2011 chevy malibu transmission fluid dipstick location

I have a 2010 2.4 malibu I want to check the tranny fluid level. From what I understand the only way to check it is under the tranny. There is a bolt I have to open and see if fluid is in it like checking a manual tranny. Of course, the car has to be level so I will be having all 4 sides on the jack stand.

Has anyone done this or know for sure where the bolt on it that I have to open is located? It would be great if I know where the black fill cap is on the tranny when I open it but it is bone dry.

Edit: Forgot to ask, do you have the 4 speed or the 6 speed auto? The process is basically the same, but I was giving you info for the 4 speed.

You would be correct about the bolt on the side of the case to check the level. The car has to be level, running, and warm. A bit of a pain in the rear to do in the driveway. Don't open it when the car isn't running, or you will lose a good bit of fluid. It's been a while since I've been under there, but I believe the bolt is on the left side of the tranny.

this picture should give you a good idea where it is. Also, it is 10mm.

Just a note: even though the image above is for a 4-speed transmission, the 6-speed check/fill bolt is in a similar location.

For the 6-speed transmission:
The 4-cylinder version uses bolts on the side to check/fill the fluid and to drain it.
The 6-cylinder version has a proper cap with dipstick (cable with marked metal weight) and a small bolt on the underside to drain the fluid. I did mine and it was easy.

it a 6 speed automatic thanks for the info i am going to try to find that fluid level bolt this bolt is in the bottom of the tranny and it a 10mm correct ?

For the 4-cylinder version, go to about the 3:00 mark in this video:

thanks alot for all your help i found the check level bolt it on the driver side of the tranny nothing came out so i am hoping add fluid will make it work car only has 108*** miles alway been maintance had a tranny fluid done at the dealer 6 mouths ago i just hope the tranny is not death.

Wow :surprise: Thanks for the video. I been knowing this procedure and always think that it is complicated and not practical. But I did not know that for sure until seeing this video today. The challenge is how can you know if the vehicle is actually "balanced"? I wish there is "Level" on the car so you can tell . But going through all the hurdle: idling to the correct temperature, jack the car up so it can be leveled. These two things are not easy to verify. Then finally removing the plug ..... OMG I don't understand why GM made it that way, instead of the traditional stick.

I am glad that I have never tried that. I will stick with my pragmatic method that was discussed in other thread: 6 quart without filter change. 7 quarts with filter change.

Simple version:

Drive the car a few miles, come back home and lift it up on jack stands. So long as it's pretty level, how can it be that the trans is so sensitive to being off level a bit? If the fluid is low, it's low, add some. If it's too full, it'll come out.

If the trans is lacking a quart or more, not having the car perfectly level is less of an issue than adding some fluid so it can do its job.

GM is making it out to be some kind of strange science to get it right. It ain't that hard!

Back when I had my engine replaced the transmission was shifting perfectly no matter how much gas I gave it. (Mine is the V6 version with a cap.) After I serviced the trans fluid it started slipping into 2nd from 1st when I was pouring on the coals, but when accelerating less it shifted fine. All the other gears shifted just fine. I measured how much came out by capturing all of it in a pan, then pouring it into a container with a measuring line. I refilled the trans with the same amount, checked the level, and was satisfied I had refilled it properly. After a couple weeks of it slipping in the 1-2 shifts I finally removed the cap after getting home one day and there was nothing on the dipstick. I added 2 more quarts before it even touched the dipstick, and more than 1 more before it got to the hash marks. Drained out 3, put back 6½! I figure that they never filled it properly at the dealership, even though they have all the technical data and training necessary to do the job right. If a certified tech can't do it but this ol' hillbilly can, don't let it stop you from showing some gumption and doing it yourself. You have no guarantee that the certified tech will actually do what they're paid to do, but they'll most certainly take your money and thank you for supporting their habit!

Now, go out there and "get 'er done!"

Thanks for the simplified version, your experience and wisdom advice on the Dealer Tech. To be clear, I never said that I would let the dealer do that. I only said that, for myself, it is not worthy to go that "science" accuracy for this kind of work (check of the transmission is properly filled). As a matter of fact, because of bad experience with dealer technician in the past, I decided to fix the car myself and make auto mechanic my hobby.

Everyone will do what they are comfortable to do and if it is worthy to them. Similar to other discussion on Oil Type, brand, etc..

thanks again for your simplified version, but I will just stick with my transmission fluid drain, and forget about checking the transmission level for this car. :grin:

well it was only about half qt low did not make a difference look like my tranny is gone very disappointed a car with only 108k that been well take care.