2000 Trooper w/.5L, auto, TOD

It's up on jackstands waiting for me to to change tranny, t-case and diff fluids. I don't have a FSM and the owners manual is no help. The tranny has 2 obvious drain plugs, but where is the fill/level check plug ? ? There is no dipstick ????

The owners manual says engine oil for the t-case, but the fill plug says ATF II or III, so I assume it's Dexron III like the tranny ???

Also, there is a small rectangular pan just in front of the tranny pan, no drain plug or anything. What is this ?

Is there anything else in the drive train that needs fluid change other than those listed above (an the engine of course) ?

A speedy answer would be greatly appreciated.

The fill plug is the higher up, downwards facing, of the two plugs. Great design concept huh?

The TOD unit is the transfer case in a TOD equipped vehicle. It takes Dexron III just like the case says. The owner's manual is less than clear on this point. It makes it seem like you have a TOD unit AND a transfer case unit.

FWIW I tend to flush mine rather than do the pan drops. Undoing a cooler line and getting ALL the old fluid out seems easier and more important to me. IIRC, the return line from the cooler is the outer line and there is a disconnect point just behind the radiator although you do have to remove the skid plate to see/get at it. Try this link if you are interested - http://www.bestsyntheticoil.com/dealers/amsoil/torqueconverter.shtml

Other fluids to replace depends on how thoruough/anal you are. I flush through new brake fluid and replace the coolant every 1 to 1-1/2yrs. Every third oil change I pop out the strainer in the power steering reservoir and turkey baster it out 2 or 3 times. The SOTF reservoir on the front also has a replacement schedule although every time I have checked mine the fluid looks like brand new.

Totally crazy. So now I have to find a way to pump 9 qt bottles upward ? How do you check for full ? If you remove that higher) plug and ATF drips out it's full ?

So where is this and what does it look like ?

BTW, thanks for the prompt answers. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

The fill level is set with the engine running, AT in park and the fluid warm. Personally I wouldn't do that with the vehicle on stands but that is just the safety paranoia in me. In addition to the safety issue, if the stands are uneven your level could also be off. There are a few other fine points. Do a search for all the specifics as this is a very well covered topic. If you do it with the engine off you will be about 1qt. low.

As to you where is question, where is what? If you mean the SOTF reservoir it is on the driver's side of the front axle. Check the owner's manual for a picture. No fun here either as there is not a drain plug. You have to suck out the old fluid and pump in the new. Like I noted mine hasn't needed this yet.

Yeah, I meant the SOTF resevior. Thanks

I'll order a FSM next week so I don't have to do this again.

"Totally crazy. So now I have to find a way to pump 9 qt bottles upward ? How do you check for full ? If you remove that higher) plug and ATF drips out it's full ?"

If you drain & fill from the bottom, you will only have to put at most 3 quarts of AT fluid in. Be sure it is running when servicing otherwise fluid level will be low & you will get Xmission clunking.Fill until fluid runs out of Fill hole.

Been there done that

Bob F

found this out the hard way... there are four bolts on the other side of the fill bolt for the sotf mechanism. if you undo the four bolts, you can drain the gear oil. hth, taro