I'm planning on dropping the tranny pan and changing the filter. I'm wondering since there is no dipstick to check the tranny level, what is the refill capactiy and is there some type of fill plug on the side of the tranny???

From what Ford tells me the filter never needs replacing. Yes there is a drain plug on the reight rear of the pan IIRC.

Type of transmission fluid and capacity (11.9 qt. for 04) can be found in your owner’s manual.

I'm sure he realizes there is a drain plug but he's asking for the fill hole.

http://ford.justanswer.com/ford/a4km-own-2000-lincoln-ls-v-8-5-speed

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showpost.php?p=318440&postcount=2

god draining the tranny fluid takes forever.

Sometimes, just bite the bullet and go to the dealer and pay the man. I know I can turn $125 dollar repair in to a lost weekend at twice the money.

I'm sure he realizes there is a drain plug but he's asking for the fill hole.

http://ford.justanswer.com/ford/a4km-own-2000-lincoln-ls-v-8-5-speed

not all tranny pans have drain holes...

I've been told that the best way to service the trans is to find a dealer who changes the fluid by taking loose a cooler line and removing the fluid by suction. If done properly, this removes virtually all the fluid. Any other method of service while in the car leaves the old fluid in the converter. The filter should be changed by dropping the pan after the fluid is removed.
KenS from Ben's Place

Yes I know that a tranny flush machine works the best since it removes all of the fluid and also cleans the torque converter(I used to do that for a living). my question was what the refill capacity is after you drop the pan and change the filter. Also, how can you check to see if the fluid is at the proper level??? I'm sure I could figure this out for myself, but I hate crawling underneath for something so simple.

Yes I know that a tranny flush machine works the best since it removes all of the fluid and also cleans the torque converter(I used to do that for a living). my question was what the refill capacity is after you drop the pan and change the filter. Also, how can you check to see if the fluid is at the proper level??? I'm sure I could figure this out for myself, but I hate crawling underneath for something so simple.

A lot of earlier discussions came to the consensus that this is one task probably best left to the shop. It is more of a PITA than anything else. I have changed my fluid all my life, but I think this is one I am going to pass by due to irritation factor.

There is no dipstick. The "drain plug" on the bottom of the pan is actually a fluid level inspection port and fill tube. There is actually a metal tube from the hole going up into the pan. The end of the tube is open and that is the proper level for fluid. In other words, when the tranny pan is at proper fill level, fluid dribbles out of the "drain plug", kind of like a differential fill port. There is actually another fill port on the tail shaft so filling is not quite as bad as it might be if we had to pump ATF up thru the "Drain".

From what I hear, the best method is the tranny flush machine. I think it costs something like $125 at the dealer. Considering the cost of semisyn ATF and a filter/gasket kit, I would say you would only save maybe $30-$40 doing it yourself, and spend an afternoon doing it. However there are home style flush methods which are probably described on the Lincoln site.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson