Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level is when the engine oil
is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one
or more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any
of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services’’ in
the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your Aurora retail facility
Service Department.
If
you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading
on the dipstick.
I
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle.
Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting a
fire. Be sure to
get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
6-18
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level if you have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
0 At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
0 While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at
normal operating temperature, which is
1 80°F to
200°F (82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24
km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it's colder than 50°F (lO"C), you may
have to drive longer.
Checking the Fluid Level
0 Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
0 With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK
(P).
0 With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in
PARK (P).
Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes.
Then, without shutting
off the engine, follow these steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and
wipe it with a clean rag
or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull
it back out again.
6-19
I Maintenance Schedule I
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, the fluid and
filter do not require changing.
52,500 Miles (87 500 km)
!J Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed, reset monitor.
See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote *.)
[7 Lubricate chassis components (or at each engine oil and filter change).
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in the Index for proper
(See footnote
At.)
rotation
pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.)
60,000 Miles (100 000 km)
0 Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed, reset monitor.
See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote ’k.)
(See footnote #.)
Lubricate chassis components (or at each engine oil and filter change).
DATE
DATE
(Continued)
7-9
I Maintenance Schedule I
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
0 Inspect spark plug wires.
Replace spark plugs.
0 Change automatic transaxle fluid and bottom screens if the vehicle is mainly
An Emission Control Service.
An Emission Control Service.
driven under one or more of these conditions:
I DATE 1
I MILEAGE ACTUAL I SERVICEDBY I
- In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your veh.icle under any of these conditions, th.e jluid and
filter do not require changing.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
17 Drain, flush and refill cooling system (or every 60 months since last service,
MILEAGE whichever occurs first). See “Engine Coolant” in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and neck. Pressure test
the cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
7-13
Battery Voltage Message ......................... 2-77
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-7
Belt. Engine Accessory
.......................... 6-72
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-7
Blizzard
...................................... 4-27
Brake Adjustment
.................................. 6-30
Fluid
....................................... 6-28
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-28
Parkmg
..................................... 2-27
PedalTravel
................................. 6-30
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-3 1
System Warning Light
......................... 2-66
Trailer
...................................... 4-34
Transaxle Shift Interlock Check
.................. 7- 16
Wear
....................................... 6-30
Brakes. Anti-Lock
............................... 4-7
Braking
........................................ 4-6
Braking in Emergencies
.......................... 4-10
Break-In. New Vehicle
.......................... 2- 19
Brightness Control
.............................. 2-45
BTSICheck
................................... 7-16
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-33
Exterior Front
................................ 6-33
Exterior Rear
................................ 6-38
Interior Lamps
............................... 6-42
Canadian Roadside Assistance
.................... 8-6
Capacities and Specifications
...................... 6-70
Carbon Monoxide
.......... 2- 15. 2.3 1.2.32.4.28. 4.34 Cassette
Deck Service
........................... 7-14
Cassette Tape Player
............................ 3-14
Care
....................................... 3-25
Errors
...................................... 3-14
Cellular Telephone
.............................. 2-55
Center Passenger Position ........................ 1-32
Central Door Unlocking System
.................... 2-5
Certification Label .............................. 4-30
Chains. Safety
................................. 4-34
Chains. Tire
................................... 6-50
Change Oil Soon Message
........................ 2-78
Changing a Flat Tire
............................. 5-24
Check Oil Level Warning
......................... 2-79
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-51
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-57
Child Restraints ................................ 1-37
Securing in a Rear Outside Seat Position
........... 1-42
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position
.......... 1-44
Securing in the Right Front Seat Position
.......... 1-46
TopStrap
................................... 1-42
WheretoPut
................................ 1-41
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-54
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-61
Cleaner. Air
................................... 6-15
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome Wheels
................... 6-56
Fabric
...................................... 6-52
Glass
....................................... 6-54
Inside of
Your Vehicle ......................... 6-51
Instrumentpanel
............................. 6-53
Leather
..................................... 6-53
9-2
Driving City
........................................ 4-20
Defensive
.................................... 4-2
Drunken
..................................... 4-3
Freeway
.................................... 4-21
InaBlizzard
................................. 4-27
IntheRain
.................................. 4-17
OnCurves
.................................. 4-11
On Grades While Towing a Trailer
............... 4-36
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-23
On Snow
or Ice .............................. 4-26
Throughwater
............................... 4-19
WetRoads .................................. 4-17
Winter
...................................... 4-25
With a Trailer
................................ 4-35
DrunkenDriving
................................ 4-3
Night
...................................... 4-16
Elapsed Time Indicator
......................... 2-80
Electrical Equipment. Adding ........... 2.22. 3.25. 6-60
Electrical System
............................... 6-60
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview Mirror
.......... 2-48
Electronic Climate Control
........................ 3-2
Electronic Level Control
......................... 4-3 1
Engine ....................................... 6-10
Accessory Belt
............................... 6-72
Coolant
..................................... 6-21
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-23
