Dipstick end broke off in auto tranny (was "need advice on this issue")

[Ray Morley]

1970 Kadett Rallye 1.9 Automatic

The fun just never ends!

I went to check my transmission fluid via the dipstick and it appears the end of the stick (the bottom end that has the add marks) broke off and is now in the case. My guess at least 1 1/2 inch are gone.

How can I get this piece out? Is it a simple fix or major work?

[oldopelguy]

To get the piece out you will have to drop the oil pan on the transmission, but that's not really a big deal. It has a paper filter inside that should have kept anything from going anywhere too harmful, and you should go ahead and change the filter while you're in there.

[Ray Morley]

Is is possible to use the drain plug on the pan and get the part out that way?

[ronskydivepops]

You could always morph yourself down in size like in the movies and crawl down the filler tube!! Sorry, I just couldn't resist. The image just wouldn't leave my mind

[biglefti]

You might be able to fish it through the drain plug with a magnet on the end of a flex shaft. However, pulling the pan will probably be easier in the long run, especially if after 30 minutes of fishing you can't latch on to it with the magnet.

[Ray Morley]

What I will try first is to drain the tranny fluid out of the case via the drain plug and try to slide a slider magnet in the bottom to see if I can grab on to it. If that fails I will take the whole pan off.

Question: Will this metal peice be on the bottom of the pan or jammed in another location in the pan?

PS.......I appreciate the humour............

[oldopelguy]

You have a drain plug? Most automatic transmissions don't, including Opel ones.

Your filter is probably 35 years old, and they are something like $12 including the new pan gasket. Why not drop the pan and replace it and be done with it?

[jpavlack]

Every 1.9 auto I have had DOES have the drain plug. That's the beauty of servicing the opel auto.

[2 Fast 4 U]

Originally Posted by oldopelguy You have a drain plug? Most automatic transmissions don't, including Opel ones. Your filter is probably 35 years old, and they are something like $12 including the new pan gasket. Why not drop the pan and replace it and be done with it?

My auto trans has a drain plug too, how are you going to change the AFT oil every 40.000 km , besides sucking it out thru the filling hole??

[Opelkurt]

I've never seen an Opel 3-speed auto tranny without a drain plug....

-Kurt

[oldopelguy]

So it's been a while since I had to work on an Opel automatic, sue me. They probably all have drain plugs and I just don't remember.

Point is still valid, take the pan off to get the part out. If the oil's already drained anyway, it'll take another 10 minutes to take the little bolts loose and pull the pan, swap gasket and filter, and put it back on.

[Ray Morley]

Here are a couple of pics. You can see how the end of the stick totally broke off. Also........the auto tranny drain plug.

[yellaopelgt]

I would jack up the car depending if the the drain hole is in front or back of the transmission.... in front, jack up the back, if the drain hole is towards the back of the tranny,jack up the front. Run the engine for a good long while to get the fluid hot...At a good incline.... there is a good chance the piece will work its way to the low end and if the fluid is hot, it should be carried to the vicinity of the drain hole once you let the fluid out it "technically" it should be in the general area where you might be able to get ahold of it. Drain the fluid thru a screen, and you might just get lucky.If not... go ahead and pull the pan. I know we were in chat a few days ago and you said the fluid was new so maybe you already had the filter changed. Its a crapshoot if it will come out or not but if you give the law of physics a helping hand you might just get lucky.
Joe

[Ray Morley]

Hey Joe.........thanks for the tip. I will do exactly that and since the plug is at the back I will jack up the front.

The tranny has a new filter in it so I hopefully will be able to get the part out without dropping the pan.

I will let you all know how I make out with it.

Ray

[George]

I've had to remove a small piece of dipstick from a oil pan and used an old speaker magnet to work it close to the drain and then pull it out with a smaller extendable magnet

[GTJIM]

Just glue a strong magnet on the outside of the trans pan; fit a new dipstick .... and forget it. Keep driving the car unless horrible noises start down there ..... Just have a look for the bit next time you service the Trans.

[ronskydivepops]

I can't resist!! From looking at the pictures you can see teeth marks on the end of the dipstick! My guess is you have a hungry Gremlin living in your transmission. How else do you explain the missing piece on the dip stick?.

[Ray Morley]

I think this is what may have happened.............

At the bottom of the stick it divides into two pieces then rejoins again.

I think one of the pieces was fractured and had broke and I never noticed it.

The end was now only being held by 1/2 of the metal and when I checked the fluid the other day it must have got caught on the lip where the filler neck goes into the top of the tranny housing and broke off. The stick was always a tad hard to remove so I probably would not have noticed the extra effort to renove it.

I plan to attempt surgery on the car this weekend so I will update and let you all know how the ending turns out.

[Ray Morley]

I had to drop the pan to get the part out.

When the end broke off would it have gone directly to the bottom of the pan or did it travel around in the transmission before it ended up in the pan?

Thanks to all that offered me advice to the issue.

[BQS4]

Ray;
It's too big to have gone into the trans itself, so it just fell into the pan, glad you have it out. If yo need another dipstick, I have several.
Gene
P.S., want to sell the watch? LOL