2005 sunfire transmission flush

[zero_gravity]

thanks in advance for any advice with this. to start, i am very mechanically inclined and do a lot of automotive work in my spare time - but haven't really worked with many GM cars. never a sunfire. i admit, not my car but trying to help out a good friend.

long story short: found a leaking axle seal and trans is around time to service so we figured might as well hit both at once. the car is a 2005 sunfire with the 4 gear auto.

from what i've seen, pan is dropped (or tipped i guess) to drain the oil from the trans sump, filter replace, and the filled via the plug on the top of the trans....having it jacked up LEVEL the oil is checked by removing a small plug and watching for fluid weeping out. hole being the correct level.

here's my questions:
- normally when doing this job, i will pull the line to the cooler to flush out the rest of the fluid (torque converter, etc). how do you guys normally do this? some cars the method has been to bleed the fluid off with the trans in neutral and someone turning the car on and off. once it stops flowing smoothly, stop car and refill. i've also done the method of bleeding 1L at a time and refill to avoid draining the pump down...different cars, so different methods. what do you guys do?

- with regards to checking fluid level, is this done while car is hot or cold?

- simply to confirm what i've found, this trans uses dexron 3....?

- anything else i should be aware of? this particular way of checking the fluid level is new to me...

thanks!

 

[melsg5]

1. the few times i have gone to this extent the transmission was in park, ran the engine for a few seconds and let the fluid drop from the case, no line disconnect.
2. Fluid is checked warm.
3. Dexron III is correct
4. Good luck