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06 mcs valvebody install and fluid refill info needed
I'm hoping to fix the bad trans in an 06 mcs..
I picked up a reman valvebody , located a gasket and filter kit with grommets BUT I need to know what are ALL my fluid options. I have a amazon gift card I'm trying to use so that will be used to get the filter and as much fluid as I can for cheap as possible.
it's a highmile car I plan on reselling for cheap so things need to he done cheap as possible..
Can I use this fluid I pictured below ?
Also , if I purchase this fill tool , A. is it the correct tool and B does the tool make it so I just pump it full until it drips out the fill till and once done the fluid level is correct?
I swear I seen that procedure somewhere. Any tips plz chime in ! Like us there a specific driving cycle/procedure I need to follow once I install the new valvebody and fluid. I do have inpa but I'm kinda of a noob with it but I can figure it out for the most part..
I went to a Toyota dealer to get mine. Type 3309 / Type IV is what came as factory fill.
From the top, you will see a Torx fitting on the trans case - I removed that, and used a funnel, with a long tube to do the fill. It takes a bit of time. I think it was a T50, or T55 ( large ) Torx. There is a thread on what a few of us did - it's about 10 years old.
I do not think there is an INPA step for this job, but I am not an Inpa expert.
I went to a Toyota dealer to get mine. Type 3309 / Type IV is what came as factory fill.
From the top, you will see a Torx fitting on the trans case - I removed that, and used a funnel, with a long tube to do the fill. It takes a bit of time. I think it was a T50, or T55 ( large ) Torx. There is a thread on what a few of us did - it's about 10 years old.
I do not think there is an INPA step for this job, but I am not an Inpa expert.
how do I know when fluid level is full ??? That's what I was hoping that screw in fitting did , was allowed for correct amount by automatically draining out what ever excess there is until its at exact level.
Valvebody arrived and from the looks of it they actually replaced all the valves abd stuff like they told me.. I read some horror stories of these rebuilt Valvebodies being bad out the box so I pray mines good to go. I also ordered the filter so that will be here tomorrow. So then I will just get what ever comparable trans fluid Walmart has as I have to go grab household stuff there anyways..
I will pull the silver mini into the garage and pull my notorious brg out 😔 . Then I will watch and rewatch all the tutorials associated with this install I can find and take what ever advice you guys got to give...I hope so bad to get this car fixed , how sweet and accomplished that would make me feel..
wish me luck my guys !
Last edited by MiniManAdam; Jan 14, 2022 at 04:04 PM.
Valvebody arrived and from the looks of it they actually replaced all the valves abd stuff like they told me.. I read some horror stories of these rebuilt Valvebodies being bad out the box so I pray mines good to go. I also ordered the filter so that will be here tomorrow. So then I will just get what ever comparable trans fluid Walmart has as I have to go grab household stuff there anyways..
I will pull the silver mini into the garage and pull my notorious brg out 😔 . Then I will watch and rewatch all the tutorials associated with this install I can find and take what ever advice you guys got to give...I hope so bad to get this car fixed , how sweet and accomplished that would make me feel..
wish me luck my guys !
I just did this same job for a friend. This is the fluid recommended by Aisin (the manufacturer of the trans). I got it at Carquest about $20.00/quart. A little pricey, but seems to do the trick; the trans shifts much smoother, & only flares once in a while when the fluid is cold, i.e. when you first start up in the morning.
Also, you will DEFINITELY need the little fill tube, & a pump. DON'T try to fill it from the top (as some youtubers suggest).
I just did this same job for a friend. This is the fluid recommended by Aisin (the manufacturer of the trans). I got it at Carquest about $20.00/quart. A little pricey, but seems to do the trick; the trans shifts much smoother, & only flares once in a while when the fluid is cold, i.e. when you first start up in the morning.
Also, you will DEFINITELY need the little fill tube, & a pump. DON'T try to fill it from the top (as some youtubers suggest).
As stated above , I'm not buying expensive fluid..idc enough about the car and this isn't guaranteed to fix it so wasting 80$ on fluid alone is not an option. Thx though
did you see what I asked about that amazon adapter to fill from the bottom? Would you suggest that or how'd you pump it in from the bottom ? I have a hand fluid pump that might work but then do I just piece something into the drain hole ? And then fill it with the 2nd drain pipe in ???
also how do I know when it's full or what ? I can't rely on how much came out to put back in , see my below post please..
Job started and so far...ugh !
