Trying To Check Transmission Fluid - FAIL!!

RoadGuy

RoadGuy

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I am trying to check the transmission fluid on my 99 Grand Am with the 6 cyl engine and the 4 speed automatic overdrive transmission. Supposedly there is a fill plug on the passengers side of the car on the transmission near where the drive axle fits in but I will be darned if I can find it and I am beginning to think this so-called "plug" is a myth.

I pulled the front passengers side wheel off and put the car on a jack stand so I going get under and look for this mysterious plug with a flash light and there is no plug. Everything I saw was holding the engine and transmission together and I certainly don't want to go unscrewing any of that stuff because I don't want the car falling apart.

If anyone knows if this fill plug actually exists and can post a photo of its location or give really good directions as to how I can find the plug I would appreciate it. Thanks.
 
melsg5, do you know where this mysterious level plug is located? I have seen a red screw in plastic cap in the engine compartment just under the air filter box on the drivers side but this from what I am told is only for filling the transmission. This cap does not have any sort of dip stick.

Where is this mysterious level plug on the drivers side? Thanks.
 
melsg5 said:
http://www.2carpros.com/questions/pontiac-grand-am-1999-pontiac-grand-am-checking-transmission-fluid
Click to expand...

I just spent the last hour crawling around under my car with a flash light and there is no level plug on the transmission in that car. I know there are times when a manufacturer will make an unpublished change and the public just has to suck it up and live with it.

The car is in reasonable shape with just at 103,000 miles on it and since I can't afford another car right now I have to try and take care of this one. My only other option is to drop the transmission pan, change the filter and refill the transmission. Since I have absolutely no reliable way of verifying the transmission fluid level I have to take the word of Pontiac (and we all know how good they were since they are no longer around . . .) as to how much fluid to put in.

How reliable is Pontiac's guess as to how much fluid is needed for a pan drop? Also is there any way to check the fluid level from the top of the transmission at the red fill cap?

Thanks.
______________________________
 
No way to check from top. After I'll check to see later today and snap a pic of that drain. I would do a filter change anyway if I were you and it hadn't been done - idk if you know the history of the car.
 
richardgriese said:
No way to check from top. After I'll check to see later today and snap a pic of that drain. I would do a filter change anyway if I were you and it hadn't been done - idk if you know the history of the car.
Click to expand...

Thanks Richard, I think I am going to do a filter/fluid change just so I know it has been done. The question I have is since there is no way to check the fluid level in that transmission do I just go bu whatever numbers the jerks at Pontiac dreamed up for a fluid capacity? We all know how great of a job Pontiac has done, they aren't around anymore . . .

As to the history/condition of the car I don't know a lot about it but I do know that the guy I bought the car from is a liar. He told me the car was a 1 owner. CarFax shows 3 owners. I do know the car sat up unused for 2 to 3 years.

Thanks again for the help.
 
I had the drivers side wheel off this morning and the car on jack stands. I was on my hands and knees (and also my back) looking with a flashlight and there is no plug at all.

I do know that the automakers often make unpublished changes and we consumers have to live with the fallout.

I'm just going to pull the pan and replace the filter and fluid. I just don't know how much faith (if any) I can put in the refill capacity for that transmission since I have absolutely no way of verifying if I have the proper amount of fluid in.
 
I don't have access to get to it at the moment sorry; but to let you know in case the pictures are not clear, the check is located on the passenger side.

If you lay on the ground looking at the front passenger wheel (perhaps turn the steering wheel all the way to the right) you can see the check. It is a bolt that looks like it does connects to nothing. It is behind where the transmission mounts to the engine. It is located 5 o'clock to the CV.

When I worked on mine it was just a standard size head (not a star ect). 6.9 quarts pan drop; dex III.

Edit: Transmission is warm to check too and must be level. You do not need to remove the passenger wheel to get to the plug put the car on 4 stands and take the plug out.

Pontiac may not be around any more but GM is; I have not had any problems that I couldn't deal with on my Pontiacs, (2000 Bonneville, 2000 Grand Am, 2002 Grand Prix); some of the designs could have been better but that's every car manufacturer. I put a lot of work into my Grand Am because it was severely damaged but I bought it like that; I just replaced some parts on my ac and my radiator - car lives a lot cooler now and ac is like new. Then again I plan on keeping this car for a long time.
 
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I found a stock photo to use

d4f927df-da3e-4786-81a5-56ee9c6a80f4_zps74fa5ea5.jpg
 
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