Manual Trans Fluid Change

Drain and refill the manual transmission with fresh fluid to maintain smooth shifting and protect internal components. This procedure uses a drain and fill method from underneath the vehicle.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Drain plug crush washer × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Fill plug crush washer × 1 — Use OEM specification

Fluids

• Mopar MS-9224 or 75W-90 GL-4 — 4.2 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and apply parking brake firmly.
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels.
3. Start engine and allow to idle for 3-4 minutes to warm transmission fluid, then shut off engine. Do not allow transmission to become hot.
4. Raise front of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at front crossmember lift points.
5. Verify vehicle stability before working underneath.
6. Locate transmission on driver side of vehicle. Identify drain plug on bottom of transmission case and fill plug on driver side of case approximately mid-height.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove fill plug first
   Using the correct hex bit socket and ratchet (verify plug drive size against the service manual), loosen and remove the fill plug from the driver side of the transmission case. This plug is located approximately mid-case height. Removing the fill plug first ensures you can refill the transmission after draining. If the fill plug is seized or damaged, do not proceed with draining until it can be removed.
2. 2

   Remove drain plug and drain fluid
   Position drain pan underneath the transmission drain plug on the bottom of the case. Using the 10mm hex bit socket, slowly loosen the drain plug. Once loose, quickly remove it by hand to avoid dropping it into the drain pan. Allow fluid to drain completely for 10-15 minutes. Inspect drained fluid for metal particles or debris that would indicate internal wear.
3. 3

   Clean and inspect plugs
   Wipe drain plug threads and sealing surface clean with a shop rag. Inspect plug threads for damage. Remove and discard old crush washer from drain plug. Inspect fill plug threads and sealing surface; remove and discard old crush washer. Clean magnetic tip of drain plug if equipped to remove any accumulated metal particles.
4. 4

   Install drain plug with new washer
   Install new crush washer onto drain plug. Thread drain plug into case by hand until it seats, ensuring it is not cross-threaded. Using torque wrench and correct hex bit socket, tighten drain plug to the factory-specified torque for the T-56 aluminum case (verify value in the service manual before final tightening). Do not overtighten as this will damage aluminum case threads.
   Torque spec

   Fill Plug34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Refill transmission with fluid
   Using a fluid pump or funnel with flexible hose inserted into the fill hole, add the factory-specified fluid for the T-56 transmission (verify exact spec and capacity in the factory service manual before proceeding; Chrysler specified an ATF-type fluid for these units, approximately 4.0 quarts). Fill slowly to avoid air pockets and overflow. Fluid is at correct level when it begins to drip from the fill hole. Allow excess to drain out until dripping stops.
6. 6

   Install fill plug with new washer
   Install new crush washer onto fill plug. Thread fill plug into case by hand until it seats. Using torque wrench and 10mm hex bit socket, tighten fill plug to 34 Nm (25 lb-ft). Wipe any spilled fluid from transmission case exterior.
   Torque spec

   Fill Plug34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Lower vehicle and check for leaks
   Remove jack stands and carefully lower vehicle to ground. Start engine and allow to idle. Shift through all gears with clutch depressed, pausing 2-3 seconds in each position. Return to neutral and shut off engine. Immediately raise vehicle and inspect drain and fill plugs for any seepage. Re-tighten if necessary but do not exceed torque specification.

Reassembly

1. No disassembly was required for this procedure.

Verification

• Start engine and verify smooth engagement into all gears with no grinding or resistance.
• Test drive vehicle through all gears under light load to verify proper shifting.
• After test drive, re-inspect drain and fill plugs for leaks with vehicle raised.
• Check that no fluid drips from fill plug when removed briefly (indicating proper fill level).

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