pedsurg

Decided to change tranny fluid today. Read and re-read archived posts. Got my fluid, got my hose, got my 10mm hex socket ... unfortunately could not get the tranny fill plug to budge. (Fortunately took Ray Calvo's advice (may he RIP) and attempted to loosen the fill plug before draining the fluid.

Any thoughts before I go out and get a bigger hammer in the morning? For the record, the car is a 97 993 S with 30K miles and containing what I suspect is the original tranny fluid.
TIA
Jack

(Bob:Stop laughing)

chris walrod

Slip a hydraulic jack handle (upper half) over the ratchet and use it for leverage. Ensure the socket of the fill plug is clean to get max tool engagement and give it a deliberate, firm push upwards and she'll pop loose.

Thaddeus

Opening thse things for the first time is a scary proposition on every Porsche I've owned. My 951 gave me real grief.

I think the Porsche factory has a huge guy called "Big Hans" who grunts those plugs down. He does three before lunch, and 3 after. And he's so big nobody can get up the guts to ask him to do any more.

pedsurg

Thanks Chris. I'll give it a try. My 10 mm socket is a 3/8 drive. Should I search for a 1/2 or even a 1 inch 10mm hex socket??
Thanks again
Jack

viperbob

OK Jack.. I'm done chuckling. I use a 1/2" drive 10mm hex. If you are coming up tomorrow for the clinic, you can borrow one. I have a couple of them...

pedsurg

Chris: The jack handle did the trick
Bob: No Spring Hill clinic in Am but I'll try and stop by soon.
Happy New Year!
Jack

chris walrod

Great stuff! I use my 3/8 ratchet with cheater bars mostly due to laziness upon my behalf -- dont tell my Snap-On guy

c993k

Did you guys decide what the tranny fluid of choice is for smooth shifting?
Chris

viperbob

Mobil 1 75w-90

Garth S

Glad it came out!
If ever stuck in future, insert the hex socket fully and give it one sharp smack with a hammer .... then hook up the ratchet to spin it out. This generally breaks the binding film of corrosion.

BS911

I once had a fill plug stuck so hard that no amount of force I could muster (safely) under the car with a rather long cheater bar would budge it. I ended up jacking the car about an inch off the jack stands, positioned the wrench and cheater bar so that the leverage of the bar was sitting on a 3rd jack stand, and slowly lowered the car. The cheater bar on that filler plug actually held the entire weight of the car for a brief moment before finally giving way.

pedsurg

Brian: Yep, sound familiar! Finished job last PM. Fluid was dark and thick YUCK. I felt bad for the ole g50. Can't believe it came out of this otherwise "well cared for" car. I'll probably repeat the process in several months. If anyone out there is thinking of changing their tranny fluid, or can't remember when it was last changed ... I'd highly rec changing it; sooner rather than later.

BTW, the drain plug came off easily and had a washer while the problematic fill plug had no washer. Does that make it more likely that the fluid had been changed since purchased or could it have come from the factory without a washer?

Jack

AOW162435

Jack,
I recently drained what I suspect was the factory fill. Everything on the exterior of the tranny housing had the same look with no tool marks on the drain/fill plugs. If I remember correctly, only the drain plug had the aluminum washer.

Andreas

viperbob

The factory usually does not put a washer under the fill plug. This makes the first time coming off a pain. From now on, it will be much easier... Oh and if anyone wants to change the front diff on a C4 or a TT, these also do not come with a washer under the fill plug. Also impossible to get to with the axle. I have broken a 1/2" Snap on breaker in the past getting this off....

Garth S

My front & rear fill plugs came out OK - but they each had a little love tap before turning .... maybe unnecessary on a 993, but a habit formed on opening 928 transaxles.