Automatic transmission fluid won't go down the hole

[CannonBoldwin]

I bagan to change the ATF yesterday in my 1999 Subaru Legacy Wagon with
111000 miles. The drain plug opened and yielded approximately 4 quarts
of brownish fluid. I changed the AT external filter ($33.00) USD adn
proceeded to run the engine while refilling the tranny. After about
two quarts the funnel would not empty and fluid was draining out of the
filler hole and onto the garage floor. I took out the funnel and
looked at the hole. It was all the way to the top. I opened the drain
plug again and it was still dry. Anyone know what happened? This is
my only car and I need it to run. Thanks

 

[bgd]

without moving car try moving shifter though reverse, drive, neutral and
park. See if new filter took any fluid, if not fill it manually (prime it).I
had a louzy job at a quick lube 13 years ago......Never encountered your
prob in any of over several hundred transmissions serviced! Still no go,
there is an internal filter that needs to be changed every 30,000 miles
unlike the external filter which is 60,000 miles (hmmm, kinda backwards
putting the difficult filter at a more frequent interval)
-good luck.

 

[sewiv]

It sounds to me like you drained your engine oil. Check your oil
dipstick (usually yellow), wipe it clean, and check it again. If it
comes out dry, you drained your engine oil, then overfilled your
transmission. You need to refill your engine and figure out where the
drain
plug is for the transmission.

 

[johninKY]

Good call. Bet you are correct. Wonder why I didn't think about that?

 

[CannonBoldwin]

No. I've changed the oil every 3,000 miles for the last 100,000 miles.
I pulled the AT pan off today and it was empty of fluid. I cleaned
the mating surfaces and re-gasketed it and looked at the AT filler
hole. Still has AT fluid up to the top. I drained 4 quarts and only
added 3. What gives? Is there a stuck check valve or something?

 

[CannonBoldwin]

No. I've changed the oil every 3,000 miles for the last 100,000 miles.
I pulled the AT pan off today and it was empty of fluid. I cleaned
the mating surfaces and re-gasketed it and looked at the AT filler
hole. Still has AT fluid up to the top. I drained 4 quarts and only
added 3. What gives? Is there a stuck check valve or something?

 

[CannonBoldwin]

No. I've changed the oil every 3,000 miles for the last 100,000 miles.
I pulled the AT pan off today and it was empty of fluid. I cleaned
the mating surfaces and re-gasketed it and looked at the AT filler
hole. Still has AT fluid up to the top. I drained 4 quarts and only
added 3. What gives? Is there a stuck check valve or something?

 

[CannonBoldwin]

No. I've changed the oil every 3,000 miles for the last 100,000 miles.
I pulled the AT pan off today and it was empty of fluid. I cleaned
the mating surfaces and re-gasketed it and looked at the AT filler
hole. Still has AT fluid up to the top. I drained 4 quarts and only
added 3. What gives? Is there a stuck check valve or something?

 

[CannonBoldwin]

No. I've changed the oil every 3,000 miles for the last 100,000 miles.
I pulled the AT pan off today and it was empty of fluid. I cleaned
the mating surfaces and re-gasketed it and looked at the AT filler
hole. Still has AT fluid up to the top. I drained 4 quarts and only
added 3. What gives? Is there a stuck check valve or something?

 

[CannonBoldwin]

You all were right. I was putting AT fluid in the Diff hole. I
drained the diff and added gear oil, found the real AT hole and filled
it to level. Problem solved. Thanks Guys

 

[Mickey]

You all were right. I was putting AT fluid in the Diff hole. I
drained the diff and added gear oil, found the real AT hole and filled
it to level. Problem solved. Thanks Guys

Just read your post and the first thing that came to mind was, you
filled the diff and not the AT.

Nice to see you got it figured out.

Mickey

 

[Bugalugs]

You all were right. I was putting AT fluid in the Diff hole. I
drained the diff and added gear oil, found the real AT hole and filled
it to level. Problem solved. Thanks Guys

You weren't the first by a long way, and you won't be the last

 

[Edward Hayes]

And I thought JiffyLub people were the only baddies.

 

[Rick Courtright]

I pulled the AT pan off today and it was empty of fluid. I cleaned
the mating surfaces and re-gasketed it and looked at the AT filler
hole. Still has AT fluid up to the top. I drained 4 quarts and only
added 3. What gives? Is there a stuck check valve or something?

Hi,

It's been many years since I changed an automatic trans filter, so I'm
admittedly out of date here, but "way back when" it seems I was told
there were a few that could be installed "wrong" (probably flat ones
turned end for end???) which could/would impede fluid flow. I haven't a
clue what your car's filter design is (aren't the newest ones a spin on
like your oil filter?), but is there any chance of something like that
happening with yours?

Rick

 

[Rick Courtright]

like your oil filter?), but is there any chance of something like that
happening with yours?

Hi,

Please ignore this post. My newsreader just gave me the rest of the
thread where I read the problem's solved. Glad to hear it!

Rick