Filling Automatic gearbox with ATF ?

**Hairy_mic** · 21-07-2013, 08:06 PM

I have noticed that there is a small leak coming from below the automatic gearbox on my v5 2004 bora. I think it is coming from the drain plug (where else could it be coming from?)

It appears as a small drop of red liquid on the ground below the car.

I would like to get under the car at the weekend to fully investigate.

I am just a bit concerned that the level in the gearbox may be getting a little low.

I know that there is not a auto dipstick on this model. I found a diagram online of where to check and fill etc, but tbh the drawings confused me as they were of a very small scale.

would anybody be able to explain to me how to locate, and (if need be) top up ATF. im kinda lost.

**Umai Naa!!** · 21-07-2013, 08:25 PM

Yes, check for leaks. Check that the drain/inspection plug is tight, and check that the pan bolts are tight.

To top it up, you need to undo the drain/inspection plug with the engine running and transmission in P.

You then attach VAS6262 2 AND ATF105 Tool Equivalent | eBay to the drain hole, then attach a bottle of G052162A2 transmission oil to the filler tube shown. You then up-end the tube so that the bottle is higher than the transmission, and let it gravity feed itself. By the time you get to this point, the transmission will be pretty close to ideal temperature.

Get in as much as it will take, then let it drain out. There's a level tube up inside the drain hole that will detirmine how much oil the transmission will hold, so the excess will just drain out. If less then what you added comes out, then it needed topping up. If more than what you put in comes out, it was overfull. During this time, DO NOT switch the car off. It WILL dump a fair amount of oil if you do this. When you're done topping up, remove the filler tube, and re-fit the drain/inspection plug. Only then, can you switch the car off.

Hope this helps.

**Hairy_mic** · 21-07-2013, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by Umai Naa!!

Yes, check for leaks. Check that the drain/inspection plug is tight, and check that the pan bolts are tight.

To top it up, you need to undo the drain/inspection plug with the engine running and transmission in P.

You then attach VAS6262 2 AND ATF105 Tool Equivalent | eBay to the drain hole, then attach a bottle of G052162A2 transmission oil to the filler tube shown. You then up-end the tube so that the bottle is higher than the transmission, and let it gravity feed itself. By the time you get to this point, the transmission will be pretty close to ideal temperature.

Get in as much as it will take, then let it drain out. There's a level tube up inside the drain hole that will detirmine how much oil the transmission will hold, so the excess will just drain out. If less then what you added comes out, then it needed topping up. If more than what you put in comes out, it was overfull. During this time, DO NOT switch the car off. It WILL dump a fair amount of oil if you do this. When you're done topping up, remove the filler tube, and re-fit the drain/inspection plug. Only then, can you switch the car off.

Hope this helps.

yes, it really does. its all abit oif a rigmarole to fill up a fluid IMHO, but im not going to argue with ze germans, they make good stuff.

on a side note dont suppose you have a picture of the location of the plug? is it on the underside of the box kinda like the sump plug on the engine ?

Thanks heaps

**Umai Naa!!** · 21-07-2013, 09:05 PM

Yeah, it's on the bottom of the pan. You can't miss it.

**Sirocco20348** · 22-07-2013, 08:13 AM

Any chance it could be coolant?

**MCiN7** · 22-07-2013, 08:34 AM

Could be the coolant flange on the head, will dry to be a white/red power substance though. If it was leaking - you would see the substance on the top of the transmission.

**Umai Naa!!** · 22-07-2013, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by Sirocco20348

Any chance it could be coolant?

You could be onto something.

Transmission oil in these things is a gold-ish colour in good condition.

**Hairy_mic** · 24-07-2013, 07:27 AM

It's defo red. Tastes like ATF. There is a skid pan type cover thing under the gearbox the drip forms on the underside of that. If the transmission oil is gold, then I can only imagine that somebody at some point put standard ATF into it, I'll have a better look this weekend. Think I'm gonna invest in some axl stands etc soon to make this kind of work easier

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