Whenever I check my tranny fluid, I can't seem to get a clear reading. The dipstick always has bits of fluid here and there, but not a solid streak on the stick. Today, I added a pint of fluid, and it is still doing the same thing. I know there is fluid in the tranny cause I just had a factory new tranny put in by the local Mazda dealer. Should I just go by the bits of fluid, or add until I see a full streak?

 

I assume its an auto...
on that assumption, Id say check both sides of the stick. generally, one side will have a streak down one side, the other will have more or less. take the average of the two sides. Oh, and I dont mean to insult your intellegents, but you are checking at idle in park right? Ive never checked atf in a rx7 before but i did work in a trans shop for 1.5 years and to my knowledge dodges are the only thing you have to check in neutral. Ive never heard of anything like this, especially if your car is pulling and isnt shifting weird.
-Rob

 

Yes sir, I am checking it in park and at idle. I read the Haynes Repair manual, and it said to run it through all the gear ranges, which I did, and to let it come up to operating temp. It shifts fine. Other than that that is about all I can tell you. Shuld I just add a quart of fluid and see where that puts me?

 

Hmm, that is odd indeed. I have never heard of something like that happening ever. Overfilling an auto is sometimes as bad as underfilling it. Im not sure if the mazda units have a burp valve to drain excess atf or if they dont. regardless, overfilling it is not good. either you could blow the unit or youre gonna have atf in your driveway. if you let it idle in park for enough time(8-10 mins) it will give the atf time to come out of the filler tube, so if its low, it will read low. What we usually did was disregard things that could be splatter, and go with a thick stripe on one side or on the whole dipstick. Sorry i couldnt answer your question, but i hope i could give you some scenarios to walk through.
-Rob

 

Yeh man, Thx. I really appreciate it. IF worse comes to worse I could just take it to the Mazda dealer and have them see what idsgoing on with it. Thx again.

 

What you might also want to do is call up a few local trans shops. Luckily, the one i worked for was straight, but as im sure there are a bunch that would tell you anything to get your money, check around. I wouldnt go to the dealer if they sold you an entire trans (im guessing thats case and all) if it was slipping or shifting wrong or something. a build would have been cheaper.
-Rob

 

The thing is that the tranny is factory new, and I think if I take anywhere else besides the dealer, it will void the warrenty. I just don't know how to explain to them that I can't check the fluid without sounding like an idiot.

 

You could take it in and see if they have a mechanic who is not busy, leave it out in the parking lot (they prob wont let you in their shop for insurance reasons) and show them how you've been doing it. That would have worked at the place i worked at, but then again, i live in a small town and most everybody knew my bosses or vice versa. I would say its worth a try, but do call ahead beforhand so you dont make a useless trip.

Oh, and dont worry about sounding like an idiot, just tell them whats going on. Im sure that shop gets hundreds of dumb customers per month and next week/month/year they wont remember you.
-Rob

 

Alright, will do. Thx for your help.