THAT is one of THE stupidest processes I've ever seen!!! I get it, though. You HAVE to take it in to a professional who has either a pit in the floor or a lift jack to get under it. $$$$$$ Gotta get your hard earned cash! Thanks for the vid, brother!
I think it's by design to force normal car owners to take it in to there dealerships every 50k miles. And where I live as soon as you hand over the keys they can legally charge you for 1 hour of service.
Just tryna get you to buy a new car. But little do they know that if the transmission doesn’t last 100k miles, most people won’t buy another one. Capitalism and stupidity at its finest.
I will seriously reconsider buying GM products in the future. I agree that it's the dumbest thing I've seen in awhile. (And I'm having transmission problems today with my Chevy Cobalt.)
The direct cause for this stupidity is car maker’s hiring engineers straight out of school and letting them have it while patting them on the back for such great ideas and it’s not just Chevy and you can’t really blame the young engineers because they honestly think they’re doing something good for the lack of experience like it’s a new idea but you are correct, it’s stupid as crap to anyone who is old enough to have actually had to work on something or old enough to have life lessons.
I assume there's a bunch of engineers sitting around a table and they have a contest to see how complicated they can make something that should be easy.
@@jerryo21 your welcome, they don't care that they are making it harder, they are looking at it their saving 2 dollars per car by not supplying a dipstick
That’s a deal that auto manufacturers make with their dealers so people will have to bring their vehicles back after warranty has expired, they made this deal because the dealerships only get about half of what they charge when doing repairs under warranty
No fluid is lifetime even if it doesn’t leak. No exceptions. The best fluid on this planet is not lifetime. I like your eyes explaining these stupid engineers.
i think the sun gear or something is right under the fill hole i tried putting a dipstick in. a lot of cars have sort of the same it is not just GM. I already knew about this way. I thought you had a way from the top. Well if the trans is not leaking you really do not need to check that often. is the flex joint leaking on your exhaust?
I found this out a few years ago when the trans cooler line that runs under the radiator rusted through and started leaking. I was a good thing we noticed the fluid on the driveway before it was all gone. The other interesting thing is that apparently the trans cooler lines (and brake lines) are made from a rust resistant steel EXCEPT for a short section that runs in a concealed channel under the radiator. And, that piece is a dealer-only item. Between work and the weather I couldn't do the repair, so we ending paying about $400 for repair and a trans service at the dealer. Still, the cars got 180,000 miles and engine and trans still work fine. I remember the days when 80,000 to 100,000 miles was about the life expectancy for an engine and auto trans. And, the typical clutch was good for about 40,000 miles, so cars have improved.
@@blakessite thank you! It's dark and I'm going to get it in the morning, mine rusted through center of radiator. I thought it was a power steering line first. I went to fill fluid and damn near lost it. 3.5 is not supposed to be electric... according to manual. This one lost some points for Chevy and corporate greed.. thanks again,, take care!
@@fishconsinlange8901 👍 no problem. That fluid is not cheap. By my house we have a haz waste drop off and they have a FREE store so people drop off stuff they don't want and the put it in the free store and people can grab what they need. Everytime I'm there I grab any Dextron 4 they have.
A man after my own heart. I never do any work on my car without having a few beers inside me. Obviously him to otherwise he wouldn't have arked his fill funnel on the positive of the battery.🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪
My cobalt revs a little bit when driving between 20 and 35 but it doesn't do it all the time just once in a while also never does it on the highway.. what could this be? I cleaned the throttle body did an oil change.. no engine lights on or anything either.. 196k miles
I had changed the fluid and filter because the car stopped going forward. It was a cracked supply tube in the pan. My tranny cooler line was leaking a little so I had been adding a little fluid here and there.
blakessite awesome I found it I had over filled it when I did the transmission filter because I forgot to account for the 5 quarts in the torque converter but this video saved me I was able to drain it and level it out thanks for the video I appreciate your time
You have to drive the vehicle for like 20 minutes, and get both the trans and engine up to operating temp BEFORE you check the level...if it is cold, the level will be higher, and make you think it's full...
I like your style hahah i dont mind the bitching lol cause its just not made for the lay person to do.. its got dealership written all over this design.
