2005 Chevy Aveo LT 5 Speed Automatic Transmission Service - Specific How-To...?

[AndrewButler05]

I would pick up a gallon, maybe a few extra quarts since you will be doing the flush. Finally, yes, the pan has eighteen bolts according to the manual.

I actually never thought I would turn an eye to the automatic transaxle part of my manual!

Cheers

Thank you SO much! I'll order the gasket, and try to get this done ASAP before the weather turns cold.


Thanks,
-Andrew B.

[avguy]

You can certainly do the more complicated complete flush using the tranny cooler hoses if you're so inclined. On my daughters '06, all I've done (3 times) is drain 2 quarts via the drain plug and refill 2 via the dip stick tube. I believe this will keep the fluid quality up to par, but at some point I'm going to send a sample to one of the labs for analysis, just to confirm that strategy is working well.
I use MaxLife, which is meets the spec for Dex III (along with many others as well).

[AndrewButler05]

*Update*

I did the service today with Dad's assistance. We ended up being able to reuse the gasket. It came off perfectly, no tearing, no peeling, flaking or anything else. Dad and I are going to redo the service again in the spring, since it's not a complete drain. We were able to get 4 quarts out of it, so there isn't much of the "old" fluid left. Dad had me start it and count to four and shut it off, that causes it to "dump" a large portion of the remaining fluid without damaging it. Before we did that, we only drained about 2 quarts out of it after taking the pan off.

The fluid was a little dark, but didn't smell and wasn't smokey or lumpy. The magnets were clean, except from dad called the "normal fuzz" that they have. There was a "tad" of it, at best. (Always nice to see.)

All of the info you gave me was spot on, Thanks! Hopefully this thread will help someone else who does a service themselves that has this transmission. There isn't a lot of "specific" information on here about Automatics, and especially a 5 speed for that matter. Almost everything I found on here was about manuals, and that doesn't apply to Chewy. lol

I bought two gallons of the Max-Life, and only used one so I have an unopened jug for the Spring. Yay!
When we service it in the Spring we will use the new gasket and repeat this, and then it will be all "new" fluid.

I've always checked it every month, along with all fluids. I would rather check it the 1st of every month, then at every oil change. That's not often for me since I don't drive very far and the oil is always as clean as it was when I poured it in. lol

Thanks Again
-Andrew B.

[Thymeclock]

*Update*

I did the service today with Dad's assistance. We ended up being able to reuse the gasket. It came off perfectly, no tearing, no peeling, flaking or anything else. Dad and I are going to redo the service again in the spring, since it's not a complete drain. We were able to get 4 quarts out of it, so there isn't much of the "old" fluid left. Dad had me start it and count to four and shut it off, that causes it to "dump" a large portion of the remaining fluid without damaging it. Before we did that, we only drained about 2 quarts out of it after taking the pan off.

The fluid was a little dark, but didn't smell and wasn't smokey or lumpy. The magnets were clean, except from dad called the "normal fuzz" that they have. There was a "tad" of it, at best. (Always nice to see.)

All of the info you gave me was spot on, Thanks! Hopefully this thread will help someone else who does a service themselves that has this transmission. There isn't a lot of "specific" information on here about Automatics, and especially a 5 speed for that matter. Almost everything I found on here was about manuals, and that doesn't apply to Chewy. lol

I bought two gallons of the Max-Life, and only used one so I have an unopened jug for the Spring. Yay!
When we service it in the Spring we will use the new gasket and repeat this, and then it will be all "new" fluid.

I've always checked it every month, along with all fluids. I would rather check it the 1st of every month, then at every oil change. That's not often for me since I don't drive very far and the oil is always as clean as it was when I poured it in. lol

Thanks Again
-Andrew B.

All the advice given by others is accurate. I've written at length about the Aveo Aisin A/T and I suggest you reference my previous posts for an extensive discussion of it.

There is an easier way of doing A/T fluid change and it is simply to drain the tranny and add new fluid on a regular basis. The way you did it is not bad, but you still didn't get all the old fluid out. You never can because much of the remaining fluid is in the torque converter. If you do the fluid drain and refill every six months or yearly, it will eventually replenish and change all the fluid. It's somewhat like doing blood transfusions. You don't need to drain all the blood out of a person to do a beneficial transfusion. You only need to do it with regularity, as needed.

The Aisin A/T is the same on all Aveos, in use now for about a decade. It's a very reliable transmission, although not a very efficient one for MPG. The Dexron fluid is backward compatible. It was initially designed to use Dexron III. The only difference between Dexron III and the Toyota IV type is that the later version is a partially synthetic fluid, whereas Dex III is not. I've been using the Valvoline Max Life IV version, but it is much more expensive and it seems to look thinner after wear than Dex III does. The warranty is about up on my '09 and I will switch to Dex III instead, as all my other cars use it. I prefer traditional oils and non-synthetic fluids. I'd rather err on the side of caution and change them more frequently rather than wait until too late. Considering that transmission failure is usually due to deteriorated fluid, it's 'cheap insurance' to prevent a very costly repair.

[AndrewButler05]

All the advice given by others is accurate. I've written at length about the Aveo Aisin A/T and I suggest you reference my previous posts for an extensive discussion of it.

There is an easier way of doing A/T fluid change and it is simply to drain the tranny and add new fluid on a regular basis. The way you did it is not bad, but you still didn't get all the old fluid out. You never can because much of the remaining fluid is in the torque converter. If you do the fluid drain and refill every six months or yearly, it will eventually replenish and change all the fluid. It's somewhat like doing blood transfusions. You don't need to drain all the blood out of a person to do a beneficial transfusion. You only need to do it with regularity, as needed.

The Aisin A/T is the same on all Aveos, in use now for about a decade. It's a very reliable transmission, although not a very efficient one for MPG. The Dexron fluid is backward compatible. It was initially designed to use Dexron III. The only difference between Dexron III and the Toyota IV type is that the later version is a partially synthetic fluid, whereas Dex III is not. I've been using the Valvoline Max Life IV version, but it is much more expensive and it seems to look thinner after wear than Dex III does. The warranty is about up on my '09 and I will switch to Dex III instead, as all my other cars use it. I prefer traditional oils and non-synthetic fluids. I'd rather err on the side of caution and change them more frequently rather than wait until too late. Considering that transmission failure is usually due to deteriorated fluid, it's 'cheap insurance' to prevent a very costly repair.

Well said.

I ran a couple close errands yesterday and checked after I got home and it was still bright Cherry Red. No farther than I drive, it will be fine until Spring. I will keep close tabs on it, and if it gets any dirtier we will service it again before Spring.



Thanks,
-Andrew B.