Transmission Fluid change & replacement made easy

Automatic transmission is a type of vehicle gearbox that automatically changes the gears whilst in motion. These gearboxes are not the same as Semi Automatic versions, which are in fact a manual gearbox that is automatically controlled.

Unless you are a qualified mechanic with the required skills, training and equipment to do the job, we strongly recommend a transmission fluid change is only carried out by a professional mechanic. ClickMechanic can help get you a vetted and local mechanic to carry out the work. Just enter your postcode and your car's registration number at the top of this page and select the work needed to get an instant fixed price up front.

If a gearbox hasn’t had its scheduled service, the likelihood is that you will experience some of the following indicators

• Failure to select gears
• Failure to change up and down smoothly (or in some cases, not at all)
• Jerks on gear changes
• Jolts as you change from Park to Drive
• Transmission overheat warnings
• Transmission Control Unit warning lights

The time a transmission fluid change will take will depend on a number of factors, like your vehicle's make and model, year, as well as other factors. Select your car at the top of this page for information on job time and cost for your vehicle through ClickMechanic.

There are many different processes required depending on the manufacturer, some of which may include all the following or just some

• Mechanic will raise the vehicle and get the gearbox up to temperature if required by the procedures.
• The gearbox drain plug will be removed, or a syphon pump inserted down the filler tube.
• If the vehicle has a filter, the sump is likely to be removed so the filter can be accessed.
• The parts will then be cleaned before a new filter is installed and the sump refitted with a new gasket or sealing compound.
• The gearbox will then be refilled with the correct ATF for the gearbox and application in accordance with the manufacturer's procedure.
• In some cases the refilling operation requires diagnostic input as well as manual.
• One refilled to the correct level and run through its selection routine, the vehicle will be test driven before returning it to the owner.

You should service the automatic gearbox as stipulated in the manufacturer's service schedule. Every vehicle with an automatic gearbox will have a service schedule, the same as the engine does. So this should be a regular occurrence in accordance with this, however in reality, few owners have it carried out until there is an issue, which in some cases it is too late and damage has been done.

If a gearbox hasn’t had its scheduled service, the likelihood is that you will experience some of the following indicators

• Failure to select gears
• Failure to change up and down smoothly (or in some cases, not at all)
• Jerks on gear changes
• Jolts as you change from Park to Drive
• Transmission overheat warnings
• Transmission Control Unit warning lights

If a gearbox hasn’t had its scheduled service, the likelihood is that you will experience some of the following indicators

• Failure to select gears
• Failure to change up and down smoothly (or in some cases, not at all)
• Jerks on gear changes
• Jolts as you change from Park to Drive
• Transmission overheat warnings
• Transmission Control Unit warning lights

Pricing for an automatic transmission service depends on your car and required parts. Select your vehicle at the top of the page to find out what you can save.

The cost of an automatic transmission filter replacement depends on your location, vehicle and what parts the manufacturer recommends for the work. Find out what you could save by having your automatic transmission filter changed by ClickMechanic, by selecting your vehicle at the top of the page.

Cost of an automatic transmission flush depends on your location, car and what parts the manufacturer recommends for the work. Select your vehicle at the top of the page to find out what you could save by having an automatic transmission flush carried out by ClickMechanic.

There are many different processes required depending on the manufacturer, some of which may include all the following or just some of them. The mechanic will:

• Raise the vehicle and get the gearbox up to temperature if required by the procedures
• Remove the gearbox drain plug, or insert a syphon pump down the filler tube
• Removed the gearbox sump where applicable so the filter can be accessed
• Cleaned the parts before a new filter is installed and the sump refitted with a new gasket or sealing compound
• Fill the gearbox with the correct ATF for the gearbox and application in accordance with the manufacturer's procedure
• Use a diagnostic tool in some cases to refill the gearbox in stages
• Run through the gearbox selection routine
• Road test the vehicle

Driving with bad automatic transmission fluid (ATF) can result in many issues, such as transmission overheat, solenoid failure, jerky gear changes and even total gearbox failure. ATF provides the lubrication to the moving parts, wear and corrosion protection and is there to transfer the mechanical power. This is why regular servicing of an automatic transmission is vital to change this fluid (and its filter where fitted) in line with manufacturers recommendation.

If you suspect there is any issue with the transmission fluid or there are concerns about its age or condition, book a service with a professional mechanic as soon as possible.

First place to check will be the service records coming with the car. If you have a maintenance record of the car, it should be normally be noted in the service section. If there is no sign of a recent change, it's worth checking the condition of the fluid by checking the colour of the fluid - if the transmission fluid is clean and red or pinkish in colour, it was probably changed recently.

Bad transmission fluid in itself is not checked during an MOT so it is not likely to fail. However, it is best to do a full service before an MOT test, where most car fluids will be checked and replaced if needed.

Most manufacturers suggest changing the transmission fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years, whichever comes first. Each car is different so it's best to check the owner's manual for the specific recommendations.

Some symptoms of too much transmission fluid are:

• Delay in shifting gears
• A sticking throttle
• A burning smell

Yes, on many vehicle transmission fluid (ATF) needs to be changed every 30,000 - 40,000 miles. There are however cars with 'sealed' transmission units which technically would never require an ATF change. It's important to check the owner's manual to see the recommendations for your particular vehicle. In some cases, the automatic transmission fluid will need to be changed sooner if you noticed that the fluid is dark-coloured and potentially has a burning smell.

Yes, If the transmission fluid level is too high, it can cause the transmission to slip out of gear or not engage properly because there isn't enough space for the fluid to circulate.

A transmission service is the process of maintaining, primarily the automatic transmission system of a vehicle. A transmission service can help to improve the performance of the automatic transmission and extend its lifespan.

They're not always necessary, but in some cases a routine flush can help prevent the clogging up of the internal transmission lines.