This does NOT work. I tested it this way, and there was "too much" so i brought it down to were it was bearly leaking out, and took it for a test drive and it fried my transmission. It was about 4 quarts low. BEWARE!!!
Break the fill plug loose while car is cold, then heat up the car to temp. It makes the job a bit more tolerable. I hate GM engineers for allowing their bean counters to force this into production.
The reason there is no need for a dipstick is NOT because the fluid is good for the life of the vehicle (it's not -- read the owners manual). It is because there should never be any reason for the fluid to be low unless there is a leak. A transmission does not "use" oil like an engine. There is no combustion process and no cylinder blow-by. It's like a rear-end, if there's no leaks anywhere it will be full.
Peter L , yeah I know that's their justification for being cheap asses. Your correct that transmissions don't loose fluid without leaking. But when you have 190000 miles on it things can seep or have a slight leaks (cooler lines). So adding a half a quart every 6 months is no big deal. So why since the dawn of time did they have dipsticks? Lastly - THE PROCEDURE THEY CAME UP WITH TO CHECK THE FLUID IS F-N ASININE.
@@blakessite In my experience, I agree with this. My son just a bought a 2006 Malibu and we are going through everything now. I like to check the level, and color, of the fluids as part of normal maintenance, especially on a vehicle with this many miles on it. I would add that since there is this propensity to lose at least some fluid over so many miles, why would you create such a difficult problem for your consumers where there was a solution since the dawn of time. Obviously a bad idea.
They also don't even say it in manual, actually they send you on a goose chase. Supposedly there is a dipstick on top of motor cover on 3500's. Not so, mine has the same as on video. Also the manual states that the power steering is electric on 4 cyl only. They outright lied! Well in manual it says that power steering is electric on the 4 cyl. 3.5 and 3.9 have pump. I don't have a power steering pump. It's electric too... SMH
Damn bro is that thing a diesel... you look like a serious accident about to happen.. Be safe..funnel is still flapping around on top of that motor you're crazy man
Lol thanks for the concern bro. I am pretty much an accident waiting to happen. Just think checking transmission fluid should not involve any risk whatsoever LOL (thanks General Motors)
Somebody wants to give me an 05 Malibu with 200k...and it kinda doesn't shift that good (short delay, kinda burnt smell). I am not sure I should accept the free car. My old 89 Toyota picjup is over in the woods ready to be fixed.
You have to drive the vehicle for like 20 minutes minimum, and get both the trans and engine up to operating temp BEFORE you check the level...if it is cold, the level will be higher, and make you think it's full when it's actually low...which is why the vehicle in this video showed it was full, when it likely was actually low...
I agree it's best if the vehicle is warm. but the fluid expands when it's hot so there's actually less fluid when it's cold not more. But I do appreciate the feedback
Drôle de mécano ce gars la ... Des le début il provoque cour circuit(spark) avec son entonnoir , il aurait du débrancher le pôle négatif de la batterie au début ou prendre une entonnoir en plastique ,lol, de tel cour circuit peu briser des composante comme l'alternateur ou d'autres composantes électronique. La procédure devrait être comme suit, Soulever le véhicule, dévisser le bouchon de vérification prendre un outils appeler Allen key ou un fils de fer et vérifier le niveau du liquide il doit être au ras du bouchon de vérification , normalement ont effectue cette vérification lors de la vidange d'huile du moteur. Je ne pense pas que ce sois stupide que les fabricants ont enlever la tige de vérification (dip stick) ses types de transmission se vérifie moteur arrêter (engine off ) comparativement aux anciens modèles qui se vérifiait moteur en marche( in park or neutral)lors d'un remplacement du liquide de transmission ont vérifie le type et la quantité du liquide dans les spécification des fabricants pour pouvoir jauger la quantité a mettre dans la transmission. les changement du liquide est recommender a des intervalles dans le guide du propriétaire . mécanicien et enseignant depuis 1999
Been a Chevy guy forever, but this is unacceptable
When I had to pull the transmission to remove the oil pan I was ready to round house kit the gm engineers who designed this thing
Not only did I learn something... but I thoroughly enjoyed the commentary! Thx again!
Thanks I appreciate it
THAT is one of THE stupidest processes I've ever seen!!! I get it, though. You HAVE to take it in to a professional who has either a pit in the floor or a lift jack to get under it. $$$$$$ Gotta get your hard earned cash! Thanks for the vid, brother!
