Would someone tell me how to remove the transmission fill tube plastic cap? The one with the red tab on the top of it.

Is that an 88' or an 89' Oldsmobuick?

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-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831799-post13.html
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831807-post14.html

just break the flat part on top off, then using a small screw driver push the rest out through the bottom, then pull it up and off, watch for the o-ring it may stay inside the tube.

I forgot to say which model--1998 E320. When you say "break off the top part", I assume you mean the red tab. Forcing the rest out through the bottom sounds like it would go down the fill tube into the transmission. What stops it?

it falls to the out side,

OK. So, I assume that when you put the cap back on the tube, it is necessary to put a new red tab part into the slot. What is this, some kind of a locking device?

it is not needed to secure the plastic cover, it is basically a tamper evident seal.

You need a dipstick to check the level...

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I bought a dipstick-the shop tool- to check the fluid level. I recently had the transmission serviced and wanted to make sure the level is correct. After reading the replys about the cap, I have a question about whether it was ever removed when the transmission was serviced. The car was returned to me with the tab missing, but the rest of the red insert was in place. Is it possible to break the tab off and get the cap off and back on without removing the red insert. They either did it or never removed it which makes me wonder if the transmission was serviced or not.

Yes, the locking tab can be removed and then reinserted.
As carson356 posted, the red tab is only an anti tamper lock.

ozzy

I just did this the other day. I had the same concerns after reading the DIY in the STAR magazine. You break off the red tab and with a small screw driver, push the remaining part of the tab down and it falls outside the fill tube. Lucky for me I found this piece later as I will explain. I don't believe you can take off the fill cap with this part still in it but it is only a small piece of plastic. It may be that you can just muscle the cap and remaining tab off. You can experiment as the tabs are only $1. Were YOU able to get it off just by yanking on it? The fill cap secures itself by pushing down on it and it will click in place. It takes a bit of pressure. At this point, with a tug, you can just pull it back off again. After you add a new red tab, the fill cap is on until you break the tab. No real need for the red tab unless you are afraid that some indie might mistaken it for something else. What I did wrong was not push the cap fully down, so when I added the new red clip, the fill cap came right off in my hand again. Looking at the old tab piece, I figured out how to remove the tab without breaking it by pinching it from underneath.

glenmore
1991 300CE
1990 LS400
2000 C280

I never knew it was supposed to break off!

It can be squeezed on the tabs to pivot off sideways, then the dipstick can be accessed. Doesn't require muscle or force to do this.

Must be a childproof cap, so that tots can't accidentally breach the engine compartment and start sipping tranny fluid!

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In answer to your question, no it will not easily come off as it is-with the tab broken off and the red insert still in. After reading the suggestions given, I will remove the remaining piece of red insert and pull harder. I didn't want to apply too much force without knowing how it is removed. After reading your comments, I wonder why the dealer didn't put a new red insert with tab in place. Trying to save me money I guess. This is the same dealer who saved me the cost of 4 quarts of transmission fluid by not draining the torque converter when the transmission was serviced. Told me the reason was that my car-1998 E320- didn't have a drain plug on the torque converter. Thanks for all the help. I'll feel better when I check the level and make sure they didn't overfill it by 2 quarts.

If it's shifting fine I wouldn't bother double-checking the work, reason being is that you'll notice there is a wide range on the dipstick all based on the fluid temp. If you don't know the exact temp, or at least a close approximation, what the level actually should be at the time you check it is all conjecture. There is a temp sensor built in to the transmission, and the temp is monitored using the shop computer and the level read off at 80C.
If you didn't take it to a shop with the MB computer, your guess will be as good as theirs.
Incorrect fluid levels will affect shift quality, again if the transmission feels fine I wouldn't bother checking the level.

Gilly

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