🔧 Town & Country - Transmission Fluid Change

This service replaces old ATF (automatic transmission fluid) in your Town & Country to help shifting quality and transmission life. On your van, the fluid level is set by temperature and a special dipstick tool, so the “final level check” is the most important part.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3.0 hours

Assumption: Stock 62TE transmission with dipstick tube/cap.

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a level surface and support the van with jack stands before going underneath.
• ⚠️ Transmission fluid can be very hot—wear gloves and safety glasses.
• ⚠️ Keep the engine OFF unless a step says to run it (wheels chocked).
• ⚠️ Do not overfill—incorrect level can cause slipping, harsh shifts, or foaming.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this service.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (10-quart minimum)
• Shop rags
• Trim clip remover
• 10mm socket
• 3/8" ratchet
• 6" socket extension
• Torque wrench (in-lb)
• Torque wrench (ft-lb)
• Fluid transfer funnel (long neck)
• Special service dipstick tool for 62TE (specialty)
• Scan tool with Transmission Fluid Temp PID (specialty)
• Infrared thermometer (optional)
• Plastic scraper

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Automatic transmission fluid ATF+4 - Qty: 5 quarts
• Transmission pan gasket - Qty: 1
• Transmission filter - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• Warm the transmission slightly with a 10-minute drive so the fluid drains better.
• Gather a way to read transmission fluid temperature: Scan tool with Transmission Fluid Temp PID (specialty). (A PID is a live data reading from the transmission computer.)
• Plan for a “drain & fill” amount of about 4–5 quarts. Total dry capacity is much larger, but you are not draining the torque converter in a basic DIY service.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Safely lift and support the van

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the front of the van at the correct front jacking point.
• Set it down on jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Give the van a firm shake to confirm it’s stable before you go underneath.

Step 2: Remove the lower splash shield (if equipped)

• Use a trim clip remover to pop out plastic push-pins.
• Use a 10mm socket with a 3/8" ratchet to remove any bolts.
• Set the shield and clips/bolts aside so you don’t lose them.

Step 3: Drain the transmission fluid

• Place a drain pan (10-quart minimum) under the transmission pan.
• If your pan has a drain plug, loosen it carefully with the correct socket/wrench you have available, and let it drain fully into the pan.
• If there is no drain plug, you’ll drain by loosening the pan:
  • Use a 10mm socket and 3/8" ratchet to loosen the pan bolts a few turns.
  • Leave a few bolts threaded on one end, then gently crack the pan loose so fluid pours out on one side first.

Step 4: Remove the transmission pan

• Use a 10mm socket with a 3/8" ratchet and 6" socket extension to remove the pan bolts.
• Lower the pan carefully—there will still be fluid in it.
• Clean the pan with brake cleaner and shop rags.
• Remove and clean the pan magnet(s) (they catch fine metal “paste”). Small paste is normal.

Step 5: Replace the transmission filter

• With the pan off, pull the filter down (it may be held by fasteners depending on the filter style).
• Have the drain pan positioned—more fluid will come out.
• Install the new filter firmly in place (make sure the seal seats evenly).

Step 6: Install the pan gasket and reinstall the pan

• Use a plastic scraper to remove old gasket material or RTV from the pan and transmission sealing surfaces.
• Wipe the surfaces clean with brake cleaner on a rag (do not soak electrical connectors).
• Place the new transmission pan gasket onto the pan.
• Start all bolts by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Tighten pan bolts evenly in a crisscross pattern using a 10mm socket and torque wrench (in-lb).
• Torque to 12 Nm (105 in-lbs)

Step 7: Reinstall the splash shield

• Use a 10mm socket and 3/8" ratchet to reinstall bolts.
• Use a trim clip remover (and your fingers) to reinstall push-pins.

Step 8: Add new ATF+4 through the fill tube

• Lower the van back to level ground using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Under the hood, remove the transmission fill tube cap.
• Insert a fluid transfer funnel (long neck).
• Add 4 quarts of ATF+4 to start.

Step 9: Circulate fluid and set the final fluid level by temperature

• Start the engine and keep your foot on the brake.
• Slowly move the shifter through P-R-N-D and back, pausing 2–3 seconds in each gear.
• With the engine idling in PARK, plug in your scan tool with Transmission Fluid Temp PID (specialty) and monitor transmission fluid temperature.
• When the fluid is around 40–50°C (104–122°F), insert the special service dipstick tool for 62TE (specialty) fully into the dipstick tube.
• Remove it and read the level against the temperature chart/markings on the tool.
• If low, add fluid in small amounts (about 0.25 quart at a time) using the fluid transfer funnel (long neck), then recheck.
• If high, you must drain a small amount (through the drain plug if equipped, or by carefully loosening a corner of the pan). Go slow—overdraining is easy.

Step 10: Final leak check

• With the engine still idling, look underneath for any seepage around the pan gasket area.
• Shut the engine off and wipe any spilled fluid with shop rags.

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✅ After Repair

• Test drive 10–15 minutes and confirm smooth shifting.
• Park on level ground, leave engine idling, recheck the level again at 40–50°C (104–122°F) using the special service dipstick tool for 62TE (specialty).
• Recheck for leaks the next day (pan edge and undertray area).
• Dispose of old ATF properly (most parts stores accept used fluids).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $220-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $55-$120 (parts only)

You Save: $165-$330 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-3.0 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.