04 Grand Prix GT transmission fluid change

Hi. I know this is probably a very dumb question but I'll ask anyway. I just got a jack & stands & am trying to do some basic maintenance. I'd like to drain & refill my automatic transmission fluid. Can somebody tell me where to find the plug, and if there's anything special I might need to know, (other than drain it & refill it from the dipstick)? Thanks!!!

RM

Welcome to AF.

How many miles do you have?

There is no drain plug on the 4T65E autotransaxle unless you install one. You can use a pump that removes fluids via the dipstick tube or just do a pan drop which of course will be messier. Also, after fluid drain the screen filter should be replaced. Also, inspect the pan seal but normally unless there is any leaking or damage you can re-use it.

Thanks for the reply Bob!!


There is no drain plug on the 4T65E autotransaxle..
Well, that would explain why I can't find it! :lol:
I've got about 83k miles on it. It was making some grinding noises when I go uphill and the repair shop told me the ATF was burned & nasty so I had them replace it. That seemed to have made the grinding noise go away. Now, a year later it's doing it again so I thought I'd try replacing the fluid myself.

Bummer that even the '04 and up models are having tranny issues. Sounds like you'd be a candidate to install a pan drain plug. See pic below.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/DSC00018.jpg

I'm afraid I don't see the pic. A plug would be nice, but I don't think i'm ambitious enough to do it myself. I heard somewhere that dropping the pan on this model will only get about 1/2 the fluid out & to get the rest I'd need a power flush. Makes me wonder if it's worth doing this myself or just taking it to a shop.. :shakehead

I would exercise caution getting any type of flush whether it is a power or fluid exchange even with your mileage. Actually on a pan drop you will get approximately 7.5 quarts of ATF out. The total system capacity is 10 quarts. The stuff that remains is what is left in the torque converter that cannot be drained with a pan drop.

It is really up to you. Good luck!

I would exercise caution getting any type of flush whether it is a power or fluid exchange even with your mileage.
Can it cause some kind of damage??


Actually on a pan drop you will get approximately 7.5 quarts of ATF out.
Do you think this is enough to bring the fluid back to a clean enough state to keep the transmission in good shape?

Thanks again for all your help!!

Can it cause some kind of damage??

Yeah, sometimes shops back flush the tranny. Washing all the little clutch particles and metal shavings out of the filter and right back into the valve body of the tranny. Then they drop the pan and change the filter and fill it up. Escentially wiping your butt before you poop.



Do you think this is enough to bring the fluid back to a clean enough state to keep the transmission in good shape?

Thanks again for all your help!!

Yes, this will get most all the fluid out. Like Bob said, you can install a drain plug in your pan, and then two weeks later come back and drain the fluid out and refill with new fluid again. Thus getting more of the initial dirty fluid out. Just an idea....

I know a transmission shop that does valve body cleanings due to someone that had their transmission flushed.GM does not recomend flushing a transmission anyway and it says in the service manual.My father does not recomend flushing a transmission either and some customers ask about doing this.

Contrary to misconception there are times GM does recommended a flush. Our general concensus on this forum is it is not recommended. We've thoroughly discussed the issue many times in the past.

Other than a general concensus in this forum probably not. There have been a lot of horror stories. Some had success with flushes. But first the data should be split or differentiated between what type of flush are we referring to? Technically there are two types performed or even recommended by GM. There are different flush fixtures used by GM dealers, trans shops and the fast lube places. GM only recommends two specific types.

They recommend one brand of fluid exchanger (Wynn Transerve) and one brand of flusher (Kent-Moore). Then on the flushing it was recommended only if there was a transmission failure or problem, otherwise not for routine maintenance. Also, GM only recommends a certain approved flushing detergent to encapsulate fine particles which is used with the real flush machine. The fluid exchanger which is technically not a flusher will not remove particles because it is low pressure and uses the tranny's pump.

I believe the bottom line is this, GM only recommends flushing if there is a problem, otherwise they only recommend a fluid exchange using the Wynn Transerve or similar probably to get all ATF out to include in the torque convertor which is really only for convenience and ease of maintenance.

Most of the flushes ever mentioned are not real flushes but fluid exchange. The fluid exchange doesn't sound too kosher to me and IMO a pan drop consisting of replacing at least 7.5 quarts of the ATF and screen filter is better for obvious reasons.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=554204&highlight=flush+kent

Wow thanks for all the great information guys. You've given me a lot to think about! :smile:

This information should help you:
Pontiac Grand Prix Transmission Fluid Capacity (https://www.transmissionfluidchange.org/pontiac-grand-prix-transmission-fluid-capacity-and-maintenance-guide/)

This is (was) a 16 year old thread. Replying here is not likely of much benefit to the original poster.

This is (was) a 16 year old thread. Replying here is not likely of much benefit to the original poster.
Yes, absolutely. But it may help other people. I got to this thread from google when I was interested in this topic

Granted.