Cavalier owner from Maryland

[JohnnyGrey]

The scangauge does have a fuel cutoff adjustment setting. If this is too high it won't register fuel cutoff. Check idle fuel consumption (GPH gauge) and set your fuel cutoff to just below that.

That doesn't do me much good since my car idles at 0.4GPH and it thinks I'm using 0.5-0.8GPH on decel depending on RPM. Plus, my firmware is about 2 years old.

[gamer_jim]

Originally Posted by JohnnyGrey

The overflow hole should be on the driver's side of the transmission. I got my filter/gasket kit from Advance Auto, but I'm sure Pep Boys has it as well. It's a behind-the-counter part, but very common.

Ok, so I went to Autozone this morning and got the transmission filter kit. I just dropped the transmission pan. I don't see a magnet on the pan but there is the gray sludge on it when I rub my finger on it. Am I missing the magnet? or am I not looking in the right place? I still haven't located the overflow plug. Do I access it from underneath the car? Or from the hood?

I sent you a PM also.

Thanks again,
Jim

[JohnnyGrey]

Ok, so I went to Autozone this morning and got the transmission filter kit. I just dropped the transmission pan. I don't see a magnet on the pan but there is the gray sludge on it when I rub my finger on it. Am I missing the magnet?

My entire pan was covered in sludge too, but there was a credit card sized bar magnet with an extra concentration of sludge. If you don't have this, don't worry. Just be sure to clean the pan with brake or engine cleaner until it's shiny again. Then hose that stuff off with water and let air dry.

The filter kit should come with a sleeve that fits between the transmission and the filter. You'll want to replace this too. Don't try to pry it out, instead take a screwdriver and bend about half an inch of the lip outwards, then grab the lip with a pair of vise-grips and twist. This will cause the sleeve to buckle, reducing its diameter, and it will fall right out.

The check plug on the transmission is located on the underside of the transmission, very close to the exhaust flex pipe. It is on the side of the unit just above the pan.

This is what my service manual says:

With the engine running and the transaxle at normal operating temperature (having idled for 3 to 5 minutes), locate the fluid level check plug on the transaxle. The check plug is located right above the right front corner of the transaxle oil pan, near the engine oil drain plug. Place an oil container under the check plug and remove it. Observe the fluid as it drips into the pan, indicating correct fluid level. The fluid level should be at the bottom of the check hole. If fluid pours out excessively, the transaxle may have been over-filled. Double-check to make sure the vehicle is level. If no fluid drips from the check hole, add small amounts of fluid through the filler cap at the top of the transaxle until the level is at the bottom of the check hole. A long necked funnel will be necessary to add fluid. Be sure to install the check plug and tighten it securely when done.

Congrats for taking on the job.

[gamer_jim]

Thanks so much to JohnnyGrey and others. I got my transmission fluid changed yesterday. I wrote about it here on my blog:

http://neffland.blogspot.com/2008/05...w-can-ick.html

I also bought a 12-volt air compressor and upped my tire pressure to 40 PSI. Also replace the air filter.

I filled up my tank last night and calculated MPG to be 32.16. That's the best ever I have calculated for my car. Hopefully with the new changes I can do better next tank. I'm shooting for 40 MPG without serious mods to my car.

Thanks again, and I'll stop hijacking my own thread now. I look forward to learning much more on this forum.

--Jim

[JohnnyGrey]

Uh oh. I mistakenly assumed that your car had a 4 speed automatic, which my instructions would have been accurate for. My apologies! The 4 speed does not have a dipstick. Now I see that your car was the last model year that had the abysmal 3 speed as an option! On the plus side, it is the strongest transmission available for that car, even stronger than the 4 speed. On the other hand, it gives your car a rating of 20/27 (by 08 standards). I didn't know if you had or needed a torque wrench. I just tightened by feel and haven't had issues for the last 30K mi. Let me know what RPMs you run at 55mph, the next time you're on the highway. BTW, my advice about 53mph being the most efficient cruising speed is now null and void.

Great write-up though, and I'm honored to be mentioned on your blog! I see that we're both programmers as well, very nice