Very well done! I was able to check my fluid with your help.
I think it's by design to force normal car owners to take it in to there dealerships every 50k miles. And where I live as soon as you hand over the keys they can legally charge you for 1 hour of service.
If you’re lucky and don’t get charged for a repair…
It's their, not there. Two totally different words and meanings.
In a Nutshell, Sound like a good name for your Garage.
GM wants you to go to the dealership for your service
Let them want. I'll never buy another GM
And they still do a crappy job! 😂
Just tryna get you to buy a new car. But little do they know that if the transmission doesn’t last 100k miles, most people won’t buy another one. Capitalism and stupidity at its finest.
Corporate ba$tards
I will seriously reconsider buying GM products in the future. I agree that it's the dumbest thing I've seen in awhile. (And I'm having transmission problems today with my Chevy Cobalt.)
But how do you know if it’s low is it slipping? Is it going slow and not kicking in the gear?
Apparently when I searched it say that’s the drain bolt and the one where the lines come in is the level check I have the 07 v6 same bolts so idk
This is why I need to build a oil pit in my drive way..plus it be a storm shelter too
The direct cause for this stupidity is car maker’s hiring engineers straight out of school and letting them have it while patting them on the back for such great ideas and it’s not just Chevy and you can’t really blame the young engineers because they honestly think they’re doing something good for the lack of experience like it’s a new idea but you are correct, it’s stupid as crap to anyone who is old enough to have actually had to work on something or old enough to have life lessons.
I assume there's a bunch of engineers sitting around a table and they have a contest to see how complicated they can make something that should be easy.
why must they keep making things so hard? Thanks for the vid bud
@@jerryo21 your welcome, they don't care that they are making it harder, they are looking at it their saving 2 dollars per car by not supplying a dipstick
Thank you for your knowledge and expertise
No problem, thanks for the kind words.
thanks for the vid, saved me some searching for the %^%$#$% plug time. appreciated. and your dialogue is pure gold.
appreciate the kind words
That’s a deal that auto manufacturers make with their dealers so people will have to bring their vehicles back after warranty has expired, they made this deal because the dealerships only get about half of what they charge when doing repairs under warranty
@@jakduf1 you are correct
I gotta do my radiator on my 07 3.5 malibu and take the cooler lines off for the trans. Thanks for the details, helped a lot.
No fluid is lifetime even if it doesn’t leak. No exceptions. The best fluid on this planet is not lifetime.
I like your eyes explaining these stupid engineers.
i think the sun gear or something is right under the fill hole i tried putting a dipstick in. a lot of cars have sort of the same it is not just GM. I already knew about this way. I thought you had a way from the top. Well if the trans is not leaking you really do not need to check that often. is the flex joint leaking on your exhaust?
Thanks for the help brotha! The engine sounds a little loud eh compared to mine..
your welcome glad it helped
I found this out a few years ago when the trans cooler line that runs under the radiator rusted through and started leaking. I was a good thing we noticed the fluid on the driveway before it was all gone. The other interesting thing is that apparently the trans cooler lines (and brake lines) are made from a rust resistant steel EXCEPT for a short section that runs in a concealed channel under the radiator. And, that piece is a dealer-only item. Between work and the weather I couldn't do the repair, so we ending paying about $400 for repair and a trans service at the dealer. Still, the cars got 180,000 miles and engine and trans still work fine. I remember the days when 80,000 to 100,000 miles was about the life expectancy for an engine and auto trans. And, the typical clutch was good for about 40,000 miles, so cars have improved.
Mine just flipped to 300,000 miles and still going
yep mine has 300,000 miles now
Did they do this with other models? It seems that there are 06 and 07 malibu. I am curious if they did it to other model cars?
Do you know if an 2004 malibu lt check plug is in the same location
Yes
The years might have a dipstick
Thank you!! I am looking at this freaking owners manual and it says dipstick out of view! I was like wtf!!
So we know where the tire goes. This plug, is it towards the front of car rear of car, drivers side or passenger?
Passenger side front on the extension housing that the CV axle goes into
@@blakessite thank you! It's dark and I'm going to get it in the morning, mine rusted through center of radiator. I thought it was a power steering line first. I went to fill fluid and damn near lost it. 3.5 is not supposed to be electric... according to manual. This one lost some points for Chevy and corporate greed.. thanks again,, take care!
