has anyone yet had to change there transmission oil filter and gasket? i was wondering because i think mines is starting to leak. i wanted to know if the process is as simple as removing the 12 bolts and reverse the process. thanks.




~1996 Cavalier LS 2.4L (auto)

It is as simple as it looks, but, filling it back up is a little trickier especially if youdont have a dipstick. You have to get the car level (if you have no dipstick) and on the drivers side of the transmission, there is a little plug that you have to pull out, and fill the trans till it starts to leak out of there. Once its there, boom ur done. Just make sure the car is level as possible ( which means you will have to put the car on 4 jack stands or raise the car off the ground with the jack, and leave it there till ur done. Other then that, drop the pan slowely or u will take a bath in fluid bc it will spill out of there. Take ur time also. And make sure you torque the bolts back down correctly. Also, when ur done and the car is back on the ground, start it up, and cycle the transmission (basically take ur selector and move it from R then leave it there, then to N, then to D for a few seconds, then 3 for a few seconds, then 2 and so fourth and so on) then back up the line to park leaving it in each gear for a few seconds. Goodluck! You can download the service manual that will give u step by step precedure on how to do it. If you go to the forums, and go to search, and type in service manual or something along those lines, it will pop up and u can DL it and keep it for urself!

"on the drivers side of the transmission, there is a little plug that you have to pull out, and fill the trans till it starts to leak out of there" I believe the plug is on the passenger side more precisely located by the right side output shaft, about 1-2 inches above and forward of the right side half shaft. located on the right side of the trans, transverse and parallel to the axle shaft, its a 10 or 11mm hex head bolt. Also be sure to have the engine "on" when checking the fluid level.

Luis Baptista wrote:"on the drivers side of the transmission, there is a little plug that you have to pull out, and fill the trans till it starts to leak out of there" I believe the plug is on the passenger side more precisely located by the right side output shaft, about 1-2 inches above and forward of the right side half shaft. located on the right side of the trans, transverse and parallel to the axle shaft, its a 10 or 11mm hex head bolt. Also be sure to have the engine "on" when checking the fluid level.

Oh, thanks for correcting me. Never had to fill one of these transmissions, so I was trying to go off what I remembered in my head from the manual. Opps. Thanks for correcting me buddy.

i had a transmission fluid flush done before and the fill plug in on my drivers side below the power steering pump. i have a haynes manual i will check it out. Yesterday i gave the bolts a little tighten and check today and seems to stop leaking, i was only a small drop of fluid every other day. i hope i fixed it if not i guess ill go with the gasket change. i would hate to loose the new transmission fluid i just had put in not long ago.


~1996 Cavalier LS 2.4L (auto)