2x bolts snapped in the housing taking off the pan because last idiot over tightentightened them so if it gers running rite I will have to address that afterwards but anyways..
so the stupid valve connectors wouldn't release , I tried for 30min until I said F it and just cracked the old clips so they'd release..
but i think it may have been over filled too ! Just draining it ,befor removing the pan or valvebody I got out 3qt and I left it the pan under while removing the filter n valvebody to catch abd measure that also abd got another 1 3/4qt. So almost 5qt came out ! 🤔
I didn't see any metal particles or chunks or anything in the filter. The 2x magnets didnt have an abnormal amount of junk on them either...
do I add back what came out or please tell me EXACTLY how to add the correct amount...here's a few pics
That fill tube from amazon you mentioned in your post is the same one I used. It — & a hand pump — works very well. I hose clamped my clear hose from the pump to the tube so it wouldn't leak or blow off.
As far a filling to the correct amount, the procedure is as follows: With the level tube in the pan, screw the fill tube into the pan. Make sure the car is level. Pump in about 5 qts. Start the car & run through al the gears; including reverse. You can do this on the jack stands, just apply a little brake to load the tranny. Bring it up to operating temperature, then shut off the motor. Let it sit for about 5 mins. Remove the fill tube. If fluid drains out, let it drain until it stops, then you will be at the correct level. If nothing comes out when you remove the fill tube, reinstall it & pump more fluid in (about 1/2 qt at a time) then repeat the aforementioned level check procedure.
If any of this is confusing, PM me your number & I'll call you & walk you through the procedure. You can call at any time.
As far a filling to the correct amount, the procedure is as follows: With the level tube in the pan, screw the fill tube into the pan. Make sure the car is level. Pump in about 5 qts. Start the car & run through al the gears; including reverse. You can do this on the jack stands, just apply a little brake to load the tranny. Bring it up to operating temperature, then shut off the motor. Let it sit for about 5 mins. Remove the fill tube. If fluid drains out, let it drain until it stops, then you will be at the correct level. If nothing comes out when you remove the fill tube, reinstall it & pump more fluid in (about 1/2 qt at a time) then repeat the aforementioned level check procedure.
If any of this is confusing, PM me your number & I'll call you & walk you through the procedure. You can call at any time.
sweet...appreciate it..I will order the adapter now.
Would it be wise of me to add a qt of lucas transmission conditioner and then add the fluid ? The old fluid was a little dark and clutchpacks are unknown condition...
I also got the filler adapter so all I have to do is purchase fluid and begin putting it back together with a prayer..
Would it be wise of me to add a qt of lucas transmission conditioner and then add the fluid ? The old fluid was a little dark and clutchpacks are unknown condition...
I also got the filler adapter so all I have to do is purchase fluid and begin putting it back together with a prayer..
I wouldn't. Also here is the actual procedure for doing the fluid change from bmw.
I wouldn't. Also here is the actual procedure for doing the fluid change from bmw.
thx but again isn't posing me much good as I only have the filler tool for the bottom of the pan and it's the only way I'm doing this, I've already bought all the parts and pump to do it this way... again, no tools or special tools or namebrand fluid is being used.. not worth putting 500$ worth of new high dollar parts in something that might not even be the issue. This is a big guessing game I'm taking here so every dollar spent counted with this one.
btw, not one link either above takes me to anything either unfortunately...
but I got the filter kit , bottom filler tool and fluid is being bought soon..
Why do you suggest AGAINST USING LUCAS transmission stabilizer within older fluid on a 50/50 fluid change ? .I never once had a personal negative effect from Lucas transmission stabilizer. But that doesn't mean I won't now..
I didn't find any info on the mini guys and this but other makers like VW boys and their jettas that use the same aisin transmission debate over there. To use or not use lucas ? Some have said they're trans never shifted rite without it servicing high high mile transmissions..
and remember, this was an already prior damaged ,slipping transmission. I'd think throwing in all brand new fluid is gonna cause excess slippage of the clutchpacks. That's my biggest worry. Lucas is a friction modifier and that's exactly what's needed in old worn transmissions .
I guess worse comes to worse if I experience slippage of the clutchs, quickly drop fluid and then add the lucas and pray no more damage would have occurred. But yet I could possibly damage the trans just by adding lucas additive then also ? Lol what do I do !
