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Checking the Fluid Level
To prepare the vehicle:
1. Park the vehicle on a level place.
Keep the engine running.
2. With the parking brake applied,
place the shift lever in P (Park).
3. With your foot on the brake
pedal, move the shift lever
through each gear range,
pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, position
the shift lever in P (Park).
4. Let the engine run at idle for
three minutes or more.
Then, without shutting off the
engine:
1. Flip the handle up and then pull
out the dipstick and wipe it with
a clean rag or paper towel.
The automatic transmission
dipstick handle with this symbol
on it is located in the engine
compartment on the passenger
side of the vehicle.
See Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-10 for more
information on location.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait
three seconds, and pull it back
out again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick,
and read the lower level.
The fluid level must be in
the COLD area, below the
cross-hatched area, for a
cold check or in the HOT or
cross-hatched area for a
hot check. Be sure to keep the
dipstick pointed down to get
an accurate reading.
4. If the fluid level is in the
acceptable range, push
the dipstick back in all the way;
then flip the handle down to
lock the dipstick in place.
How to Add Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine what kind
of transmission fluid to use.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12.
Add fluid only after checking the
transmission fluid while it is hot.
A cold check is used only as
a reference. If the fluid level is low,
add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level up to the
HOT area for a hot check.
Service and Appearance Care 5-19