tranny fluid change interval?

[sunfire2door]

so the sunfire has 199,677kms on it right now, owned since 179,000kms and I have never seen a tranny dipstick so I was assuming it doesn't need tranny oil change right? was there a tranny change interval or something? and how am I suppose to check the level?

 

[melsg5]

The vehicle has to be placed on a lift to check the fluid level. There is a plug on the side of the case which is removed and the fluid should be level with the bottom of the hole. If you dont know whether it has ever been changed, change the filter and fluid, do not flush the transmission.

 

[sunfire2door]

WoW really? why would GM make it so complicated? why couldn't they put a traditional dipstick like most automakers do? but is their a specific change interval for the tranny fluid?

 

[melsg5]

Personally I change it every 70K miles. I believe the decisison to elimate it was based on their confidence that the transmissions wouldnt leak for 100k miles and that owners have a habit of overfilling the transmission. It also may have been cost related.