Cheap Jeep! A New Repair Series!
Who want's a new posting series?!
A couple of months ago we bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo (v8, 4x4) for not much at all, and i've posted a few repair how to's because it isn't perfect and needs some TLC.
So far the posts have been:
I thought I would make this a series to make it more fun and a little easier to follow the progress of the vehicle!
How's Cheap Jeep sound?!
Today I decided it was time to change the transmission fluid. It didn't look horrible, but it was kind of dark and I wasn't sure if it had ever been changed! Here's how I did it, and the process is very similar for other vehicles.
Begin with pulling it up on ramps. Not really necessary, but I like plenty of room to work.
The transmission is very easy to locate. It's under the car and attached to the back of the engine. Here is the transmission pan.
The bolt size for my pan is 13mm (I think chrysler only believes in 13mms). Remove all the bolts completely on one side, and only loosen the rest. This was you can stick a pry bar between the side that has all the bolts removed and start draining the fluid without making a huge mess. Yo, @dewalt, where's my endorsement?
After it's done draining that little bit of fluid, remove all the bolts except for two on the same side. this way the pan will hang down on one side and almost completely empty before pulling it all the way off. Notice how it's hanging down on one side in the picture.
Here's what some of the inside of your transmission looks like. This hold the valve body which directs the fluid to different parts of the transmission. The red thing is the transmission filter. This should come with the new pan gasket and should be replaced. Mine is held on by 3 screws.
Old and new. Note the Star Wars coffee mug.
Now, in the pan there is a round magnet. As a transmission ages, there's going to be tiny metallic particles floating around. This magnet catches those particles to keep them from doing any further harm to the trans. If your magnet has chunks of metal on it, you may want to inspect more into that. You'll want to clean this off of all the particles.
After you've cleaned the magnet, inside of the pan, and scrapped off the old gasket, it's time to reinstall. These gaskets can kind of be a pain when installing because they're rubber and get twisted and move around. Spread a thin layer of rtv down on the pan and put the gasket over top of it to help it stick and not move around.
Reinstall pan and tighten bolts in a criss cross pattern. Start in the middle of the pan and work your way out, tightening the bolts a little, then go around a second time and tighten them completely. If you don't have a torque wrench, tighten it until the gasket starts to squeeze out the sides.
Check your owners manual or google the type of transmission fluid you need, and how much you need. I begin by putting in about 2-3 quarts, then start the vehicle and run it through all the gears, leaving it in each gear for a few seconds.
After that, with it running, check the fluid level. Repeat this process until you get the correct fluid level. Drive it around the block, then check again when you return. 
That's all there is to it! Outtake shots:
Stay tuned for the next installment of #CheapJeep!
Thanks to my beautiful wife, @alovelymess for the amazing photos while I did this repair! Go to her page for more photography!
I LOVE getting feedback! Do you have suggestions or comments on how to improve my posts? If so, post them below, I want to hear from you!
@drobinson getting them paws dirty....Transmission some of the nastiest fluid to be soaked in. Most painful fluid is gas fuel rolling down to arm pits, some believe it puts "hair on the chest" i say f*** that it hurts and burns the hair right off.
It's pretty bad, however spent gear oil is pretty raunchy. That sounds pretty bad, worst kind of fluid i've encountered is brake clean in the eye. Lol.
Yeah lol were is the SINK!
Friction Modifier additive used sometimes in gear oil, yes that shit is raunchy.
thank you for good updats
Beautifull jeep
Pictures those good are. Carry dear onn. I like yo post. pls follow me.
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Those are some good pictures, lol! You did a great job my love!!
You could use some work if you want to be a proper spammer.
LOL! This cracked me up! Thanks so much babe, couldn't have done it without you!
Fallowd, upwote 4 upwote.
good work is a friend,
clean is perfect.
first, I did note the Star Wars coffee mug!
Second, amazing photos. Amazing post!!
Boom!
She did great! Thank you!
good news
following to you
carry on and stay with it
Wow loved your post...loved reading it....it's amazing....thank you for sharing have a good day.
Manual transmissions: Easier to drain, far more difficult to refill. At least, that's how the Neon is. There's a drain plug on the bottom (13mm, probably) but filling it is done through a hole high on the side of the unit, back in behind the left front suspension. The wheel must be removed to have what little access is granted at all.
Bingo! I have thought about having someone weld a nut on the inside of the pan so I could put a drain plug in it, but I haven't. Maybe next time. That's exactly how our transfer case is as well, fill plug waaay up top.
A fluid transfer pump may be easier to work with.
I have a friend who welds.
No way! I will keep that in mind next time I pull it off.
I like your post