Topic: 02 Tranny filter & fluid, need to change.

[Fowlhunter]

OK, here's the deal. I want to change the fluid & filter in the tranny before I make my trip to PA next month so I go to Auto Zone's website to look up the parts needed and they list two different filters, one for a shallow pan and one for a deep pan. Which one do I have, I want to say deep but I'm not sure?  Also how many quarts will it take me to fill it?
One more question, once I have it filled up with clean fluid do I check the level with it running in neutral or running in park???  I can't seem to remember??   

Thanks, FH

[Main One]

I don't know or remember

[bluedevil]

Im looking...

[farmguy]

If you do a fluid exchange and back-flush, you don't need a filter. My mechanic says you can do 3 backflushes at 35,000 mile intervals before you need a filter.

[chevyman]

If you do the filter change. and add the fluid (not sure how much it holds) but when checking it the tranny needs to be  warm/hot and your truck needs to be running.

[Main One]

If you do a fluid exchange and back-flush, you don't need a filter. My mechanic says you can do 3 backflushes at 35,000 mile intervals before you need a filter.

Dang - he wants to charge you a lot more than GM recommends, at least for my 03.  If my memory holds, my manual doesn't recommend changing transmission fluid until 100,000 miles.

Some folks question whether backflushing does more harm than good.  Although it probably doesn't hurt if you do it every 35,000.

[MyBigToy]

If you drop the pan I believe you'll need somewhere around 6 qts. You check the fluid level with the tranny completely warm and in Park, after cycling through and momentarily pausing in every gear and then returning it to Park.

[02_Z71]

I am fairly confident that you need the shallow pan filter. I have changed my fluid twice and I got both filters to make sure that I have the correct one and just took back the filter that I did not use after I was done. You will need about 5 qts of tranny fluid after you are done replacing the filter. If you have not looked into the procedure yet, you might want to take a look at the procedure before you try this. It is a pain because of the transmission shift linkage has to be removed in order to get the pan off.

After you have completed the filter replacement and filled up the fluid, start the truck, then check the fluid again. You will probably need to add a bit more. Then let the truck run for a few minutes to warm up, then cycle the gear shift in and out of drive, reverse, park, etc a few times, then check the fluid again you will probably need to add a little bit more fluid. After you actually drive it the first time and get to normal operating temps, check the fluid again.

[Fowlhunter]

Dang - he wants to charge you a lot more than GM recommends, at least for my 03.  If my memory holds, my manual doesn't recommend changing transmission fluid until 100,000 miles.

Some folks question whether backflushing does more harm than good.  Although it probably doesn't hurt if you do it every 35,000.

I plan to drop the pan and get rid of the old fluid and add new!!!  No backflushing here. 

[Fowlhunter]

If you drop the pan I believe you'll need somewhere around 6 qts. You check the fluid level with the tranny completely warm and in Park, after cycling through and momentarily pausing in every gear and then returning it to Park.

Very good Joe!!!!  I couldn't remember the correct procedure.     Do you know if it's the deep or shallow pan?
Thanks

[Fowlhunter]

I am fairly confident that you need the shallow pan filter. I have changed my fluid twice and I got both filters to make sure that I have the correct one and just took back the filter that I did not use after I was done. You will need about 5 qts of tranny fluid after you are done replacing the filter. If you have not looked into the procedure yet, you might want to take a look at the procedure before you try this. It is a pain because of the transmission shift linkage has to be removed in order to get the pan off.

After you have completed the filter replacement and filled up the fluid, start the truck, then check the fluid again. You will probably need to add a bit more. Then let the truck run for a few minutes to warm up, then cycle the gear shift in and out of drive, reverse, park, etc a few times, then check the fluid again you will probably need to add a little bit more fluid. After you actually drive it the first time and get to normal operating temps, check the fluid again.

Buy one of each just to cover my  ?  I don't recall where the linkage is attached, maybe attached to the tranny using the pan bolts?

[02_Z71]

Buy one of each just to cover my  ?  I don't recall where the linkage is attached, maybe attached to the tranny using the pan bolts?

As I stated, I am 95% sure that you will need the shallow pan filter. If I recall, the transmission shift linkage is not actually attached to the transmission pan itself but it is in the way preventing you from dropping the pan without loosening the bolt that holds the linkage to the side of the transmission. I can find an old thread for you will the exact procedures if you would like. The only thing that I remember for sure is that it is a pain in the a$$ to get to.

[Fowlhunter]

As I stated, I am 95% sure that you will need the shallow pan filter. If I recall, the transmission shift linkage is not actually attached to the transmission pan itself but it is in the way preventing you from dropping the pan without loosening the bolt that holds the linkage to the side of the transmission. I can find an old thread for you will the exact procedures if you would like. The only thing that I remember for sure is that it is a pain in the a$$ to get to.

I gotcha!  I'll have to roll under the ole girl and take a look when I get a chance.  One of my contacts at the dealer (parts dept) told me he thought 02 and after should all have the deep pan?  Did you have any luck with removing the drain plug in the pan?  I'm pretty sure MyBigToy told me he had issues with getting his plug out?

[02_Z71]

I gotcha!  I'll have to roll under the ole girl and take a look when I get a chance.  One of my contacts at the dealer (parts dept) told me he thought 02 and after should all have the deep pan?  Did you have any luck with removing the drain plug in the pan?  I'm pretty sure MyBigToy told me he had issues with getting his plug out?

As far as the drain plug goes, I did have quite a bit of trouble getting it off the 1st time. My advise there would be to make sure that you have the correct size socket and I would recommend that you use a 6 pt socket vs a 12 pt socket (less likely to round off the bolt). I just went back and read some of the old threads in CAFCNA about this. The pan bolts are 13mm and the drain plug is 15mm.

The bolt holding on the transmission linkage is a very odd size if I recall, something like a T35. One of the old posts on CAFCNA says that the bolts are T40 but if I remember correctly T40 was very loose fitting but luckily when I did this the first time I was at a friend shop that pretty much had any tool that I needed. The bolts that hold on the transmission linkage are on the top of the transmission and they are a beach to get access too and very tight so have some extensions, a u-joint and a breaker bar standing by.

[MyBigToy]

I gotcha!  I'll have to roll under the ole girl and take a look when I get a chance.  One of my contacts at the dealer (parts dept) told me he thought 02 and after should all have the deep pan?  Did you have any luck with removing the drain plug in the pan?  I'm pretty sure MyBigToy told me he had issues with getting his plug out?

Yes I had problems. I could not break the drain plug loose; it just rounded off the corners. My recommendation would be to get a 15 mm socket that works on the flats instead of the corners (Metrinch sockets worked like this).

[Fowlhunter]

Well the tranny fluid and filter are done!  5 quarts and the deep pan filter (AutoZone #TF351) later and it's done!!   
I couldn't get the old seal out that is at the top of the filter so I left it in and swapped out the filter.  The linkage on the side was kind of a pain in the  .  I had a friend help, actually I did the filter and fluid change at his place, he was able to hold the linkage out of the way while I wiggled the pan out and down! 

[farmguy]

I couldn't get the old seal out that is at the top of the filter so I left it in and swapped out the filter.

  Generally not a good idea.

[Fowlhunter]

  Generally not a good idea.

No, probably not but we worked at this thing for a while and just couldn't get it out.  I don't know if there is a special tool to remove this cup like seal that attaches to the tube on the filter or not?? 
I also rounded the head of the bolt that is suppose to be used as a drain plug, I don't know what this bolt is tightened with but it wouldn't budge.