Transmission issues Chevy Malibu

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Ok I have the 4t45e transmission in our 2005 Saturn...

I replaced the fluid/filter last month and have had similar problems with shifting.

BTW, you do NOT have to jack the car up to check the fluid level!! Turn the steering wheel all the way to the right, set the parking brake and start the car. Get under and loosen the 11mm plug. You'll have to do it by feel, but thats how I check our fluid level! MUCH easier than jacking it up.

Ok our was flaring up between 1-2 and I thought for sure the Valvoline Maxlife Dex/Merc I put in there killed the trans. Turns out I was 1/2 quart low. Topped of, now all is good!

So yeah, as I heard in my thread over in the mechanical section - fluid level is critical in these transmissions.

 

[FL-400S]

Ok well this morning I went out to check the fluid level. I backed the car into the garage and checked it for level with my 2 foot level. I've come to the conclusion that you cant have the car 100% level, because there is nothing smooth enough on the car to actually get a fair reading. Anyways, it seemed I needed to raise the car 1/2" inch in front (which probably wouldn't matter anyway). So I drove it up on 2x4's, and it still didnt seem any more level. I took out the check plug most of the way, started it, removed the plug, and no fluid dripped out. I added 8 qt pennzoil dex/merc and it started leaking out. I decided to make sure it wasnt low and added 1/2 quart more. I then waited with car running till it came to a slow dribble. I think the fluid was expanding as it got warmed up, so I didnt wait till it stopped. Just a few drops per second coming out. Definitely not low now, but not grossly high.

What a stupid design. You cant level the car exactly. The check plug is in such a place that its darn hard to get at. You have to check it with the car running. The plug allows the fluid to get all over the side of the transmission instead of simply running into the drain pan. No dipstick, no drain plug on the stock trans pan. The transmission filler plug is right under the exhaust, so you cant do anything while it is hot, and it might melt your flexible funnel. What a stupid design.

 

[Boss302fan]

Maxlife should work great in your application. I have used Maxlife in a lot of different applications along with many other different ATF's. Maxlife has always lasted a long time and has worked very well. I think instead of blaming the fluid, you may have other issues with your transmission.

 

[FL-400S]

Now that I know the fluid level is right, I'm going to drive it for a week or so to see if it is better. If not, Ill change out a few quarts for Dex III (or Dex/Merc as it is now called). I have 2 qts castrol, 1.25 qts pennzoil, and 2 qts M1 for now. I think I'll avoid maxlife since I read it is thin like Dex VI or may even be the same.

 

[JTK]

I owned a Cobalt for a few years with the 4T45E. It was a great car for me. I only owned it up to ~35Kmi so I never had a need to touch the trans. My question is; For you fellas that have serviced them in your driveway, garage, etc.. how the heck can you get an accurate level reading with the front-end jacked up? I did locate the level check on my 2007 Cobalt, but I don't recall having access to it from the front right wheel well area?

Here's a pic I mocked up a few years ago:

Joel

 

[SteveSRT8]

Dex III will quickly shear to lower viscosity than Dex VI, so it's really hard to blame the fluid.

On my daughter's Sunfire with similar trans we simply use 4 jackstands and level the car out by eye, then we go to town.

It's not all that bad, you get to do a lot of other things while it's in the air.

But Fluid level is critical. It is supposed to dribble out of the sight hole.