- Joined
- May 1, 2025
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So I’m trying to figure out what transmission my car actually has because I need to change the fluid soon and I don’t want to mess it up by buying the wrong stuff. I bought the car used from a small dealership a couple years ago and they didn’t have much info on it besides the basics. It shifts fine, but lately I’ve noticed it feels a little different when it’s cold, kind of like it hesitates before going into gear. I figured a fluid change might help, but when I looked it up online, there seem to be a few different versions of this car that came with different transmissions, and I can’t tell which one I’ve got. The dipstick doesn’t say anything except “use approved fluid,” and the manual isn’t any help either since it just lists multiple types depending on the version. I even tried calling a parts store to ask, and the guy there said it depends on which transmission code the car came with, which I’ve never even heard of before. I looked under the hood and saw a few stickers, but I have no idea which one would say something like that. Some people say you can tell by counting the gears or checking the pan shape, but that sounds like guessing to me. I don’t really want to take it apart just to figure out what it is. I was hoping there’d be an easy way to find that info somewhere on the car or paperwork, but everything I’ve checked so far has been vague. I just want to make sure I use the right fluid and filter because I’ve heard using the wrong kind can cause problems. I thought maybe the VIN would help, but when I put it into a few websites, it just says “automatic transmission” without any details. It’s honestly kind of frustrating because it seems like something basic that should be easy to find. I’m not a mechanic, I just like keeping my car in good shape, and I want to do this right without guessing. Has anyone else run into this before or know where that info might be printed or labeled?
