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So I just finished my fluid and filter change on my 03. everything went very smoothly thanks to the easy steps. The only thing I would add is when I changed the filter the three bolts holding it in were torx heads I luckily had some but just to make anyone aware that apparently on an 03 you will need a torx set.

 

Can anyone tell me if there is a gasket that might need to be replaced on the transmission oil pan cover after it is removed when replacing the filter. Thanks

 

Yes there is a gasket that needs to be replaced.

 

Bought a transmission filter kit at my local Advance for $13... comes with the gasket and o-rings. Part No. FK-279

 

Thanks Guys. I really appreciate the replys.

 

Wish I had seen this earlier. I bought a trans filter kit from my local O'Reilly's, because supposedly, Advance does not sell this part. The kit I got from O'Reilly's does not fit, and I didn't discover this until after I had already pulled everything apart to do the swap. After a lot of web searching, I finally came up with the FK-279 number and had Advance order it, but according to them, it doesn't fit my '03. It'll be here in the a.m., so we'll see how it goes.

 

Advance is notorious for having their computers say parts don't work for certain LRs. The guy at my local Advance told me he doesn't question whether a part will work for me anymore after about the 4th purchase I made with the same "not compatible" message.

 

It is a bonus to have Torx sockets. I only have a screwdriver style set and could not get one out because it was too close to the exhaust piece. My brother had torx sockets that I could put an extension on and it was no problem.

 

Well I know the manager at my nearest Advance pretty well, so when I picked mine up today, I had him put in a data update so that maybe some guy who doesn't know any better in the future will not have this problem. If I had known this a couple of weeks ago, I could have saved myself a lot of headaches. On the bright side, I did get mine changed today, the pan gasket was a god awful pain to get seated properly, and it started to rain on me during the run and fill stage, but I got it done. I used the Valvoline Max Life trans fluid and it seems to have made a difference in the smoothness of the shifts already.