Do the two holes on the bottom of the trans dip stick have to be filled in with trans fluid for it to be truely full .... if I and getting a reading on the checkered marks and the two holes on the bottom of the stick ... This may sound stupid if so please some please just advise and if it is stupid of why are these two holes on only only on the transmission stick and not the oil stick.

Chris ..

 

chiltons says...at normal operating temp.(20 min of running,having been in all gears..) trans fluid should be within the crosshatched area, or between the arrows,.............you can also check it at room temp (i assume not warmed up, ) and the fluid level should be between the middle and top hole on the dipstick...
i always check mine hot, as it expands as it warms up. vehicle should have been through all gears and park and neutral...parked o level ground...fluid usually at top of cross hatched area.....for what its worth my tranny always tells me when i've lost some fluid by not shifting as previous...after you have put a couple thousand miles on them you can tell....rick
91 aerostar xl,ext aka "the green bean"
186 thou. mi and going..........

 

I really do know more about vehicles then this question made it sounds, truley thank you. That is about how old Maroon does. When it is warmed it reads in the checkered area close to the top, and when it is cool it reads at the top thick plus the holes in the dip stick I have been nagging about are filled. So I do beleive the expansion of the trans fluid. This vehicle has 178,000 miles and is running awsome and I got it as gift from the church during hard time here at about 153,000 miles. I just want to make extra sure .... my $12 hayes manual only said check when at operating temp with engine running. Ohhh yea and I need to replace the power steering line $51.00 the poly casket is bad leaking little, (IS) ?? there a cheaper fix sealer only leaking near where it screws into the power steering motor. if not I will just replace that whole line.

Thanks rick ----- Hope to talk again

 

Transmission Dip Stick read per Haynes Guide

If the automatic transmission fluid is cold, the level should be between the two circles ie (holes) if it is operating tempature, the level should be between the two checkered lines, and the mystery is solved.

Looks like mine might be a little over filled but no leaks, looks like I might need to drain some. It is in the checkered area when cold.

Oh yes, and my wife has had the van when shifted into drive act like it is in neutral. the shifter is a little loose so I am going to check the linkage .... and also there has been heard a small clunk sound when switching drive directions book says rearend .. possibly differrential ... lord I haven't even had a chance to check the fluid in the reared been so busy since we've had this vehicle.

guess it's time to lay time aside for shade tree mechman to get busy.

THanks all
Chris