Help Changing Tranny Fluid

**NyteEscape** · 06-13-2008 10:54 AM

so i decided that if i can do an oil change, why not a tranny fluid change.

so i started following a few write-ups, such as these:
http://www.audiforums.com/m_156758/tm.htm
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/misc32.shtml

i thought i was all set. got everything required, and went for it. but the car up on ramps. first thing i did was to locate the drain plug. found it:

then, after learning from previous mistakes, i decided to loosen the fill plug so i knew it would open. here's my problem, i can't find it. here's the general location where i am looking:

am i looking in the right spot? from the DIY, it said look in front of the driver's side CV joint. am i looking in the right place?

also, i can't seem to figure out how i would fill it. i got the tubing and the funnel, so i suspect when i find the fill plug, i can figure something out.

one more thing, how many quarts of fluid does a 97' 1.8tq auto take? i bought 3 after reading these tech articles, but now im starting to read elsewhere that it may be up to 8? just wondering if someone could give me an answer. also, i've been reading about changing a fluid filter? this guy apparently changed a filter too, but i have no idea what he's talking about:
http://audizine.com/forum/showthread...t=tranny+fluid

any help? a bit stuck, and anything would help.

**NyteEscape** · 06-13-2008 11:15 AM

well, as an update. i got under again, and took a few pics. please dont tell me that hole on the left which looks like i can see gears through is the fill hole. the place where the fill plug should be.

**Ewok_Fetus** · 06-13-2008 11:23 AM

Nope, that is where a crank position sensor would be if your car was equipped with one, which 97's weren't IIRC... As for your question, I have no clue... Don't own an auto...

**ShawFM** · 06-13-2008 11:55 AM

Did you search here on AZ or on AW for tip trans fluid changes not manual trans? I provided a link a few days ago for servicing the tip trans. On Audipages there is an excellent writeup for trans servicing.
The fill hole is the 17mm hex in a recess on the bottom of the pan towards the back. The car has to be level to fill the trans. Follow the link and it will all be very clear.

**NyteEscape** · 06-13-2008 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by ShawFM

Did you search here on AZ or on AW for tip trans fluid changes not manual trans? I provided a link a few days ago for servicing the tip trans. On Audipages there is an excellent writeup for trans servicing.
The fill hole is the 17mm hex in a recess on the bottom of the pan towards the back. The car has to be level to fill the trans. Follow the link and it will all be very clear.

shit. so is this right?

is there any chance i can just change the fluid and leave everything else? i mean i don't mind it, it's just that i don't have everything on me. plus, is it the same parts for the A8 as the A4?

**ShawFM** · 06-13-2008 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by NyteEscape

shit. so is this right?

is there any chance i can just change the fluid and leave everything else? i mean i don't mind it, it's just that i don't have everything on me. plus, is it the same parts for the A8 as the A4?

Yes, and that 17mm is a pita to loosen or remove. Sears didn't have a 17mm hex socket so I bought the 17mm allen wrench and added 2' of pipe to it to loosen that fill plug.

**ShawFM** · 06-13-2008 12:56 PM

Just noticed the rest of your question... The trans service for the A8 is more or less the same. I think ZF lists the same filters for the 5hp19 and 5hp24. The partial fluid change, There is suppose to be about 9 liters in there, some is tied up in the torque converter, the valve body and in the pump. Changing or not changing is always a debate. I think changing you should at least do the filter also. I know when I did our cars, (2 - A4's and a B5.5 Passat) the fill with a fliter change required from 5 on the '01 A4 and '01.5 Passat to nearly 6 liters on my ZF rebuilt trans (replaced by Audi under CPO 3 years ago).

**NyteEscape** · 07-01-2008 12:38 PM

so, i got everything i needed yesterday and decided to go ahead and start today.

first thing i decided to do was make sure i could open the fill plug. turns out fluid comes out of there too. that was fun. then i drained the oil from the drain plug. went fine. i start unbolting the transmission pan. turns out there are 5 stripped bolts which i cant get out. so i was like fuck.

i have neither the tools nor expertise to deal with that.

after this, i decided "why not fill it w/ new fluid, then figure everything out later. put about a quart in, starts overflowing. yes, im on a level surface, yes the car is level. so after about 3 hours trying to figure something out, i said fuck it. im gonna tow it to a shop tomorrow, then have them deal with it.

just for kicks i called ngpracing. with me supplying all the parts, they want to charge 4 hours of labor, which comes out to $360. so im gonna take it to a local shop and figure that out.

any ideas?

**dan4g63** · 07-01-2008 01:25 PM

I just did this a week ago. It was my 4-th auto tranny flush.
If you're dropping the pan and replacing the filter which you should you need 6 qt.
Yes the small bolts are very easy to strip so its very important you clean them of dirt and grime to make sure your socket gets a perfect grip on them. If they were stripped by someone else use vice-grips. Thats what i used to remove the striped ones.
Once you have them all off clean the pan, magnets, replace the filter and put the pan back in.
Make sure the car is leveled (jack it up in the rear too) and pour in the new fluid. With the car off you will be able to fill it up with 3.5-4qt before it will start to overflow. The last 2 you need to do with the car running and tranny fluid warm so get someone in the car shifting through the gears. I usually have my gf get in the car and put it in drive. Then fill her up with the last 2 qt.
The right way is done with the vag tool that tells you the tranny fluid temp but Ive done enough of these to know how much they take without having to use the tool.
Another way to double check make sure you're not putting in too much or too little fluid is to measure the old fluid as long as you didn't throw it out or leaked too much on the ground.
It sounds a lot worse then it is, but in reality its really easy, definitely not worth the $400-$500 a shop will charge will charge you. Just make sure the car is supported SECURELY by 4 or more jackstands and trust your helper since you will be under a running car at one point. The brakes don't have to be released just make sure they move the shifter through all the gears and then leave it in D. Good luck.