Did my filter and fluid today. Was relatively messy but no big deal. The service manual instructs you to drain the fluid using the drain plug. Even gives a torque spec when installing. There aint no freakin drain plug. Tried to siphon it out thru the fill but my hose didnt get it all.

I hope the dealer hours for that job take into account the drain plug that doesnt exist. Filter and gasket was $59 from dealer . I cant trust an aftermarket for this.

Pan was relatively clean. No pieces of anything. Just filings stuck to the magnet.

 

Well good,so thats a maintenance item out of the way for a while! But $59 for a filter and gasket? Believe me:you CAN trust many aftermarket brands of filters for this trans! Fram,Wix(who makes NAPA filters) among others. You can even buy the AC/Delco kit from an AC jobber for less than $35! Shop around next time! Happy Holidays! step66

 

Why?
GM doesn't make the filter or the fluid.
I've never used Dealer parts if they're available aftermarket.
Why pay 50-100% for the same re-branded part?

 

The nice thing this job is behind you and you may never have to drop the pan again. As you noticed these are filters really do not function as oil filters like an engine oil filter and seldom need to be changed and if they do then the transmission has about chewed itself to death. More and more transmissions do not even come with more than a wire mesh screen.

 

Yeah could have planned ahead and got it for less. Still ahead of the neighbors. LOL

 

Went to do the filter change on my '95. Loosened all the pan bolts and got ready to drop it....starting coming down...then the pan hits the exhaust cross-over, tips forward, spills fluid. Pan will not go pass the cross-over......made a huge mess as I had to pour the fluid out of the pan and most of it missed the tub I had under and went onto the garage floor.

Went to the filter on my '02....and was ready this time...but the pan clears the exhaust cross-over...no mess.

 

I paid $27.00 for the Fram Filter and Gasket off E-Bay. (Free shipping).

 

You can siphon the tranny fluid before dropping the pan. Buy a piece of clear vinyl tub and put it down the fill tube. Avoid the mess

 

payed 10 bucks at autozone for my filter and gasket no issues with it so far going on about 2 years. its going to get changed this spring with the same kit!

 

Get my filters and gaskets at oreillys, $10. Long tube headers and a cast aluminum deel sump pan. My exhaust hasn't bee in the way for years and I have a drain plug.


The trans filter is really just a screen, no need to pay overpriced dealer prices on any of it. As with most common wear items you are only paying for gm to rebrand it. I have family that works at gm dealerships and they don't even fall for the dealer parts is better hype.