servicing tranny on VT

[mrVT]

hey peoples i own a 2000 vt acclaim series 2 and i dont think i had ever serviced the transmission since ive owned the car although have looked after it very much, wanted to know if its easy to do myself and what is required like oil filters? is it expensive to get a mechanic to do? any answeres would be greatly apreciated thanks!

[vnv8driver]

about 100-120 to get it serviced by a shop, but be careful, just about every transmission joint doesn't replace the filter, they simply drain and re0fill the pan...

To do it yourself? pretty easy. its best to jack up (and support with jackstands) on the front and rear of the car so the cars siting level, if you have only 1 set of jacstands that will do.....

unbolt the pan bolts, but leaving 2 done up (horizontally opposite each other) so the pan doesnt drop on your face : ). undo the last 2 bolts wen whilst putting pressure on the pan, slowly lower it down as it will be full of oil, empty the oil out of the pan and put a drip try under the transmission. clean out the pan with petrol if its full of gunk (if its full of gunk this may be an indication your transmission has wear ans tear) now go under the car and pull the filter off, make sure the o-ring comes off with it too, replace the filter and o-ring with newies and its the same as removal. now insect your pan gasket, if it appears to be in good condition, re use it, if it has splits and/or squashed, replace it. now time to put the pan back on, grab an old pen or small screw driver, align the gasket with the holes in the pan, put 2 bolts in so the pan doesnt fall back down on you, now using the pen/screwy, put the rest of the bolts back in finger tight, now do them up evenly, make suyre you dont overtighten them, a quick nip is all it needs (or until you see the gasket starting to squash).. double check your work and lower the car off the hack stands.
now put about a litre of dexron 111 trans oil in the dipstick tube, start your car and put an additional 4 litres into the dipstick tube, it a slow filler so dont pour it too fast. now hop in the car and select drive, reverse, neutral...do this several times to get the fluid circulating. switch the motor off when its reached operating temperature and check the dipstick within 10 seconds of witching it off.

it may be hard to see the exact level on the dipstick so check it a few times to ensure its on the 'full' mark instead of over full or not full enough...

hope this helps!

[BOGANV8]

Most Commodore trans should be checked while the engine is running and the g/box in park that gives you a true reading....

[accentstencil]

about 100-120 to get it serviced by a shop, but be careful, just about every transmission joint doesn't replace the filter, they simply drain and re0fill the pan...

To do it yourself? pretty easy. its best to jack up (and support with jackstands) on the front and rear of the car so the cars siting level, if you have only 1 set of jacstands that will do.....

unbolt the pan bolts, but leaving 2 done up (horizontally opposite each other) so the pan doesnt drop on your face : ). undo the last 2 bolts wen whilst putting pressure on the pan, slowly lower it down as it will be full of oil, empty the oil out of the pan and put a drip try under the transmission. clean out the pan with petrol if its full of gunk (if its full of gunk this may be an indication your transmission has wear ans tear) now go under the car and pull the filter off, make sure the o-ring comes off with it too, replace the filter and o-ring with newies and its the same as removal. now insect your pan gasket, if it appears to be in good condition, re use it, if it has splits and/or squashed, replace it. now time to put the pan back on, grab an old pen or small screw driver, align the gasket with the holes in the pan, put 2 bolts in so the pan doesnt fall back down on you, now using the pen/screwy, put the rest of the bolts back in finger tight, now do them up evenly, make suyre you dont overtighten them, a quick nip is all it needs (or until you see the gasket starting to squash).. double check your work and lower the car off the hack stands.
now put about a litre of dexron 111 trans oil in the dipstick tube, start your car and put an additional 4 litres into the dipstick tube, it a slow filler so dont pour it too fast. now hop in the car and select drive, reverse, neutral...do this several times to get the fluid circulating. switch the motor off when its reached operating temperature and check the dipstick within 10 seconds of witching it off.

it may be hard to see the exact level on the dipstick so check it a few times to ensure its on the 'full' mark instead of over full or not full enough...

hope this helps!

A very good description on what to do. I would like to add one thing if I may. The fluid level should be checked with the engine running.
Edit: Oops, sorry Bogan V8, a few minutes too late. Unable to delete.

[vnv8driver]

yeah forgot thats the right way, thats the way you check falcons.....opps

[chargedvx6]

about 100-120 to get it serviced by a shop, but be careful, just about every transmission joint doesn't replace the filter, they simply drain and re0fill the pan...

To do it yourself? pretty easy. its best to jack up (and support with jackstands) on the front and rear of the car so the cars siting level, if you have only 1 set of jacstands that will do.....

unbolt the pan bolts, but leaving 2 done up (horizontally opposite each other) so the pan doesnt drop on your face : ). undo the last 2 bolts wen whilst putting pressure on the pan, slowly lower it down as it will be full of oil, empty the oil out of the pan and put a drip try under the transmission. clean out the pan with petrol if its full of gunk (if its full of gunk this may be an indication your transmission has wear ans tear) now go under the car and pull the filter off, make sure the o-ring comes off with it too, replace the filter and o-ring with newies and its the same as removal. now insect your pan gasket, if it appears to be in good condition, re use it, if it has splits and/or squashed, replace it. now time to put the pan back on, grab an old pen or small screw driver, align the gasket with the holes in the pan, put 2 bolts in so the pan doesnt fall back down on you, now using the pen/screwy, put the rest of the bolts back in finger tight, now do them up evenly, make suyre you dont overtighten them, a quick nip is all it needs (or until you see the gasket starting to squash).. double check your work and lower the car off the hack stands.
now put about a litre of dexron 111 trans oil in the dipstick tube, start your car and put an additional 4 litres into the dipstick tube, it a slow filler so dont pour it too fast. now hop in the car and select drive, reverse, neutral...do this several times to get the fluid circulating. switch the motor off when its reached operating temperature and check the dipstick within 10 seconds of witching it off.

it may be hard to see the exact level on the dipstick so check it a few times to ensure its on the 'full' mark instead of over full or not full enough...

hope this helps!

Good write up but if I can add my op....reuse the filter neck o ring, it is easy to damage the alloy housing removing the old one and it will still do its' job. But as for the sump gasket, if you have the pan off and are replacing the filter as well you should replace the pan gasket. If you reuse the old one and it leaks you will have to waste all the new fluid to remove and replace the dodgy one. Get a service kit with a neoprene gasket, the cork ones a aren't that good.

[Shounak]

Only reuse the filter neck O ring if the previous one is really jammed in. Even then, try to get it out, but leave it as a last resort.

Always change the gasket. It will come with the tranny servicing kit.

I've found Castrol + Penrite to be the best oils by far. The Valvoline one just smells wrong and it's harder to assess the condition of the oil.

A mechanic will charge you about $130 to do it. The parts will be about $70, unless you can get trade prices, in which case it will be closer to $40.

[scbh81]

some videos to help maybe

Install Assistance Videos

[chargedvx6]

Top link, this was the deciding factor when I decided to install my own shift kit with little tranny experience