Saturn Ion Transmission Fluid Change 2003 - 2007

In this video:
- Required Tools
- Step by Step Process
- Maintenance Manual Process
- Helpful Tips
- Torque Specs
- 2004 Saturn Ion Sedan Vehicle
*Filter removal is not performed. It should be if you want this service done correctly. It is critical to replace the filter when doing this service.
Made For:
Owners, enthusiasts, and everyone honestly.
Thank you for your time and enjoy !

[@ddemier]

Good tutorial as I have a 2004 Satutn Ion with an automatic. Drain refill is just a tad over 4qts. Its like 4.3 US quarts.

[@GoodNRG.]

Thank you @ddemier! I hope you found something useful in this video. Thank you for watching and supporting mate.

[@tristantaus4556]

Thanks for video! I got a 15/16 SAE socket but I need to buy a 24mm socket 1/2" drive! Lol I never changed the transmission fluid ever since I got my 2005 Saturn ION..

[@GoodNRG.]

Of course. Oh wow! Its definitely due for one then hahaha. So your 15/16" socket IS a 24mm socket according to the conversion. However, it is probably a 12-point socket. It shouldn't round off the head of the bolt as long as you have it on there flush. If you have the 1/2" drive for the 15/16" socket then you are good to go. I hope the video helps you in your journey. Enjoy and be safe !

[@jacobdonnell2443]

Brother, you are good to go.

[@GoodNRG.]

I appreciate that. Thank you for giving this video a portion of your time. I hope it serves you well. Enjoy mate !

[@kevinwest1695]

My daughter's car is a 2003 ion. I don't think it has the 'dipstick, the fill or drain plugs (/01 I cant find info if the engine are different, 4 cyl. Do you know ? thanks

[@GoodNRG.]

The car in the video is a 4cylinder 2004 Saturn Ion and your daughters car, though only a year off, will still have the same drain plugs and fill locations. I used the service manual to do the job and it had me fill the transmission via the dipstick location. Your dipstick may be covered in dirt but it is there. Mine was completely covered and I had to clean it off to see the bright yellow color of the dipstick.

[@Alexscott100]

If your daughters car is a 2003 and doesn’t have a dipstick I would surmise it’s a quad coupe and has the CVT. The CVT has a full port on the top near the under hood fuse block(the cap will say DEX-CVT) On the bottom it had a drain bolt that also has a check bolt inside the drain bolt you use the check bolt to check the fluid level. Questioning3 on KZbin has a great video showing checking the fluid level on the CVT it’s in a Saturn VUE but the procedure is the same.

[@devin9880]

Fill Trans Fluid with that 8mm Hex Styile socket, its on top of the Trans looks like an Allen but is not :)

[@timocuerno]

How is it shifting now? I’ve got 180k on mine. I don’t think it’s ever been changed. I worry about it slipping gears with fresh fluid. People are divided on whether to do it or not at high mileage. Thanks for the video!

[@GoodNRG.]

Oh it shifts much smoother now. It would jerk into gears previously. I plan to get the transmission filter changed around 200k. Thank you for checking out the video!

[@timocuerno]

@@GoodNRG. I think I’ll drain and fill mine then. Thanks for the response!

[@GoodNRG.]

@@timocuerno Sure thing. Good luck!

[@JOESMITH-bx8qv]

Just got an 2007 ion 2 With 104000 miles for 2000 on CL. Was on I-95 maybe 10 miles in and tranny made a lil noise and tranny light and check engine light came home. Lost almost all power in the peddle. Had it floored just to get it to 70pmh. Got home let sit for half hour restart and tranny lightvwas off. But check engine light still on. Was hoping that meant low fluid. Mine has no dip stick like your showing. Just a small cap ontop of tranny. Where was your sipstick? I googled and they say they dont have dip sticks.

[@adictiveadictive]

Yea, i have a 2007 as well and i remember when i asked on the SaturnFans forum I think they said its a "sealed system." I don't know if that means you can't check it, can't fill it, or both. You ever figure it out? Edit: BUT, in the Haynes repair manual I have it explains how to change the fluid and filter so....

[@icylightning2423]

It could have gone in limp mode

[@JOESMITH-bx8qv]

@@icylightning2423 yes thats what happened. Hasn't done it since though. Used half a can of carb cleaner in the throttle body and fixed that issue.

[@ethanrobson7932]

Ive done some research on what the I mode is and I think it is towing mode

[@GoodNRG.]

That would be interesting. Did you consult the owners manual?

[@ethanrobson7932]

No I don't remember finding anything about it in the manual. I think I just read it in a forum or two.

[@GoodNRG.]

