MGBRaceman

My instructor has a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am 3400 and is having some trasmission difficulties. Hard shifts mostly. He hasn't checked his fluid in quite some time. I was under the hood looking for the fluid dipstick and all I could find was a red cap on the trans housing below the exhaust pipe, is this the fluid check source? Any help is apprecieted. Unfortunaly I have no refrences where I am and I had a very limited time to look at the car.

HatefulMechanic

the fluid level is checked on that transmission using a check plug on the PS output shaft on the transmission. pretty involved process to adjust it.

with engine running, vehicle jacked up and LEVEL, remove check plug from PS output shaft. fluid should be even with the bottom of the plug. some check procedures involve someone sitting in the car with it in gear and the brakes on, while some dont.

basically, if there are no leaks, the level should be fine. and if i recall, it will set a CEL if the level goes down.

MGBRaceman

This is true for automatic transmissions as well?

HatefulMechanic

that IS the procedure for the automatic transmission.

The Wok

Yes, for whatever reason GM decided not to put a stick on the 3.4s, and i believe some of the 3.1s

axis45

the plug is 7/16 or 11mm by the way, have someone scan it for trouble codes, even if the light isnt on, many times those gm cars will set a vss code and cause hard shifting, even if the code is pending/history

Dirk Dickbutt

How hard are the shifts? Normally, Grand Ams shift rather firm. The transmissions are shit though.