lincolntowncar.org - Transmission Filter Change

Changing your own transmission filter can be scary, but once you get into it, it's really not that difficult. If your are experiencing slipping or other major fault with your transmission, you should take it to a dealer or trusted transmission shop for an examination.

Tools and parts you will need:


The new filter and gasket. I used the filter brand Fram model FT1167. The fit was good.
  • Drive the car onto the ramps. Put a block of wood or equivilent behind the back tires.

  • Locate the transmission pan. It is roughly even with the middle of the front door half-way in under the car. It looks like the bottom of a roughly square pan with bolts around the outside.

  • Get your drain pan under the side of the transmission pan nearest to be rear of the car. Find a socket that fits and start to loosen the rear bolts around the pan. Fluid will start to drip out quickly, so make sure your drain pan is in position!

  • Keep loosening the bolts, working your way to the front. When it's dripping a lot, let it drip for a minute or two, and the continue loosening the bolts around the pan.

  • Once you have the pan almost off, you'll need to hold it with one hand, while you loosen the final bolts with the other hand. The pan will be about half-full of fluid, so you need to keep it balanced until you can safely lower it and empty it into your drain pan and set it aside.

  • With mostly clean hands, pull the filter out of the transmission (it's in there by friction) and empty it into the drain pan as well. Ok, you're half-way there.

  • Clean the edges of the transmission that the gasket touches. A rag or your scraper might be needed to get any rubber that's stuck on. This surface must be clean to allow a good seal when you put the transmission back together. Clean out the transmission pan and remove all remaining parts of the rubber gasket around its edges.


    The transmission with the pan off.

  • Don't lose the round magnet that's in the bottom of the pan! It goes on the little bump and it collects any metal shavings that might be floating in your fluid. Take it out and make sure it is clean.


    The clean transmission pan.


    A close-up of the round magnet in the pan. Take it off and clean it!

  • When everything is clean, put your new gasket on top of the transmission pan. Next, insert the new transmission filter into the transmission. It should stay in there when you let it go. I had to push pretty hard to get it to stay.

  • Finally, put the transmission pan up to the transmission and put your bolts back in. Make sure the gasket stays in place! Tighten the bolts carefully, you don't want to bend your pan.

  • When the pan is back on, and the bolts are hand-tightened you're done under the car!

  • Add a few quarts of transmission fluid before you take the car off the ramps.

  • Take the car off the ramps. Check the fluid level and fill appropriately. Once you get close to the full mark, start the car and change through all the gears a few times to get the fluid up to temperature and check the level with the car running. If you only check it with the car cold, you won't have enough fluid. Ensure your car is shifting smoothly between gears!

    You're all set! Dispose of your filter and rags and mark in your records you work for the day.