Hi! I'm new to the forum. I have a 1967 Firebird, 326 engine. Recently, the automatic transmission has been slow to engage the gear....from Park to drive, or neutral to drive. Do I need to add transmission fluid? If so, do I do that through the dipstick channel?

Thanks!

Yes, but use caution and tell us what transmission you have. Is it a TH350 or maybe a Powerglide?   Read the owners manual to know the type of fluid and how exactly to check it - hot? Cold? Motor running or not?  Too much fluid is not good.

  How many miles on the transmission?  Your symptoms could be fluid related or simply age  / wear related.

 

Rick

 

Agree with B52....  Make sure when checking levels, that engine is up to operating temp.  Sooo many different trans fluids today, are JUSTA plain stupid, but you need correct OL school fluid. Ask to look up at your parts store when buying a trans funnel for the dipstick tube.

Yes, as both JustA & B52 said. So to expound on that, get the engine to operating temp. Check the fluid level while the engine is running. If it’s low, I.E. (as in the add range or lower)add the correct fluid, ( Dexron ). If it’s low but just in the add range or higher than it’s starting to slip. If it’s a 350 , which I doubt being a “67”, but if it is I would recommend changing the fluid over to Ford’s type f ATF. To do that you will need enough to do two complete flushes, about 4 gals. Fords type f ATF is compatible with old GM turbo 350 & their seals. Type f will help with a slipping tranny if it’s not to far gone & it will make a good tranny bite harder.

Edited January 29, 20242 yr by Last Indian

Thanks for all the responses. The users manual is not very helpful. It doesn't get into much detail. The automatic transmission is a console "Turbo Hydra-Matic." Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, Super, and Low. As far as refilling, it says to refill transmission after draining with 7 pints. Doesn't mention type of fluid, or how to refill. When you suggest to check fluid level when engine running, do you mean oil level using the dipstick? I don't know of any other method of checking fluids. Pls advise. And to be clear, you add transmission fluid through the dipstick channel. Thanks!

On 1/30/2024 at 2:24 PM, TotallyHoadley said:

Thanks for all the responses. The users manual is not very helpful. It doesn't get into much detail. The automatic transmission is a console "Turbo Hydra-Matic." Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, Super, and Low. As far as refilling, it says to refill transmission after draining with 7 pints. Doesn't mention type of fluid, or how to refill. When you suggest to check fluid level when engine running, do you mean oil level using the dipstick? I don't know of any other method of checking fluids. Pls advise. And to be clear, you add transmission fluid through the dipstick channel. Thanks!

Steven, for the type of transmission you have to check & fill via the fill/dipstick tube. There is no other way to do so. To check the fluid level the engine needs to be running & the engine at operating temperature. If you check it with the engine off the level will read higher because the fluid that is circulating drains back into the pan, making the level higher, which is where the dipstick is measuring the  level

You also need to tell us what color the fluid is! Take the dipstick out wipe it on a white paper towel & observe the color. Is it pink or red, or does it have a brown appearance. This will help us tell whether the fluid is burnt or not. The 7pints that the manual refers to being drained out is just a small part of the entire fluid volume of the transmission! The entire volume of the transmission is closer to 2 gallons, which includes the torque converter.

Your transmission would have originally taken Dexron ATF, but before deciding what fluid you need to put in let see how the fluid level & color of the fluid progress, as those may have an impact on what needs done next.

So updated us on where the fluid level is when you check it & if you can take a picture of the oil on the paper towel for us to see it’s color. Then we can go from there.

Here's an image from the dipstick. I thought the dipstick only measured oil levels. Transmission fluid is also measured here? 

That APPEARS to be engine oil, not transmission fluid.  Because if it really is transmission fluid, that fluid is burnt to a crisp and your transmission won't be long before it needs a rebuild.  Trans fluid is a pink-ish red, getting redder and dark as it ages. But always some red and NEVER that dark.

Generally, the trans dipstick is closer to the back of the motor.

 

Rick

Edited February 10, 20242 yr by B52bombardier1

What Rick said! That is the engine oil dipstick. I can even see the soot in the oil on the stick, (those little black spec). The transmission dip stick is in about a 3/4 diameter tube close to the firewall. That dipstick will have a S shape configuration towards the bottom of it when you pull it out. The S shape is what helps hold it in the tube because of the disparity in size between the dipstick & the tube size.

Thanks for all the help. Here's a picture of the transmission dipstick. What's the diagnosis?

Looks perfect! 

How long have you had the car? A filter change and refill could be in the cards. Hard to tell in pic but the trans fluid should be very red. Slow engagement could be low fluid as well. 

2 hours ago, TotallyHoadley said:

Thanks for all the help. Here's a picture of the transmission dipstick. What's the diagnosis?

Agree with Joe hard to tell, but does look red. Do me a favor, take the dipstick with the trans fluid on it & wipe it on a white paper towel. Than take a picture & show me that. Also check the fluid again. Engine warm, drive the car around the block a couple times. Engine running pull the dipstick out wipe it off. Put it all the way back in then pull it back out & note where the solid fluid line is on the stick & let us know. In general from the quick view it looks ok & the level looks adequate, but let’s make sure before you make your next move.

Edited February 14, 20242 yr by Last Indian