Owner Maintenance; Inspecting Automatic ; Transmission Fluid Level- Page 223

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Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

Form No. 8S15-EA-03G

▼

Inspecting Automatic 
Transmission Fluid Level

The automatic transmission fluid level 
should be inspected regularly. Measure it 
as described below.
The volume of fluid changes with the 
temperature. For that reason, it is best to 
examine the level after having driven the 
vehicle for 15 minutes. If necessary, 
however, it can also be inspected without 
driving when the outside temperature is 
above 20°C (70°F).

1. Park on a level surface and set the 

parking brake firmly.

2. Idle the engine. Push down on the 

brake pedal.

3. Move the shift lever through all ranges 

and set it at P.

4. With the engine still idling, pull out the 

dipstick, wipe it clean.

5. Put the dipstick back into the filler tube 

and make sure it is fully seated.

6. Pull the dipstick out and read the fluid 

level.

The proper fluid level is marked on the 
dipstick as follows.

Fluid hot scale

When checking the fluid level at normal 
operating temperature, the fluid level 
should be within the FULL and LOW 
marks on the dipstick.

Automatic Transmission 
Fluid (ATF)

•

Low fluid level causes transmission 
slippage. Overfilling can cause 
foaming, loss of fluid, and 
transmission malfunction.

•

Use specified fluid (page 10-4). A 
nonspecified fluid could result in 
transmission malfunction and 
failure.

•

The vehicle should not be driven if 
the fluid level is below the bottom 
of the dipstick and the outside 
temperature is above 20°C (70°F), 
or if evident automatic transmission 
fluid leaks are found.

CAUTION

Sudden Vehicle Movement:
Shifting the shift lever without first 
depressing the brake pedal is 
dangerous. The vehicle could move 
suddenly and cause an accident.
Make sure the brake pedal is applied 
before shifting the shift lever.

WARNING

FULL

LOW

Fluid
cold
scale

J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book  Page 21  Thursday, August 21, 2003  10:04 AM