So after having issues with the tranny i decided to change the fluid. I read that I should expect 2.5 quarts or so. First time I did it I think I had 2 quarts out. On my 2nd and 3rd I only get 1 quart, that doesn't make sense. I noticed a very small leak, so for example if i leave the car for a whole day i get about a spot of one ounce on the floor, not enough to make it low a whole quart! Doesn't make sense. Any ideas?

 

What year of MINI do you have?

 

05 cooper s convertible R52, 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC

 

Is that the CVT type auto?

 

Not cvt

 

Well that's good... You should get some where around 2 quarts out.. give or take a bit... But im wondering if your trans wasn't low to begin with... How many miles do you have on your car?

 

i bought it not long ago with a tranny issue. has 128k. 1st drained helped so much, 2nd and 3rd made it crappy, but still not as bad as it was before the 1st drain. as i mentioned first drain had a lot. when i drain, i let the car drain with stand pipe out. when filling, car on ground, i add fluid, as much as i had out, then remove plug, it will drain a bit then stops. i crank it up, put it in gear few times, let it idle, nothing comes out on 2nd and 3rd fill, so i warm up fluid, turn car off, add until it starts to drain, plug it back up.

 

http://www.m_o_t_o_r_i_n_g_a_lliance...6&d=1335671005 (remove underscores)

See that link, page 17.

While, I've never done it on a Mini, this is how most dipstick-less automatics work. My students often make the mistake of turning the car off, then opening the bolt to set the fill level... the trick is..

Put in drain plug.
Start car.
Fill trans at idle.
Run it through gears (shift with foot on brake.. wait for engagement..)
Let trans reach op temp VIA scan tool
With car on level surface, pull fill level plug - not the entire drain plug.
Wait for fluid to seep out.. if non seeps out.. you are still low,turn the car off - add a little more fluid..
Wait until fluid drips get to a "1mm stream"..
Put in level plug.
Test Drive.

My apologies if this is what you are already doing..

 

Thanks. Unfortunately, with these cars , you can't do that. If you open the fill in plug while the car is running, it will shoot out all the fluid out. Many people have done that . I forgot my fill-in plug off once for 4 seconds and the floor is full of fluid.

 

If memory serves, replacement pan amount is 4.6 litres for that trans. But seems when a flush done just half that amount of JWS 3309 is used....

Your sure that spot on the ground has been this and not PS fluid ?

 

Well, I have not had anything major to check out the power steering fluid. I checked it 3 weeks ago and it was fine. I will check it again. But I see the red drips coming from the middle of the tranny, where silicone is evident in the tranny housing. Stupid transmissions.

 

Woah, so these fill through the pressure tap? Crazy...

 

pressure tap? filling through the fill-in plug on top, slowly, but i got a good hose that fits exactly in there and now it takes me much less time. if the fluid is warm it takes much less time too.

 

Yea, pressure tap. Some (most) Automatics have a pressure tap.. test port to monitor line/return pressures with a manual gauge set (for diagnostics)..

I guess the Mini design uses the fill port, as part of the fluid return/pressure circuits inside the transmission.

 

It sounds like you are doing everything correctly.. Are you using a synthetic ATF? So when you did your first change the trans. shifted fine?

 

No, see.. This method will leave you low each time.

You can't drain/check fluid with the car off.

Car is only off for filling

Fill (or overfill)

Warm up - keep car running!!!

Pull inspection plug, leave overflow tube in place.

Wait for fluid to come out

Put in inspection plug once flow thins out to about 1mm.

Test drive.

If you open the inspection plug - with the car OFF. You will be 1 qt low.. I'm sure the low fluid is why your car shifts like bunk.

 

^^I agree I think his trans. is low causing it not to shift correctly.^^

 

I know this... From dealing with it YEARS ago on a 97 Jetta. It's the same system (minus the pressured return/fill setup).

 

Excellent info..