Prepare the vehicle as follows:

1. Park the vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine running.

2. With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever in P (Park).

3. With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever through each gear range, pausing for about three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift lever in P (Park).

4. Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.

Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:

1. Locate the transmission dipstick handle with this graphic which is located at the rear of the engine compartment, on the passenger side of the vehicle.

See Engine Compartment Overview on page 10‑6 for more information on location.

2. Flip the handle up, then pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or paper towel.

3. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and then pull it back out again.

4. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower level. The fluid level must be in the COLD area, below the cross-hatched area, for a cold check or in the HOT or cross-hatched area for a hot check. Be sure to keep the dipstick pointed down to get an accurate reading.

5. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the dipstick back in all the way; then flip the handle down to lock the dipstick in place.