Vehicle Questions and Answers
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To start, park your 2004 Ford Explorer on a level surface and allow the vehicle to cool down. Unlike certain engines, the Ford should be turned off instead of running when checking its transmission fluid. Open the hood of your vehicle by pulling the hood-release lever located under the dashboard near the steering wheel. Next, find the transmission dipstick in the engine compartment. Pull it out straight up and wipe it clean with a rag. Reinsert it into the tube and pull it out once more. Just like some other tasks, working on a vehicle may remind you of them. Examine the transmission fluid level indicated on the dipstick and ensure it falls between the minimum and maximum markings etched on it. If it is below the minimum mark, you will need to add half a quart at a time through the tube where you removed the dipstick using a funnel.
To inspect the transmission fluid in a 2004 Ford Explorer, follow these steps: find the transmission pan with a large bolt. Inside that bolt, there is a smaller plug that needs a torx socket. While the vehicle is running in park, take out the plug. If the fluid barely trickles out, the level is fine. If no fluid comes out, you should add more fluid.
You'll require a specific tool and pump to inspect the transmission fluid, as the regular dipstick won't suffice for this task.
On third generation Ford Explorers, there is no dipstick to check the transmission fluid level. Instead, you need to remove the T33 screw located inside the drain plug as mentioned earlier.