papogi

Just changed the transmission fluid on my 2014 Transit Connect over the weekend. All went well, and my process is basically what was described above. The factory fluid level was about 1/2 to 3/4 of a quart lower than it should be. Not good. Here it is in detail in case it helps anyone else: Drive car to bring it up to operating temperature (makes it easier to bring it up to operating temperature again later on). Shut off car. With the car on a level surface, measure the distance between the bottom of the car and ground. Measure near the front drive side. Jack up front driver side and use jack stands. Remove large access panel under engine (Torx T30). Remove front driver side wheel. Lower car so that it is the same level that it was with the wheel on. The driver side front wheel will not hit the ground, even with the suspension drooping. Put the car on some wood blocks at the right height in addition to the jack. Double protection! The car should be at the same height that it was with the wheel on. Remove drain plug bolt at the bottom of the transmission. It's an 11 mm bolt at the bottom of the transmission. Drain transmission fluid into a catch pan A little under 5 quarts will drain out. Remove level plug bolt. This is a 14 mm bolt on the side of the transmission. You have to access it through the wheel well. After the fluid is finished draining, reinstall the drain plug bolt. You can use thread compound if you want. Torque to 106 inch/pounds. Open the hood and take the plastic cap off the transmission fill hole. It is under a black hose, but you can get to it. The cap says Mercon LV on it. Get a funnel that has a narrow exit. It needs to be small enough to fit into the fill hole. I used a long blue funnel and black plastic extender that I got at an auto parts store. Move the catch pan so it's under under the level plug. Add transmission fluid through the funnel until the fluid drips out the level plug. Start up the car and get it up to operating temperature. Move the transmission through all the gears, and then put it in Park. Leave the car running. Add more transmission fluid until it drips out the level plug. Again, move the transmission through all the gears, and then put it in Park. Leave the car running. If you shut it off, transmission fluid will come out the level plug. Add more transmission fluid until it drips out the level plug. After the level plug has finished dripping, install the level plug bolt. Shut off the car. Jack the car up off the wood blocks and use jack stands. Reinstall the large access panel under the engine. Reinstall the front wheel. Bring the car down off the jack. Torque the wheel lug nuts. After the engine has cooled a bit, reinstall the fill plug into the fill hole. That black hose on top of it will be hot.