2001 Oldsmobile Alero Logo
Posted on Oct 12, 2009
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How can i tell if the transmission fluid is low

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  • Master 1,986 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 13, 2009
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Joined: Aug 07, 2009
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You may have a dipstick leading to your transmission fluid somewhere in your engine bay.

Alternatively, you'll have to get under the car and look transmission. There will be two plugs. One will be located near the bottom of the transmission (drain plug) and one will be located somewhere up the upper half of the transmission (fill plug). When you open the fill plug, some transmission fluid should leak out. If it does, then it's full. If it doesn't leak out, you'll need to fill it until it does start to leak out and then put the plug back on

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What can cause my car not to go into gear after the car is warmed up?

Check The Transmission Fluid, Is It Low? Check At Operating Temperature, Is The Fluid In The Cross Hatched Area Of The Dip Stick? Is It Touching The Dip Stick? If It Is Not On The Dip Stick It May Just Be Low, Or, After You Add Fluid To Top It Off (Get It In The Cross Hatched Area Of The Dip Stick) And It Still Will Not Go Into Gear Or Move The Vehicle Normally, The Clutches May Be Smoked (Shot, Ruined) Have An Experienced Transmission Mechanic Look At It To Tell For Sure. If You Could Get It To A Trans. Shop By Trailer, They May Take A Quick Look & Tell You If There Is Any Hope. Hope This Helps.
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The red fluid is probably transmission fluid. Pick some up on your finger smell it and if possible compare it to known transmission fluid. You invariably have a leak. If you want to find the leak try this.

Locate a large piece of cardboard and place this under your cars engine compartment just after you garage it tonight. The cardboard will tell all on the leak location.

As far as adding trans fluid . . . you only need to ad fluid if it is low. The transmission is often refered to as a transaxle. Also transmission fluid is most commonly added via the transmission fluid dip stick hole via funnel. Be Careful not to over fill the transmission.

Good Luck
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