! You actually have to go into a certain menu screen on the dash and tell it to measure the oil level with the engine off. It's just as much of a pain in the ass as it sounds too.

ok guys,thanks alot for the info, and your right, i just learned something new

thanks again