I have a '04 Sunfire with the auto tranny. I'm pretty disappointed that the factory has seen to it to remove any method of checking the auto transmission fluid level.

The owners manual does not contain any useful information on the auto tranny. Eight months ago, my R/H drive axle was leaking, and it was fixed under warranty. The dealer had to add some fluid to the trans to make up for the loss. If this had happened OUT of warranty, there would be no way for the owner to check the level!

Now to my question: The dealer said the auto transmission needs to be flushed at 30,000 miles, and the filter changed at 60,000 miles. No info on this in the owner’s manual. Is this info correct?

Has anyone had this done, by who, and how much does it cost?

The owners manual for my 98Z states that that maintenance is to be done at 5 years or 100000 miles. I had mine done in 2003 at the dealership for about $150. They did a flush and a filter change.



98 Z24

RIP Specks

30,000 and 60,000 sounds like the severe duty maintenance schedule. I'm pretty sure mine tells you it doesn't need serviced until 100,000 miles, if at all, for regular duty. Check the back of your owners manual. I'd still do it more often than 100,000 miles for sure. Mines a 5 speed though, so I haven't been worried about it.


'03 LS SPORT COUPE 5 SPEED black with teal/silver pinstripe

KJRich wrote:30,000 and 60,000 sounds like the severe duty maintenance schedule. I'm pretty sure mine tells you it doesn't need serviced until 100,000 miles, if at all, for regular duty. Check the back of your owners manual. I'd still do it more often than 100,000 miles for sure. Mines a 5 speed though, so I haven't been worried about it.

After your post, I did find the maintenance note when I looked back at 100K miles entry.
Thanks for the clue! I think I missed the "transaxle" entry there the first time.

I'm still pretty disappointed that the factory has seen to it to remove any method of checking the auto transaxle fluid level. I guess we're supposed to rely on faith that the level never drops?

There is a way to check the fluid level, it is just rather involved.

Place the front of the vehicle on jackstands. Have a friend jack up the rear of the car while you hold a level to the bottom of your transmission pan. Once the car is level and secured start the engine up. Move the shifter through all the gears and then put it back in park. While the car is running, remove the check plug located just below the passenger side axle housing. Fill the transmission with fluid untill it starts to come out of the hole where the plug was.

Zach wrote:There is a way to check the fluid level, it is just rather involved.

Place the front of the vehicle on jackstands. Have a friend jack up the rear of the car while you hold a level to the bottom of your transmission pan. Once the car is level and secured start the engine up. Move the shifter through all the gears and then put it back in park. While the car is running, remove the check plug located just below the passenger side axle housing. Fill the transmission with fluid untill it starts to come out of the hole where the plug was.

yup thats it......i do trans services at about every 30k.....

Auto trans fluid doesnt just go away. You can check the level of a car with 1 mile on it and the same car at 100,000 should have the same amount of fluid.

I can explain why GM did that for, but first I must explain a few other reasons for it all to make sense.

Trans fluid dipsticks have an ADD and FULL mark, anywhere between ADD and FULL is good. It doesnt have to be at the full line or at the add line.

Customers and most people are stupid. You have heard how many dumb things people do their cars. A guy in CA this summer drove his car into a lake to cool off the tires.

GM uses very special detergents in their trans fluid to make it last 100k like the manual says.

Now NAPA sells trans for say .89 quart, and it isnt as good as the GM fluid with the speical detergents.

Now if some idiot pulls out the dipstick seems it between ADD and FULL and goes to NAPA. He will buy the cheapest junk there is to buy. The fluid from NAPA isnt as good as the stuiff GM put in there.

Now we have crappy fluid mxied with GM fluid. Now the trans must be flushed, the special detergents are now wrecked.

But does the owner know that? Nope so he will drive it that way. Till 100k, and then get it flushed.

Well normally manufactures say 30,000 flush it out. But GM says 100k. GM says 100k with their fluid, but this guy had seom NAPA and it containmated the whole system. So actually this guy went over three times longer than he should have gone.

Trans will fail eariler, people will get pissed and not buy GMs.

Thats why it was done the way it was.



- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

One of the best features of any GM vehicle is their
4 speed automatic transmission.

Unfortunately, GM decided to use it as a 'selling point'
with the promotion that it was maintenance free for
100,000 miles. Of course, there was the reservation
about severe service.

GM should be ashamed. They're merely trying to sell
cars. An automatic transmission has wear particles
and gradual degredation of lubricant.

Most any transmission repair shop would be glad to
explain what proper maintenance schedule should
be followed.

A new transmission with installation is too costly
to risk going by GM's sales gimmick.