like this.....

 

Best thing is not to mess with it.
We would weigh them at the factory in Windsor to determine how much fluid to put in when it was assembled.
If you don't put enough in, it'll slip. If you put too much in, it'll froth over at the top breather cap.
If you put the wrong tranny fluid in (a non Dexron 6 wannbe) say goodbye to your tranny.
The dealer can get the serial # record and put what was in it when it was assembled/tested/shipped.

 

Well, this thread answered my question (searching for a slush box dip stick) - and I'd thought VW was the only company to foist this brilliant idea on the public (no convenient way to check the level) - for the MK3 VW's you needed "VAGCOM" (their diagnostic package) and you had to have the fluid at a specific temperature with the vehicle dead level ..... at least Chevy has a check level plug ...

cheers

Steve

 

The car must be level and the ATF must be at 104F and the motor must be running. Then remove the level control plug.

Why worry about the ATF level to begin with? Where could it go? Onto the ground is the only place.

Most manufacturers have realized that now. Plus with synthetic ATF being long life.

 

That's precisely what I thought when I saw this resurrected thread. If it's not leaking I wouldn't worry about it until time to change the fluid.

 

'cause I'm old and am used to pulling the ATF dipstick when the hood is up - same reason I check the coolant and other fluids. Where can they go? On to the ground if seals start to fail. I'm fine with the new tech - but adapting to NOT making "normal" checks takes time. I grew up checking point gap every 6 months, adjusting carbs for seasonal driving and loads of other things that used to keep me occupied and amused. I continue to be amazed that a fairly good sized vehicle (like the HHR) can be moved around by a small engine (2.2 liter) for a long distance (nearly 200K miles) with so little attention - when I was a kid cars had 5 digit (not counting the tenths of a mile) odometers - you didn't expect to get 100K out of them. Sorry for the dissertation -

cheers

Steve

 

If it goes on the ground, wouldn't you notice it? I grew up replacing the points and condenser every 5,000 miles, not gapping. And adjusting the valve lash and head torque every 5,000 too. Air cooled VWs.

Coolant is a completely different story, it can steam off and you would not see any on the ground. Most people NEVER check it.

 

Please keep in mind the cooler lines to and from the rad. Leaks can form in there. Sometimes the rad leaks into the Dexron and vice versa.
When this happens a rad repair or replacement may be needed and the trans fluid flushed and replaced.
Rare, but can happen.
By monitoring the coolant, this would show up as a red froth.

Clare

 

Have you ever seen that problem on a car with an aluminum radiator and no physical damage? Seems like too rare a thing for me to worry about.

 

I had to replace the cooler lines, this resulted in about 2/3 of a liter of fluid lost. I doubt the cooler inside the rad would leak during the HHR's life, but never say never!!