2003 CTS ATF fill issue (Page 1/2)
JetroGT JUL 25, 05:29 PM
My wife ran over a tire tread and damaged the trans cooler part of the radiator. The 90 degree fitting ripped out. So now that I have it all back together I'm having trouble filling the transmission. Every time I try to add ATF with the fluid pump, the ATF just get's pushed back out of the transmission. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks.
carnut122 JUL 26, 12:25 PM
Are you filling through a dip-stick tube or is it a tranny with a fill hole up underneath? If it has a fill hole, it should run out when it gets to the proper height. Have you run the motor and put it through the gears to make sure all of the "paths" are filled and then tried to put in the fluid?
JetroGT JUL 27, 08:44 AM
Here's what I did. This trans has a port on the drivers side. I removed the 6mm allen bolt then started the car in Park. Immediately oil was blown out of the port and I shut the engine down. I was told I should fill the trans with the transmission in park with the engine running. The fluid pump I am using is a weed sprayer pump that I modified to fill the trans. I pulled the brass tip off the sprayer and clipped the end. It fits very tight with the rubber O ring sealing the pump fitting around the port. So now that I have my pump rig in place I proceed to attempt filling the trans again. This time the transmission is pushing air back into my pump bottle, as I can see the bubbling ATF in there. The pump is under quite a bit of pressure and air is still being forced into the bottle.



quote
Originally posted by carnut122:

Are you filling through a dip-stick tube or is it a tranny with a fill hole up underneath? If it has a fill hole, it should run out when it gets to the proper height. Have you run the motor and put it through the gears to make sure all of the "paths" are filled and then tried to put in the fluid?

[This message has been edited by JetroGT (edited 07-27-2014).]

carnut122 JUL 27, 09:10 PM

quote
Originally posted by JetroGT:

Here's what I did. This trans has a port on the drivers side. I removed the 6mm allen bolt then started the car in Park. Immediately oil was blown out of the port and I shut the engine down. I was told I should fill the trans with the transmission in park with the engine running. The fluid pump I am using is a weed sprayer pump that I modified to fill the trans. I pulled the brass tip off the sprayer and clipped the end. It fits very tight with the rubber O ring sealing the pump fitting around the port. So now that I have my pump rig in place I proceed to attempt filling the trans again. This time the transmission is pushing air back into my pump bottle, as I can see the bubbling ATF in there. The pump is under quite a bit of pressure and air is still being forced into the bottle.


It looks like you have it figured out(see link). With the engine running, the fluid level drops as the pump and valve body fills. Maybe that's why you had fluid coming out of the hole? Maybe if the car was started prior to accessing the fill hole, there wouldn't be an issue? If it was me, I'd start the car, remove the pump (plug), and pump fluid in until it ran out of that hole (indicating it was at the correct level). I'd then put the plug back in, wipe up/off the flammable fluid and I'd drive the car. The wife's 2012 CTS will need this in the future, so it's nice to know what I'll be dealing with.

http://www.cadillacforums.c...to-trans-refill.html
JetroGT JUL 29, 08:57 AM

quote
Originally posted by carnut122:

It looks like you have it figured out(see link). With the engine running, the fluid level drops as the pump and valve body fills. Maybe that's why you had fluid coming out of the hole? Maybe if the car was started prior to accessing the fill hole, there wouldn't be an issue? If it was me, I'd start the car, remove the pump (plug), and pump fluid in until it ran out of that hole (indicating it was at the correct level). I'd then put the plug back in, wipe up/off the flammable fluid and I'd drive the car. The wife's 2012 CTS will need this in the future, so it's nice to know what I'll be dealing with.

http://www.cadillacforums.c...to-trans-refill.html



I'll try it again this weekend. I'm close to having it towed to a transmission shop.
JetroGT JUL 31, 03:07 PM
I did find a great write up on these transmissions. Ultra detailed tear down.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw...5l40-e-teardown.html
carnut122 AUG 03, 10:23 AM

quote
Originally posted by JetroGT:

I did find a great write up on these transmissions. Ultra detailed tear down.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw...5l40-e-teardown.html



Nice write up. Now I want to see him put it back together.
JetroGT AUG 04, 08:12 AM
I went down to a transmission shop and bothered them for awhile asking the techs questions about the trans. It's a 5L40E, origionally put in BMW's in 98. GM gets the old stuff. They informed me that I was accessing the pressure test port. This is because I followed a youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmSU_9ElEzo
Lesson learned. Don't beleve everything you see on youtube.
On ATSG they had a PDF laying out everything I needed to know about that trans. http://koti.mbnet.fi/pro-ht...tilaatikko/5L40E.pdf

I was not able to fill it this weekend. I got hit with a honey do project. 26'x25' patio.
carnut122 AUG 04, 07:33 PM

quote
Originally posted by JetroGT:

I went down to a transmission shop and bothered them for awhile asking the techs questions about the trans. It's a 5L40E, origionally put in BMW's in 98. GM gets the old stuff. They informed me that I was accessing the pressure test port. This is because I followed a youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmSU_9ElEzo
Lesson learned. Don't beleve everything you see on youtube.
On ATSG they had a PDF laying out everything I needed to know about that trans. http://koti.mbnet.fi/pro-ht...tilaatikko/5L40E.pdf

I was not able to fill it this weekend. I got hit with a honey do project. 26'x25' patio.



Glad you got it figured out. Did you pour the patio or was it some other materials?

edit: Oh pooh,,,that's the video I posted for you to look at. I'm glad you let me know not to do what he said to do.


ATSG makes some very good guides. I used one to rebuild the transmission in the wife's 82 Z-28. It was still working well when she sold the car a couple years later.

[This message has been edited by carnut122 (edited 08-04-2014).]

JetroGT AUG 05, 08:15 AM
I'm pouring QuickCrete into forms so I don't have to get a permit or get it inspected. First I rented this thing called a mantis XD to remove the grass. That tiller will beat up your fore arms. After I finish poruing all of my forms I can either pack the spaces between the forms with sand or dirt. I really want to go with brown or red colored concrete between them and put it around the edges.