@@fishconsinlange8901 👍 no problem. That fluid is not cheap. By my house we have a haz waste drop off and they have a FREE store so people drop off stuff they don't want and the put it in the free store and people can grab what they need. Everytime I'm there I grab any Dextron 4 they have.
A man after my own heart. I never do any work on my car without having a few beers inside me.
Obviously him to otherwise he wouldn't have arked his fill funnel on the positive of the battery.🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪
😂😂😂😂 this guy is funny asf
It's amazing how much money they pay these college grads to sit behind their desk and come up with those brilliant ideas
Keep in mind Valvoline ATF multi vehicle is not recommended for use in GM Dextron VI vehicles
You are correct !
I just drain it and change the filter and gasket,and i add whatever comes out to a gallon jug,so whatever the gallon says i just add again.
My cobalt revs a little bit when driving between 20 and 35 but it doesn't do it all the time just once in a while also never does it on the highway.. what could this be? I cleaned the throttle body did an oil change.. no engine lights on or anything either.. 196k miles
Sounds like the transmission is slipping. Check the levels and or do a fluid change
Mine is the torque converter, it can lock up while driving and cause it to shudder, it's part of the transmission
Every expense spared on this car. However it has been a pretty reliable car all things considered.
Yep that one has 275,000
Should the transmission be warm or just have the car running?
I did it just running.
Operating temp. Warm
Thanks for the video! Did you add new oil before the video?
I had changed the fluid and filter because the car stopped going forward. It was a cracked supply tube in the pan. My tranny cooler line was leaking a little so I had been adding a little fluid here and there.
By design so you take it somewhere. Genius
Try putting an intake gasket on it- see what thoughts come to you
Already did
I pulled the port plug, started car and it pump all transmission fluid out. Wtf?
Adding fluid if too much is added what could occur?
It can expand the tringle shaft which looses traction on the diffy plate then slips like crazy
Is it the same for an 06 Malibu with the 4 cylinder? Thanks for the video too!!
Yep
blakessite awesome I found it I had over filled it when I did the transmission filter because I forgot to account for the 5 quarts in the torque converter but this video saved me I was able to drain it and level it out thanks for the video I appreciate your time
You have to drive the vehicle for like 20 minutes, and get both the trans and engine up to operating temp BEFORE you check the level...if it is cold, the level will be higher, and make you think it's full...
I'm going to drill a hole on the cap and make my own dipstick!
Good idea , let me know if it works
Nice vid thank you
Dam engineers.
Makes me wonder why an engineer would walk by six virgins just to give it to the mechanic
I took mine to Jiffy Lube and they wouldn't touch it. 😂
That is quite a foolish design. They probably did it with only their dealers in mind to cause the customer to pay more money for regular maintenance.
actually it's more greedy than that. They design cars for ease of assembly and cost. They save 3 dollars per car by not putting a dipstick in.
I like your style hahah i dont mind the bitching lol cause its just not made for the lay person to do.. its got dealership written all over this design.
Oh yeah I got a 2010 Malibu LTZ I'm fixing for my Daughter and I don't think she will have it much longer 😂
How do u check the 2007 chevy Malibu ls?
Same way
Same for the 4 cylinder model
This does NOT work. I tested it this way, and there was "too much" so i brought it down to were it was bearly leaking out, and took it for a test drive and it fried my transmission. It was about 4 quarts low. BEWARE!!!
GM is trash for this. Ugh
I agree that was the stupidest
It is , what were they thinking?
This is right up there with locking lids on washing machines!!!! Hate that too!!!
Some coming out…. Good!!!!!
Bad news, you drive with it over full…😖😖😖
But now you need to fill it because now your too low…😳😳😬😬
Break the fill plug loose while car is cold, then heat up the car to temp. It makes the job a bit more tolerable. I hate GM engineers for allowing their bean counters to force this into production.
The reason there is no need for a dipstick is NOT because the fluid is good for the life of the vehicle (it's not -- read the owners manual). It is because there should never be any reason for the fluid to be low unless there is a leak. A transmission does not "use" oil like an engine. There is no combustion process and no cylinder blow-by. It's like a rear-end, if there's no leaks anywhere it will be full.