Last edited by MiniManAdam; Jan 19, 2022 at 12:26 AM.
awesome , thx buddy... of course everything I've bought I had to return for the correct one ..lol even fluid. So soon as the fluid gets here, again ille go back at it...
appreciate your guys help VERY much.. im so noob when it comes to this kinda job..only ever did 1x trans swap and it was easy so I kinda know what I'm doing, a little... but I been reading n reading n reading e erything I can about these valvebodies and after install and getting it to run correctly n shift rite..lol omg there's soooooo much. Even trans pressure per shift per gear and stuff.. wayyyyy above me.lol
I got the valvebody bolted up. Had to have my bro lend my an extra hand so I could get it in there with that piston and spring thingy and wires all in rite areas and correct lengths bolts in rite spots. I will bolt up the filter soon as they send the correct fluid..
I also knowticed where the 2x bolts snapped off the metal grommets rusted around them and now I can actually grab onto the 2x broken off screws and hopefully back them out.. ifnot rtv to the rescue ! Lol..
Im going to 2x check I have everything wired rite and wires secured rite then I need to remember how to reinstall the selector arm and figure out where this longest bolt goes it's like a 5in long bolt..lol it was a a min since I took it apart so ille just continue to take my time and make sure it's done rite. I will also torque the bolts to spec too..
As far a filling to the correct amount, the procedure is as follows: With the level tube in the pan, screw the fill tube into the pan. Make sure the car is level. Pump in about 5 qts. Start the car & run through al the gears; including reverse. You can do this on the jack stands, just apply a little brake to load the tranny. Bring it up to operating temperature, then shut off the motor. Let it sit for about 5 mins. Remove the fill tube. If fluid drains out, let it drain until it stops, then you will be at the correct level. If nothing comes out when you remove the fill tube, reinstall it & pump more fluid in (about 1/2 qt at a time) then repeat the aforementioned level check procedure.
If any of this is confusing, PM me your number & I'll call you & walk you through the procedure. You can call at any time.
Soooo fixed all the minor little issues and here's where I'm at..
I have everything all hooked up and stuff and I powered on the car to see if the gears had the [D] around them like that indicating there was an issue with that selection and thankfully D , R , N and SD all show up normal Buuuuuut when I put it in SD I cam only select 1 and up to 2 , it will not allow me to select anything past that.. I swear I read you should be able to select all gears in power On Accessory mode with it in SD . Or am I wrong and should only be able to select 1 and 2 ????? I can hear the solenoid engagement as I select 1 and 2 buuuut nothing after...plz tell me this is normal .
any idea where this bolt came from ???? I cannot fir life of me figure it out, maybe a random bolt I picked up off my floor???
Last edited by MiniManAdam; Jan 30, 2022 at 04:41 PM.
Valvebody is in , filter is in , all wires are hooked up and I had to fix a broken connection that must have gotten cracked in transit. I also got those 2 snapped off bolts out for the transmission pan. The correct fluid arrived today and I got 6x qt of mobil 3309..
but if you read above that's where I'm at..if that's normal then I'm going to go put I the gasket, pan ,attach the filler tool to the bottom of the pan , hook up my hand fluid transfer pump and pump in 5qt since almost 6qt came out and more drained as it say for 2weeks.
I'm going to do all I can reading the fill procedure from the bottom but I think I got it.
get the car leveled on jackstands.remove drain plug and leave In the stem and screw in the adapter. Pump in 5qt and if nothing drains out of the adapter conti ue pumping in until it flows out pretty fast and allow it to come to barely a dribble and then put in drain plug.. then power on the car and run it through the gears. Then start the car and go through all the gears for a few seconds in each gear about 4x or 5x times and allow to get up to temp in park. Then shut off and remove drain plug and install the filler adapter again and see if the fluid either runs out very fast or not at all and repeat the process while warm as I did when it was cold.. ( I will put the fluid in front of my heater too while engine is warming up to add after that so it has the same thermal expansion of the fluid for more accurate measurement)
These 2x spots are where the bolts snapped off , thankfully for the grommets it left enough for me to grab on with vicegrips.
Mission failed.. it ran better and ran great for 5min then the exact same symptoms returned but if anything worse. Slips into 1st , slips into 2nd and will not go into 3rd and when it does it will come out of gear completely.. it is also still throwing a p0700 code and now it goes into limpmode and it didn't do that befor.. I used inpa to reset adoptions and I 3x checked that fluid was correct level... DAAAAAAAANG IT ALL ! I will drive it a few more cycles and see if it helps but I highly doubt it so looks like I will have a car to part out soon here..
