Stripped transmission fill plug!

[ylbill]

I went to start draining my transmission fluid for the first since I've own the car (Aug. 2011) and I think I may be in trouble. It looks like the PO or whoever previously worked on the car stripped the fill nut. Thank God for this forum and the tip on removing that first before draining!! Anybody else run into this and have a solution? Thanks

oh, and where can I get a new nut?

[wikkid]

Stripped the nut, or stripped the threads in the hole? Usually it's the latter. If so, then look into a Heli-coil insert. Not sure what the size needed is, however.

[ylbill]

Stripped the nut, or stripped the threads in the hole? Usually it's the latter. If so, then look into a Heli-coil insert. Not sure what the size needed is, however.

The allen head is stripped. Looks chewed up from trying to previously take it off or overtightened. Can't get the allen wrench to grab, it's rounded off. That plug seems pretty shallow to begin with.

[RRoller123]

Probably best to drill the proper center hole and use an "Easy-Out" reverse thread to get the plug out, then replace plug with new one. Use the biggest Easy Out that makes sense for the size of the plug, as it may be in there pretty solid and need a lot of force to budge.

It might work to find a large flat-bladed screwdriver and grind it down to fit as solidly as possible across the remaining hole span, assuming there is some small peak left to the pattern. Maybe set it in with a few whacks, then put a big ass vice-grip on the screwdriver blade for torque and see if you can get the plug to turn.

[Exit98]

Here's something I know about. Mine was a 15mm nut head, not an allen, but yup, I stripped it good. No way I was getting it off. Like you at least I hadn't drained it yet.

Took it down to my friendly local garage. Young guy put it on the lift and tried various wrenches and vice grips but as you know there's no room to get up in there. Anyway, he wouldnt give up, he loosened the trans mounts, jacked it up some, and moved it over with a big bar to get some room. Finally a big vice grip got hold and off it came.

Brought it home and changed up the oil. Didn't have a replacement so gently screwed in the bad one, not very tight. It's still there, haven't replaced it yet. No pressure on the fill bolt so no leaking. I'll get around to replacing one of these days.

Good luck, I think you'll really need to get it on a lift.

[RRoller123]

Is there enough thread sticking out to get the vice grip on? If so that is a great solution!

[ylbill]

Here's something I know about. Mine was a 15mm nut head, not an allen, but yup, I stripped it good. No way I was getting it off. Like you at least I hadn't drained it yet.

Took it down to my friendly local garage. Young guy put it on the lift and tried various wrenches and vice grips but as you know there's no room to get up in there. Anyway, he wouldnt give up, he loosened the trans mounts, jacked it up some, and moved it over with a big bar to get some room. Finally a big vice grip got hold and off it came.

Brought it home and changed up the oil. Didn't have a replacement so gently screwed in the bad one, not very tight. It's still there, haven't replaced it yet. No pressure on the fill bolt so no leaking. I'll get around to replacing one of these days.

Good luck, I think you'll really need to get it on a lift.

Doug, that was exactly my thought. Its so tight around there to work, I think it would be so much easier if it was up on a lift. Thanks

[wikkid]

For more accessible problems like this, you can get up in with a Dremel and grind out a straight groove, then use a flat head screwdriver. Not so sure about this location, though!

[ylbill]

For more accessible problems like this, you can get up in with a Dremel and grind out a straight groove, then use a flat head screwdriver. Not so sure about this location, though!

that might be possible??

[RRoller123]

Is your plug an allen hole or nut? I.e. concave or convex? An allen wrench going into a hole, or a socket on a head? If it is a rounded over head/nut, then a big ass vice grip ought to do the trick. If you don't get it resolved by tomorrow afternoon, PM me and I will come over after church and try to help, I am just up the street from you.

Pete

[ylbill]

Is your plug an allen hole or nut? I.e. concave or convex? An allen wrench going into a hole, or a socket on a head? If it is a rounded over head/nut, then a big ass vice grip ought to do the trick. If you don't get it resolved by tomorrow afternoon, PM me and I will come over after church and try to help, I am just up the street from you.

Pete

Thanks Pete, Its not a nut, so no getting vise grips on it. Its an allen head that,s almost flush with the box, which I believe is the original. I'll keep you posted.

[wikkid]

Another kludgey idea: saw off a bit of a cheap allen wrench that will fit into the rounded hold and stick out a bit. Use JB weld to "glue" it in place (hole fully de-greased first) with the hole fully packed with the JB weld. Sort of a home-made kludge nut that you could get a wrench around.