So, I took it to Cottman........

[lry99eldo]

My '99 Eldo is at 52K and really closer to 8 years old than seven. So, I figure it's "time" to change out the trans fluid and not wait for the 100K as recommended. Hell, I'll be dead before that.
So, I go to Cottman Transmision. It's a large chain, should be able to change out the fluid, filters, and generally do standard service. I should have had a clue when the manager gave me a quizzing look when I mentioned the inner drain plug.
Sure enough, the tech drains the pan, wipes it off, removes and replaces the two filters, and starts to replace the pan. Of course I stop him and get the manager, as well as his "builder" and ask why the side pan drain plug was not removed. "Side pan ?", what does that mean? And what drain plug do you mean? "We never have done that before", and so on.
I didn't have my FSM with me but I assured the manager of it's importance and he responded quite well actually. The manger did not charge me for anything, apologized and said he was quite embarassed and would I bring it back during the week after they figure it out. All at no charge.
Yes, I will. They only drained what was in the pan, which is the dry sump collector and didn't understand that the side cover is the wet sump and contains most of the fluid.
So, be aware and WATCH them to assure it is done properly. It's a shame we have to do it, but that's the way it is I guess.
Then later that same day, I go to the car wash. The car comes out of the wash machine with the antenna at full mast, only leaning 30 degrees to the rear. So, I talk to the manager.........................................
lry99eldo

[auroradude]

That's the worst place you can go to for any transmission related work. Dont ever get a trans rebuilt there. My buddy did and 14k into the build its already slipping badly and the TCC isnt engaging/disengaging properly. They suck.

I take it to GM former Olds dealer (the same guy worked on the auroras 10 years aog is still there over here). However, they did not drain the side pan for me. My theory is that it is better to replace half the fluid instead of all the fluid, because it was at 80k miles on original fluid when they dropped the pan and refilled 7 quarts and the 2 filters. In older transmissions the dirt can be holding the trans together...

[parts68]

wheres this drain plug at?

[Ranger]

It beneath the side cover, between the screens I believe. You have to drop the pan to get at it.

[lry99eldo]

Ranger, correctomundo

[parts68]

anyone have a pic?
Ive got my valve body out right now

[Ranger]

Oh boy, I just saw a pic posted. Can't remember where. I'll try to find it.

Here ya go. Post #4
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...ght=drain+plug (How to change Tranmission fluid)

[96-deville-man]

wow thats gonna suck when i do mine its got 75000miles on it and its a 96.

[Zorb750]

Originally Posted by auroradude

... In older transmissions the dirt can be holding the trans together...

BS. What is this? 1965? This isn't an old Powerglide or something where you ran twice as long on fluid as you should have and the particles of clutch material in the fluid are the only reason your clutches aren't slipping. A full fluid change at 100K miles should cause absolutely no problem, unless something is very seriously wrong with your transmission.

[parts68]

OK got it thanks
not much fluid came out when I removed plug.
Maybe most had already drained out of pan.
I sure didnt get another 8 qts as someone suggested.
Bad news is that I had this utt oh feeling when removing plug.
I felt what seemed to be too much resistance in backing it out so
I slowly worked it back and forth until it became easy and sure enough
I got threads left on the plug.
Does anyone know what size (metric Im guessing) pipe thread or what
this is?
I want to clean threads out and put a little longer plug in to make sure it doesnt do this again.

[Ranger]

Can't help on the thread size, but FWIW my Deville was the same way. I got very little fluid out of the side cover drain.

[Dadillac]

Not sure why you guys didn't get fluid from the plug. When I dropped my pan, probably 2 or 3 quarts at the most drained out. It took me at least an hour to figure out where the drain plug was at, so it had that amount of time to drain. Once i removerd the plug, I got another 5 to 6 quarts out of there. It appears that my side cover is sealed better than yours maybe.

Don

[auroradude]

Zorb I bet your the one that "flushes" your transmissions too :

[Zorb750]

Flush? Might as well flush it down the toilet if you're going to do that.

[lry99eldo]

So, I finally called the Cottman shop that told me to come back and get it done correctly. Turns out that the owner of the shop, not the manager, will not stand behind his manager's decision to do the right thing.
He said, after much prodding, that "they" do not remove the side pan drain plug because it strips out too easily.
To me, that sounds like a justafiable reason, yet one that the entire crew and the acclaimed "experts" should have been informed of. Oh, well. I guess I'll have to sit down and compose an Email/letter of some sort to get this straightened out.
This, with other situations that have arrisen in very recent history, is becoming systemic with the service world. Seems as though a person can't get honest service and that a person needs to be fully informed prior to getting service. What a shame. The dollar has in fact become more important than customer relations and good, solid, and honest service.
My problem here was reading the manual before getting the service and that being a member of this forum site was just too much information for the "experts".
So shame on all of us Caddy owners that take just a bit too much interest in our cars and wanting to know how to best keep them serviced.
I looked around in my tool box and sure enough I found pipe taps so that in the event that when I have to change this fluid and the plug strips out, I'll be ready to repair it. I guess that's too much to ask of service and repair shops anymore. You know, being prepared and all.
lry99eldo