Hi, One of the C-Max's design failings is the lack of a dip-stick to check trans fluid level. This has lead to a lot of owners & mechanics to wrongly assume that it is a sealed unit. Happened to me at a large national chain of tire/car repair shop. I quickly dropped them from my list forever. The trans has two plugs on the side, one fill-one drain, visible from underneath. [Google exact spots & how to access]. The trans fluid level should be checked at every oil change [owner's manual], but most if not all oil change shops will not do it unless you request it because it is not as easy as using a dip stick. Because of the way level is checked, it is hard to determine if your 2 ounces low or a gallon. In practice checking is more refilling than checking level. The C-Max came from the factory with a regular oil-based fluid [NOT SYNTHETIC] resulting with a fluid that is subject to heat-related losses just like standard motor oil. At your mileage, if previous owner did not have fluid checked on a regular basis, it is very highly likely level is low. If it was me, at your mileage, I would drain & refill with new. Did mine at 100k. Hope this helps, don't believe it will hurt. Thanks for the read.
How diagnose transmission issue
Hey guys, i recently purchased a 15 c max hybrid with 130k miles, at 1st everything seemed fine no issues then out of the blue when i accelerate from a stop i feel and hear a clunk like the transmission slipped, after that it drives normal, no chk engine light, does well on the highway and speeds above 20mph , just when accelerating of a stop a clunk is felt, could it be its low on tranny oil, any way to check it, dealer wants $200 just to diagnose , is there something i can do to pin point the issue and see if its the actual transmission that is going bad.
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Thanks for the heads up,how much transmission fluid is capacity for the 15 cmax?, do you think a simple jack to lift the front vehicle and stands will be enough?Hi, One of the C-Max's design failings is the lack of a dip-stick to check trans fluid level. This has lead to a lot of owners & mechanics to wrongly assume that it is a sealed unit. Happened to me at a large national chain of tire/car repair shop. I quickly dropped them from my list forever. The trans has two plugs on the side, one fill-one drain, visible from underneath. [Google exact spots & how to access]. The trans fluid level should be checked at every oil change [owner's manual], but most if not all oil change shops will not do it unless you request it because it is not as easy as using a dip stick. Because of the way level is checked, it is hard to determine if your 2 ounces low or a gallon. In practice checking is more refilling than checking level. The C-Max came from the factory with a regular oil-based fluid [NOT SYNTHETIC] resulting with a fluid that is subject to heat-related losses just like standard motor oil. At your mileage, if previous owner did not have fluid checked on a regular basis, it is very highly likely level is low. If it was me, at your mileage, I would drain & refill with new. Did mine at 100k. Hope this helps, don't believe it will hurt. Thanks for the read.
Basically access to trans fluid change is the same as an oil change, dropping the lower engine cover. You will need either a hose & funnel to snake thru the top to the fill plug or a pump & hose to the plug from below. Car should be lifted enough to free drive train while filling to get a hopefully accurate level of fluid. My 2013's owner's manual calls for 5.7 qts for a drain & refill, [I don't recall how much I put back in ,sorry, but it was close to that amount]. Trans is full when fluid starts to flow back out of the fill plug. Hope for the best & thanks for the read.
Forgot to add that if you go the drain & refill route, you'll need to capture & measure old fluid to see if trans was actually low on fluid. I didn't do so when I did it but at 100k I was uncomfortable going to 150k per owners manual. I wasn't having any shifting problems at the time. Thanks for the read.
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