Peter L , yeah I know that's their justification for being cheap asses. Your correct that transmissions don't loose fluid without leaking. But when you have 190000 miles on it things can seep or have a slight leaks (cooler lines). So adding a half a quart every 6 months is no big deal.
So why since the dawn of time did they have dipsticks?
Lastly - THE PROCEDURE THEY CAME UP WITH TO CHECK THE FLUID IS F-N ASININE.
@@blakessite In my experience, I agree with this. My son just a bought a 2006 Malibu and we are going through everything now. I like to check the level, and color, of the fluids as part of normal maintenance, especially on a vehicle with this many miles on it. I would add that since there is this propensity to lose at least some fluid over so many miles, why would you create such a difficult problem for your consumers where there was a solution since the dawn of time. Obviously a bad idea.
And maybe we can take a poll from consumers to see who really thinks this was a good idea.
They also don't even say it in manual, actually they send you on a goose chase. Supposedly there is a dipstick on top of motor cover on 3500's. Not so, mine has the same as on video. Also the manual states that the power steering is electric on 4 cyl only. They outright lied! Well in manual it says that power steering is electric on the 4 cyl. 3.5 and 3.9 have pump. I don't have a power steering pump. It's electric too... SMH
Are you drunk man tf
Definitely not A smart design on GMs part ridiculous. Thanks for the video very useful
This is so dumb abd places charge from $300 to $600 to change the fluid. I'm so pissed because if I had known this prior to buying the car????? ...
Real .
Damn bro is that thing a diesel... you look like a serious accident about to happen.. Be safe..funnel is still flapping around on top of that motor you're crazy man
Lol thanks for the concern bro. I am pretty much an accident waiting to happen. Just think checking transmission fluid should not involve any risk whatsoever LOL (thanks General Motors)
Didn’t know there’s a such thing as a metal funnel.
What?!
Somebody wants to give me an 05 Malibu with 200k...and it kinda doesn't shift that good (short delay, kinda burnt smell). I am not sure I should accept the free car.
My old 89 Toyota picjup is over in the woods ready to be fixed.
That's why I will stay with my 6.0 Diesel for now
my 2011 malibu uses dexron VI
You have to drive the vehicle for like 20 minutes minimum, and get both the trans and engine up to operating temp BEFORE you check the level...if it is cold, the level will be higher, and make you think it's full when it's actually low...which is why the vehicle in this video showed it was full, when it likely was actually low...
I agree it's best if the vehicle is warm. but the fluid expands when it's hot so there's actually less fluid when it's cold not more. But I do appreciate the feedback
A dam good reason not to buy a Chevrolet
POS design. My only and last Chevy.
Omg 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
A for effort
Piss poor design!
Couldn't have said it better myself 👍
Drôle de mécano ce gars la ... Des le début il provoque cour circuit(spark) avec son entonnoir , il aurait du débrancher le pôle négatif de la batterie au début ou prendre une entonnoir en plastique ,lol, de tel cour circuit peu briser des composante comme l'alternateur ou d'autres composantes électronique. La procédure devrait être comme suit, Soulever le véhicule, dévisser le bouchon de vérification prendre un outils appeler Allen key ou un fils de fer et vérifier le niveau du liquide il doit être au ras du bouchon de vérification , normalement ont effectue cette vérification lors de la vidange d'huile du moteur. Je ne pense pas que ce sois stupide que les fabricants ont enlever la tige de vérification (dip stick) ses types de transmission se vérifie moteur arrêter (engine off ) comparativement aux anciens modèles qui se vérifiait moteur en marche( in park or neutral)lors d'un remplacement du liquide de transmission ont vérifie le type et la quantité du liquide dans les spécification des fabricants pour pouvoir jauger la quantité a mettre dans la transmission. les changement du liquide est recommender a des intervalles dans le guide du propriétaire . mécanicien et enseignant depuis 1999
THIS IS INSANE FUCK ME
No wonder TOYOTA ARE THE BEST CARS
I know they are!
But last time I was at the auto parts store they had a lot of Toyota parts for sale.
toyota does not have trans dipstick
I wouldn't buy a Chevy
Bad camera work
Thanks
Thank you for your knowledge and expertise