Originally Posted by Diseasel300

There is no such thing as a "cold check method" for any car with an automatic transmission. The reason you check it hot is to make sure you have a full oil charge at operating temperature. The oil expands as it heats, but not all oils expand at the same rate, checking hot allows you to have a correct oil fill regardless of what brand transmission fluid is added.

The method to check the level varies from make to make. Some are checked with the engine running, some (like my Honda) are checked at operating temperature, but with the engine OFF. Unusual, but that's how they do it.

If you follow the manufacturer's directions on checking fluids you can be assured you're doing it correctly and your result means something.