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7- 14
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-70
Exhaust
..................................... 2-31 Fuse Blocks
................................. 6-69
Identification
................................ 6-59
OilLevelCheck .............................. 7-14
Overheating
................................. 5-14
Running While Parked
......................... 2-32
Specifications
................................ 6-71
Starting Your
................................ 2-21
Engine Message (DIC)
........................... 2-77
EngineOil
.................................... 6-11
Adding
..................................... 6-11
Additives
................................... 6-14
Checlung
................................... 6-11
Life Monitor ................................. 2-78
Pressure Light
............................... 2-73
Used
....................................... 6-14
Whentochange
.............................. 6-14
Estimated Time
of Arrival ........................ 2-79
Exhaust, Engine
................................ 2-31
Exit Lighting
.................................. 2-46
Express-Down Window
.......................... 2-33
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-52
Fan Knob. Climate Control System
.................. 3-3
Filling Your Tank ................................ 6-5
Filter. Air
..................................... 6-17
Finish Care
.................................... 6-55
Finish Damage
................................. 6-57
First Gear. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-26
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flash-To-Pass Feature ........................... 2-37
Flat Tire. Changing
............................. 5-24
9-4
Fluid Capacities ................................ 6-70
FogLamps
.................................... 2-43
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-5
Front Storage Armrest
........................... 2-52
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-20
FrenchLanguage Manual
11
FrontTowing .................................. 5-11
Fuel
.......................................... 6-3
Canada
...................................... 6-3
Door Release Button
........................... 6-6
Filling a Portable Container
...................... 6-8
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-5
Gage
....................................... 2-74
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-5
RangeDisplay
............................... 2-77
UsedDisplay
................................ 2-77
Used Reset. Driver Information Center
............ 2-77
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-61
.. ...........................
Gages
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-70
Fuel
....................................... 2-74
Garage Door Opener
............................ 2-56
GarmentHook
................................. 2-55
GloveBox
.................................... 2-52
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-30
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-30
Guide en Frangais
11
GAWR ....................................... 4-30
.. .................................
GVWR ....................................... 4-30 Halogen
Bulbs
................................ 6-33
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-2
Head Restraints
................................. 1-7
Headlamps
............................... 2-36, 2-42
Aiming
..................................... 6-36
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-33
Wiring
..................................... 6-60
High/Low Beam Changer ...................... 2-37
Hearing Impaired. Customer Assistance
.............. 8-4
Heated Outside Mirror
........................... 2-52
Heatedseats
.................................... 1-5
Heating ........................................ 3-7
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-37
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-23
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-34
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-8
Release
...................................... 6-9
Horn
......................................... 2-33
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-19
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2-20
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
.................... 7-17
Illuminated Entry
............................... 2-46
Inadvertent Load Protection
....................... 2-48
Inflation. Tire
.................................. 6-44
Inspections
.................................... 7-18
Brakesystem
................................ 7-19
Engine Cooling System ........................ 7-18
Rear Door Security ............................. 2-7
Tr~nk
...................................... 2-14
Window
.................................... 2-33
Lubricants and Fluids
............................ 7-20
Lubrication Service. Body
........................ 7- 15
Lumbar Controls
................................ 1-3
Magnasteer
M ................................ 4. 10
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts
............ 6-7 1
Maintenance Record ............................ 7-22
Maintenance Schedule
............................ 7- 1
Owner Checks and Services ..................... 7- 14
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7- 18
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-20
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-4
Maintenance. Underbody
......................... 6-57
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-7 1
Maxifuse/Relay Center
.......................... 6-6 1
Memory Door Locks
........................ 2.5. 2. 11
Memory Seat and Mirrors
........................ 2- 11
Methanol
...................................... 6-4
Mirrors
....................................... 2-48
Convex Outside
.............................. 2-52
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview
.............. 2-48
Heated Outside
............................... 2-52
Memory
.................................... 2-11
Parallel Park Assist
........................... 2-5 1
Power Remote Control
......................... 2-5 1
Visor Vanity. Illuminated ....................... 2-55
With Compass
............................... 2-48
Maintenance
When Trailer Towing
................. 4-37 MMT
......................................... 6-4
Mountain Roads
................................ 4-23
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-34
Net. Convenience
.............................. 2-53
Neutral. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-25
New Vehicle Break-In
........................... 2-19
Nightvision
................................... 4-16
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ............. 6-71
Odometer
.................................... 2-63
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-63
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4-13
Oil. Engine
.................................... 6-11
Oil Life Indicator
............................... 2-78
Oil Pressure Light
.............................. 2-73
Oil Pressure Message
............................ 2-77
Overdrive. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-26
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
....... 5-14
Overheating Engine
............................. 5-14
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-14
Owner Publications. Ordering
................. 8-9. 8-10
Paint Spotting. Chemical
........................ 6-57
Parallel Park Assist Mirror
........................ 2-51
Park
Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2-24
Shifting Into
................................. 2-28
Shifting
Out of ............................... 2-30