[Plarka]

I just bought my Corolla second hand in August from a guy who seemed to take good care of it. This past week it was sounding louder and a little weird when it was changing gears (automatic) up to about 35mph. I thought it was because when my husband changed the oil, he didn't change the filter and there was probably gunk in there or something. When he went back and changed it properly, he also checked the other fluids and saw the transmission fluid was low!

So how did it get low?? Does it mean there's a leak? A quick google search seemed to say if you are leaking transmission fluid, there's something wrong with your transmission! It's parked on gravel and dirt and sand, so I don't know if we'd see if it leaked.

What should I do??

 

[mikered30]

If it shifted fine before you got it ( i assume you wouldn't buy a car with a rough shifting tranny) and it is not leaking or no signs of leaking , it was probably user error when refilling the ATF. 3.2 qts doing a drain and refill and 4.1 qts when doing a pan drop. Level should be checked after a long highway drive after shifting through all the gears, parked on a level surface with the engine running looking at the marks for hot on the dipstick.

 

[invader]

he also checked the other fluids and saw the transmission fluid was low!

How low? :surprise: How much was missing?

Check automatic transmission fluid level once warmed up to normal operating temperature, and with the engine idling.

 

[Chuy]

There are two marks on the ATF dipstick, one for checking level before warming up the car and another mark for checking with the engine running at operating temperature (not right after starting the car because ATF will not be a operating temp and will register lower than it would if at operating temp because ATF expands as it gets warmer). Make sure the right mark was looked at, and on level ground.