Transmission fluid all over the place....

I wanted to check the transmission fluid level (apparently a mistake, thanks GM), and so I followed Haynes's instructions and took off the check bolt ... when of course about two quarts of transmission fluid came out and got all over my freakin garage.

So I see two possibilities:
1. It was the wrong bolt. It was about 3 inches above the bottom of the pan, on the passenger side just below the right axle, and pretty near the oil change bolt. Is this right? It looks like the one in the picture ; )

2. Someone *really* overfilled the transmission... I had noticed something odd, when I leaked a bit (a few oz) of tranny fluid earlier by disconnecting the wrong hose... the car actually seemed to shift *better*. So is it possible that the transmission was that full? Crap...

Or could there be something else going on?

Anyways it looks like this is an awesome forum here and I've learned a lot... but I need some hand-holding right now. Gracias.

You're supposed to check the oil with the engine running in most cases, as with the engine off, the converter isn't spinning and the pump isn't pumping - the fluid runs out of the converter and back into the trans - this might be what happened in your case.

You're supposed to check the oil with the engine running in most cases, as with the engine off, the converter isn't spinning and the pump isn't pumping - the fluid runs out of the converter and back into the trans - this might be what happened in your case.

Heh that is probably part of it... I started checking it with the engine on but once it started spewing out I turned the engine off as fast as I could... which might have just exacerbated the problem.

... I didn't have the balls to see what would happen if I left the engine on ; )

I like my old car with its dipstick/fill tube on the trans.

I only ever did one of those types of transmissions that had the little plug thing on it at the trans, and that was a 1997 VW Jetta. Yeah, like yours, it was messy.

... I didn't have the balls to see what would happen if I left the engine on ; )

Fluid check procedure

Start the engine and allow the engine to idle until the transmission fluid temperature has reached the value specified. Depress the brake pedal and move the shift lever through the gear ranges, pausing a few seconds in each range. Return the shift lever to the PARK range. Raise the vehicle on a hoist. The vehicle must be level, with the engine running and the shift lever in the PARK range. Caution The engine must be running when the transmission fluid fill plug is removed, or excessive fluid loss will occur. Transmission fluid may be hot. Since the actual fluid level is unknown, stand clear when removing the fill plug. Have a container ready to capture any lost fluid. Do not turn the engine off with the fill plug removed, as you can be injured by hot transmission fluid being expelled out of the oil fill opening.
Remove the transmission plug.

The transmission fluid may darken with normal use and does not always indicate contamination or oxidation.
Transmission fluid (At least 104°F) 5-10 minutes at idle will give correct temp.

Does the fluid have a burnt odor or a dark brown color?Check the fluid level. The fluid level should be even with the bottom of the threaded plug hole.Is the fluid level low?
Add DEXRON® VI automatic transmission fluid in increments of 0.5L until the fluid drains from the plug hole.
Install plug before stopping engine or fluid will spill out of plug hole.

Pan drop and filter change 7.5 qts
Check plug is just to the right of the passenger side axle housing , 11 mm plug, can't miss it, only one there.
Hoist is optional, just needs to be level and plug accessible.

Fluid check procedure
Hoist is optional, just needs to be level and plug accessible.

Cut and paste! Yes!

But seriously thanks it's nice to have a source besides Haynes... which has been wrong about stuff before...

Okay so it sounds like I removed the right plug... it was 11mm (well I used a 7/16 but that's pretty much the same)... and there's nothing else that size down there I don't think. Maybe someone just topped it off really high? And then when I turned off the engine all the rest dumped out ; )

Well what do I do now? I don't want to start the engine with basically no trans fluid... any idea how much I should add before I can start the engine and check the level again?

Man I hate GM sometimes. But I'm really tall and most foreign cars don't have much headroom :(

To top the tranny off, just start the engine and let it warm at idle ONLY (it won't hurt the tranny as long as you don't race the engine or shift thru the gears while some fluid is missing), after it warms up, remove the Fluid Level Check plug and add new fluid thru the Vent/Fill Cap untill it starts dripping at the the Fluid Level Check plug.
After you see some dripping then it's safe to shift thru the gears.
Start from "P" all the way to "L" and then back up from "L" to "P" giving it at least a 2 second hold on each gear.
When you reach "P" again then start "slowly adding fluid again thru the Vent/Fill Cap untill it drips again, telling you it's at max capacity. Re-install the Fluid Level Check plug and take it for a ride. A last fluid check would be recommended but optional.

Cut and paste! Yes!

But seriously thanks it's nice to have a source besides Haynes... which has been wrong about stuff before...

Okay so it sounds like I removed the right plug... it was 11mm (well I used a 7/16 but that's pretty much the same)... and there's nothing else that size down there I don't think. Maybe someone just topped it off really high? And then when I turned off the engine all the rest dumped out ; )

Well what do I do now? I don't want to start the engine with basically no trans fluid... any idea how much I should add before I can start the engine and check the level again?

Man I hate GM sometimes. But I'm really tall and most foreign cars don't have much headroom :(

Put in 2 qts then run the check, have a pan ready to catch any excess, yes you MUST put the plug in before you stop the engine.

Man I hate GM sometimes. But I'm really tall and most foreign cars don't have much headroom

If that's the case, you're REALLY going to hate all the BMWs, Isuzus, and Hondas that used that same scheme on their HydraMatic 4L30 and 5L40 transmissions, and will especially dislike the Benz cars with no engine oil drain plug.

Man I hate GM sometimes. But I'm really tall and most foreign cars don't have much headroom

If that's the case, you're REALLY going to hate all the BMWs, Isuzus, and Hondas that used that same scheme on their HydraMatic 4L30 and 5L40 transmissions, and will especially dislike the Benz cars with no engine oil drain plug.

If that's the case, you're REALLY going to hate all the BMWs, Isuzus, and Hondas that used that same scheme on their HydraMatic 4L30 and 5L40 transmissions, and will especially dislike the Benz cars with no engine oil drain plug.

When did Honda start using good transmissions?

how do you get the oil out of benzes then?