@@ethanrobson7932 I found General Motors 2004 Saturn Ion Owners Manual. Very interesting. It says the "I" stands for Intermediate. It reads, " The position is also used for normal driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel economy than Automatic Overdrive (D). Here are some times you might choose INTERMEDIATE (I) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): -When driving on hilly, winding roads. -When going down a steep hill."

[@ethanrobson7932]

Thanks that's good to know. That also makes more sense. I don't know why anyone would tow with it anyway.

[@GoodNRG.]

@@ethanrobson7932 HHAHAAH. Towing would leave that car screamin' for mercy.

[@Alexscott100]

The ion sedan doesn’t have a CVT it has the it has the 5 speed automatic. The 2003-2004 Ion Quad Coupes and 2002-2004 2.2 I4 VUEs and the 2005 VUE 2.2 I4 AWD were the only models to have the CVT.

[@ednure]

That’s good information

[@wiimoteman7292]

It came with both a five speed auto and a four speed auto in later model years

[@Alexscott100]

@@wiimoteman7292 yeah 2005-2007 had the 4T45-E

[@abbysapples2547]

How do I know if I have a C.V.T

[@Alexscott100]

@@abbysapples2547 what year and what’s is your vin number

[@ejb5034]

Why are you filling the transmission through the dipstick hole? There is a threaded filler cap hole on top of the transmission. Didn't you have the 8mm hex bit to remove it? It would have made it a lot less of a pain to fill.

[@GoodNRG.]

Because the service manual specifically states to fill the car from the dipstick hole. One can see the wording straight from the manual in this video that states to fill the transmission from the dipstick hole.

[@ejb5034]

@@GoodNRG. Not faulting you for following the manual but the people who write manuals aren't always correct. Sure it can be done through the dipstick hole but it's a real pain considering how the engineers thought it was a good idea to not provide a dipstick tube and a normal everyday tranny dipstick instead of that yellow thingy that's a real pain in the ass itself. Whoever heard of having to unbolt a dipstick? Could be the last time the guy who wrote the manual checked or added ATF was when an abortion like this transmission dipstick had not even been dreamt of. Think of it. Is this a reasonable design? I think not.

[@GoodNRG.]

@@ejb5034 Yeah that bolt-down dipstick idea, although a sense of peace of mind knowing the dipstick could never come out, could've been improved. I have seen that video of the guy filling the transmssion from that 8mm allen-wrench-receiving bolt. I just didn't have the tool at the time.

[@JOESMITH-bx8qv]

Idk what car You're working on but 2003-2007 ions dont have dip sticks. Done my google search. Show me a link that shows ion dipstick please. Ima lose my mind

[@karvyonholifield8107]

@@JOESMITH-bx8qvme and you both 😅😂😂

[@LucasBender-ug8ri]

Instead of worrying anout where u bought the damn funnel and what the smell of atf smells like shorten the damn video by working on the car

[@GoodNRG.]

That starts around 6 minutes in. Enjoy !

[@GrannyRalls]

​​@@GoodNRG. Hi Nick! I don't understand why folks get ugly b/c if they don't like your presentation style, they can just watch another YT video IF they can find one dealing with the same issue.... GOOD LUCK! That said, I wondered if you can tell me where you got the Aisin product & was the service manual you're referring to in the video provided at purchase or did you buy it somewhere else? I'm old & disabled & sure wish you lived close to show my grands this process step by step. I appreciated your laying everything out from the beginning. Thanks!

[@GoodNRG.]

@@GrannyRallsPeople get a lot of confidence behind a screen. I simply do not have enough time to go back and forth. It's not worth it, so I disengage. The website that looks like it sells the fluid in the video is here: www.ipdusa.com/products/10543/Automatic-Transmission-Fluid-Type-T-IV-ATF-0T4-JWS3309-for-Aisin-Warner-Transmissions-for-Volvo-ATF0T4-1161540-122082 When it comes to the service manual, I bought them off Ebay around 2014 or 2015 and they are actual shop service manuals. There are 3 or 4 volumes in total. It sucks today that we don't have service manuals anymore. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known all the steps for a video like this. Also, in terms of the website for the Aisin Transmission Fluid, it does not HAVE to come from that website. I googled "T-IV 22689186" and about 3 good links came up that took me to the product. The one I copied and pasted for you shows me the exact bottle thats in this video. One of the other links took me to a different looking bottle that is supposedly the same fluid as the fluid in this bottle, so either one should work. Cheers and good luck! And now you have a video anyone can follow along to. I do recommend getting an OBD2 scanne that can read the temp of the transmission in accordance with one of the last steps. That step helps determine if you've put in the right amount of fluid. Up to you. Good luck and thank you for your support.