02' 3.0L V6 AWD Transmission fluid change [Archive]

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jgarrett3

10-09-2008, 05:02 PM

New to the website and need help. Bought a Vue and need to do some pm on it. Need transmission fluid/filter change procedures/details. Do I need the service manual from the dealer or will an aftermarket manual work fine. Any advice about this vehicle would help, other than sell it, yes I've read to much already about saturns. With a low investment I'm going to give it a run. Thank you for any and all advice.

john95SW2

10-09-2008, 07:34 PM

Hello and welcome - there are lots of really knowledgable people here who will be able to help you out when you need it

There are no aftermarket manuals for the Vue (Haynes/Chilton) You either get the FSM for about 125 or so or get a subscription to Alldata.

As for advice on the vehicle: Drive it and enjoy it. :cool:

1saxman

10-09-2008, 08:08 PM

The '02 and '03 V6 automatic transmission requires T-IV fluid. You can get it at the dealer, at a Toyota dealer or use any fluid meeting T-IV specs, such as Valvoline 'Max Life' Dex Merc. The drain plug is on the end of the housing behind the engine. Approx. 4.5 quarts will drain, so that is the fill amount. The dipstick/fill tube is nearly inaccessible - on the front of the housing all the way down. You will have to fabricate a funnel arrangement unless you can find a funnel long enough and small enough to fit it. This drain/fill will get about half the fluid, so you might figure on doing this every year. Check the level hot with the engine running after the trans has been placed in all the gears for a few seconds. Then wait a minute while it idles before checking. I made a dipstick extension by cutting off the button on top of the stick, leaving the 1/4" shaft. I clamped a 3" piece of 1/4" Fuel Vapor hose to the shaft and an 11" piece of 1/4" dowel rod. This works great, but you still have to reach down there and release the spring clip that keeps the dipstick in place. You get better at not getting burned on the exhaust header after a few tries.
The Rear Drive Module (RDM) requires Versatrak fluid, about a quart. Get this at any GM dealer, about $17 a pint. Some guys are using Royal Purple 'Synchromax' instead with no problems. This fluid should be changed every year too.
Engine oil is 5W30. I find Motorcraft synthetic blend to do very well in this engine as well as Mobil-1 'Truck and SUV'. Get the filter at the Saturn dealer and buy at least two at a time.
The 3.0L GM L81 engine is a 4-cam, 4-valve-per-cylinder engine that makes it's power in the higher RPMs, so don't be concerned about the higher-than-usual shift points. It has a rev-limiter set at 6500, so it can't hurt itself even in Neutral. At full throttle it may shift at around 6000.
There is a major service required at 100,000 miles that includes the timing belt and spark plugs with integral coils. The spark plugs are under the intake manifold.:cry:

jgarrett3

10-10-2008, 06:50 AM