Tranny drain/fill plugs location procedure, drain/fill

["Scott Mo." <scottmo@teleport.com>]

Someone asked:

> Could someone tell me where the tranny drain/fill plugs are on the 91 >200Q? I know there are 2 drain and 1 fill, I just don't know where.

Here is the procedure I used to locate the drain and fill plugs on my
1989 200TQ transmission. This is for US vehicles only. I don't know if
it will work on UK Right Hand drive vehicles. Phil?

Remove your car from the garage and mark the entire floor of the garage 
lengthwise every one foot starting at the exit of the garage. (0ft, 1ft,
2ft etc) At the 10 foot mark, make a special mark using tape on the
garage floor. Drive the car back into the garage and stop with the rear
bumper exactly at the 0 foot mark. (Use a helper to do this) Jack up the
left side of the vehicle ~18 inches and place appropriate jack stands
under the frame/body to safely support the vehicle so your body will fit
underneath. (Note: Some bodies will need additional jacking.)

Go to the rear of the car by the trunk and lay down on your back
underneath the back end of the car with your head pointing toward the
front of the car directly underneath the rear bumper. Take a small
minature flash light and hold it in-between your teeth, kind of like a
Pirate holds a knife. You get the picture. Your head should be at the 0
foot mark. Use your arms/hands and grab the rear bumper and/or the rear
suspension of the car and pull your body forward. Wiggle your body
forward enough so you can eventually grab the drive shaft. You may want
to keep your eyes closed during some of this grab and drag procedure to
avoid getting dirt in your eyes. Use the drive shaft to pull your body
further forward toward the front of the car until you get next to the 10
foot tape mark. 

Look upwards (slowly). ( Be careful, don't bang your head)

You should be pretty close to the front end of the driveshaft. This also
means that you have likely arrived at the Back end of the transmission.
Continue pulling yourself foward about 1 foot until your head is
underneath the back end of the transmission. 

Look up again (slowly) and use the flashlight to look at the
transmission.

You should see one drain plug on the bottom of the transmission about 6
inches from the back end. The drain plug is a 17mm six sided hex plug
that requires a 17mm allen socket or wrench to remove or replace. 

Grab the back end of the transmission and pull yourself foward another
two feet. 

Look up again (slowly) Use the flashlight as necessary.

Your head should be just below the front end portion of the transmission
where the left front drive axle comes out. The 2nd drain plug (also 17mm
hex) is at the bottom/side of the transmission (drivers side) just below
where the left front drive axle comes out. Wiggle your butt back 6
inches. 

Look up (slowly). 

A few inches directly behind where the left front drive axle comes out
of the transmission you should see the filler plug. Yes, it is also a
17mm hex plug. 

Drain and Refill Procedure:
Note: After placing appropriate drain pan(s) under the transmission and
removing the drain and filler plug(s), you may want to wiggle out from
under the car (Use original grab and drag procedure in reverse order)
and lower the car down off of the jackstands so all the fluid will drain
out of the transmission. After draining out all the fluid, Jack the car
back up again as previously described and intall the two drain plugs
after cleaning off any metal stuck to the magnets, Then torque each
drain plug to 18ft/lb. Get your butt out from under the car again and
jack/lower the car down off of the jack stands. Open the hood.

The 1989-91 200TQ Bentley states the following:

"Beginning with build date 13 09 8 the 016 All Wheel drive transmission
has a revised oil capacity. The oil filler hole in the transmissions
from 13 09 8 is located 15mm higher than previously. Previous capacity
2.2 liters, 2.33 qt. New capacity 2.6 liters, 2.75 qts. The transmission
should be filled so the oil level is 7mm below the lower edge of the
filler hole. However, during repairs the transmission can be filled to
the lower edge of the hole. This corresponds to a capacity of 3.2 liters
(3.4 quarts). 

You can "slowly" fill the transmission from the engine compartment using
a long funnel with a hose attached to the end of the funnel and inserted
into the filler hole on the side of the transmission." NOTE: The garage
floor should be as close as possible to level so that the correct amount
of fluid can be poured into the transmission. After filling the
transmission, jack up the left side of the car again, use the jack
stands and install the filler plug, torque to 18 ft/lb. Jack/Lower car
back on the ground and test drive the vehicle after backing out of the
garage. (shut the hood first).

Check for correct shifting and for any leaks underneath the vehicle
after you test drive it.

I really need to stop mixing my medications....

HTH
Scott Mo.