How to Check the Transmission Fluid on a Saturn SL2
by Jule Pamplin
Failure to maintain the proper level of transmission fluid in your Saturn SL2 can lead to a variety of expensive consequences. The transmission itself is at risk of damage or failure if operated with an insufficient level of fluid. The engine relies on the transmission to put the Saturn in the proper gear. Check the fluid regularly to ensure proper function of the transmission, save gas and avoid unnecessary engine wear.
Step 1
Drive the Saturn SL2 for at least 10 minutes to warm the engine and the transmission fluid.
Step 2
Park the vehicle and leave the engine running. Pull the hood release lever under the dashboard on the driver's side of the Saturn. Move to the engine compartment.
Step 3
Pull the transmission fluid dipstick from the slot on the left side of the engine. The slot is near the windshield, angled toward the left side of the Saturn.
Step 4
Wipe the thin metal stick clean with the shop towel. Replace the dipstick into the slot.
Step 5
Wait at least 10 seconds and remove the stick from the slot once more.
Step 6
Evaluate the transmission fluid level on the stick. There are two notches on the side of the stick. The fluid should be visible near the top notch (closest to the handle).
Step 7
Place a funnel in the dipstick slot's opening and fill the transmission fluid reservoir as needed, if the fluid is at or below the bottom notch.
Step 8
Replace the dipstick into the slot and close the hood of the Saturn SL2.
References
- "Saturn S-series Automotive Repair Manual, 1991-2002"; Haynes, 2002
- Expert Village: How to Check Your Transmission Fluid Video
Things You'll Need
- Shop towel
- Funnel
- Transmission fluid
Writer Bio
Jule Pamplin has been a copywriter for more than seven years. As a financial sales consultant, Pamplin produced sales copy for two of the largest banks in the United States. He attended Carnegie-Mellon University, winning a meritorious scholarship for the Careers in Applied Science and Technology program, and later served in the 1st Tank Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps.
