my girlfriend has a 98 sunfire and it shifts so earily the car runs like s*&^ the owners manual says that you cant check the fluid level (that sounds stupid) what can i do??????:( this is the 2.4L and the 4speed automatic, when i looked under the hood to see if the level was low there was no dipstick!? any ideas will help......

honestly, i would take it to a pontiac dealer and ask a tech where you can check it if possible

i know that a great many of the late model GM cars do not have dipsticks for trans fluid. does the manual say anything about how to check the fluid? it sounds like the tranny has some issues. does it have high mileage?

That trany doesn't use a dipstick. There is a plug on the passenger side of the trany in front of the axle shaft that you have to take out to check the fluid level. Of course the plug is facing the side of the car, not down. It is an 11mm size, so a wrench or socket will work. The car MUST be running, in park, and warmed up when you check the level. If you don't have it running the trany fluid will gush out and it will be low. The fluid level should be just even with the bottom of the plug hole threads. The fill is on the top of the trany near the firewall. it is just a plastic screw in cap.

damn late model cars... theyre made so people cat mess w/ them much now...

Honestly I wouldnt listen to the manual becasue it said that my car takes 4.0 QT even of oil and I put 5.1 QTs in there if it's not a manual trans it should have a dip stick in the back rt hand corner of the car but the dip stick may have a black handle so it can blend in were you cant see it. or try the lower part of the trans in the front. also try to look it up on line to see wee it may be its a P.I.T.A sorry for the troubles man hope this helps.