Draining the Transmission Fluid

• 1). Drive your Montana minivan for 20 minutes at highway speed and then park on level ground.
  
  
• 2). Turn off the engine and shift the transmission to neutral.
  
  
• 3). Raise the front of the van with a floor jack, support it on jack stands and chock the rear wheels.
  
  
• 4). Put on your goggles and slide a large drain pan under the transmission oil pan.
  
  
• 5). Unscrew and remove the side and front mounting bolts from the transmission pan using a ratchet, large ratchet extension and socket. Be careful, as hot transmission oil may begin dripping off the sides of the oil pan at this point.
  
  
• 6). Unscrew the mounting bolts from the rear of the oil pan about four turns using the ratchet, large ratchet extension and socket.
  
  
• 7). Tap lightly on the front of the oil pan with a rubber mallet to separate the oil pan from under the transmission and let the oil drain.
  
  
• 8). Hold the bottom of the oil pan with a pair of shop rags and finish removing the pan's rear bolts using the ratchet, large ratchet extension and socket.
  
  
• 9). Lower the oil pan carefully over the drain pan and then tilt the pan to drain the rest of the transmission oil.
  
  
• 10
  
  Pull the transmission filter from the bottom of the transmission by hand and then remove the filter, pan, drain pan, pan gasket and mounting bolts from under the van.
  
  

Replacing the Transmission Fluid

• 1). Clean the oil pan, mounting bolts and transmission sealing surface thoroughly using solvent, a soft brush and shop rags.
  
  
• 2). Install a new transmission filter under the transmission.
  
  
• 3). Place a new gasket on the oil pan and get under your Montana minivan.
  
  
• 4). Position the oil pan in place under the transmission and thread the mounting bolts hand-tight.
  
  
• 5). Torque the bolts gradually and evenly, in a star pattern, to 10 ft-lbs. using a torque wrench.
  
  
• 6). Lower your van using the floor jack and remove the chocks.
  
  
• 7). Open the hood and refill the transmission with the recommended amount and type of transmission fluid for your particular model. Use a large funnel and pour the oil through the transmission oil dipstick tube.
  
  
• 8). Start the engine and shift the transmission through every gear and back to Park.
  
  
• 9). Check the transmission oil pan for leaks and turn off the engine.