Thankfully it was the fluid! Did not want to have to drop the pan again haha
I'll add some hot tips that people here mentioned that should definitely be followed:
- as already stressed so much, car MUST be level, I used jack stands on the front and just a jack on the rear then measured levelness with an app off play store
- right before you check the trickle, shift through all gears a few times
- leave the engine running while you check (maybe this one's common sense, but I turned the car off first time I did it)
- check/start pumping fluid around 40 degrees coz fluid rises quickly one it's past 35