Trans Dipstick?

[00Beast]

I did an oil change on the GXP last night, and was looking for the trans dipstick, and couldn't find it. Is there one, or is it a "no maintenance" transmission, like the G8? Thanks for the help.

[harofreak00]

The 4t80e is not a sealed unit like the G8. It doesn't have the traditional dipstick that you find on the 4t65e. Its more like the PS cap, in that it has a dipstick on the bottom of the cap. Check for something like that directly on the trans.

[00Beast]

Ok, thanks Andrew.

[CMNTMXR57]

Yea, look under the airbox.

[00Beast]

Oh, ok. Does it need to be running?

EDIT: This isn't good. I checked it with the engine off, and it's barely on the stick. It needs at least a quart, and I need to check it running then. I think I'm going to do a pan drop and fill at work. Do I fill through the dipstick hole?

[harofreak00]

You always check trans fluid when the engine is running and up to temp.

[viper8907]

I'd get it up to temp and running and then check it before you go adding fluid just to be safe.

[00Beast]

Yeah. I'll check it tomorrow after dad gets home from work. It looks like it'll need some, though. It has a space where it should be cold, and where it should be hot. It's just a splotch on the bottom. It might be full when hot, though, who knows.

[CincyGXP]

On my GXP and Aurora (same tranny), it never showed any on the stick when cold. But, when warmed up and running, it read right where it should be.

[00Beast]

Ok. I guess it makes sense, since normal ones are in the pan, and this one is on the top of the tranny. I'll check it tonight,

[CMNTMXR57]

Yea, it has to be running. Yes, "technically" you're supposed to check, hot, engine idling, and on a level surface, but most cars, you can check it and get a pretty good idea what the level is with the engine off too! It may not be exact but to make sure you have a sufficient level of fluid in there, it's ok. So once I did the same thing. I had just arrived to my shop, so it was warm, on a level surface, figured "WTH... I have the airbox out making life a heck of a lot easier to get to it, let's check it!" So I popped the dipstick off, and *dang* near had a coronary... NOTHING! I then started it up, just to make sure, and sure enough, after starting it and letting it settle back to idle, the fluid level was fine.

[alec_b]

4T80-e's are picky about fluid. Let it get good and hot first, then check running in park.

Also, if you do end up changing the fluid and filter, don't bother buying a gasket or filters. The parts store will sell you a cheap rubber gasket and the two screens in the bottom pan of the trans. Those screens are re-usable, just spray them out with carb clean and blow dry. The pan gasket on 4T80's is re-usable also, but I usually apply a small bead of blue silicone to both sides after cleaning the pan completely.

Lastly, after you get the pan off and the fluid drained, remove the second drain plug for the side pan. It's near the drivers side of the trans, towards the front of the case, internally. It's an 11mm head pipe plug, that, when removed, will drain an additional ~4 quarts from the trans.

http://aurorah.proboards.com/index.cgi? ... hread=6007

That thread is a good how-to.

[00Beast]

Wow. The fluid is full, and it's still a good color and doesn't smell burned, so I'll leave it for now.