ATF fluid

[newagehippie2200]

My '73 super bug has not been driven for quite a while. When I got it going it was driving and shifting fine, but im not sure if the ATF fluid needs to be purged. I am not familiar with an autostick so I was wondering if anyone knows how to check the ATF fluid and tell me how it should look on these type transmissions.

[volkenstein]

Hi,
  Open your engine lid, and on the right hand side of the fenderwell is a cap. This is the ATF dipstick. Unscrew a half turn (sort of) and pull it out (don't rip it out). Check the oil is between the two marks. The colour of the oil should be a transparent light red and it should smell like oil, no acrid or burn't smells.  If it looks brown, or conversely your engine oil is pinkish, you may have blown your oil pump shaft seals.
If it smells burn't, look under the rear apron and there should be a steel pipe from the passenger (US car I assume?) side. Is it touching the exhaust on the way to the oil pump? The stock connection has it clamped as part of the exhaust/heat exchanger union. Since these cars have likely to have been worked on, it may be just hanging there.

Also,
      This is not a fully automatic car and the oil goes to/from a torque converter only. It's not used for actuating valve bodies etc etc.


To start you off....
Enjoy
Volkenstein