Cutting the auto transmission dip stick

[4OYOTER]

I found a few threads with mentions of people who have trimmed a little off their tranny dipstick to make it easier to reinstall and prevent snapping off inside the pan. Are there any cons or potential issues to doing this?

 

[LittleCaesar]

Don't do this. I am aware it isn't the easiest one known to man to deal with but learn to put your stick in there with more finesse and skill.

 

[TheDurk]

Don't do this. I am aware it isn't the easiest one known to man to deal with but learn to put your stick in there with more finesse and skill.

...that's what she said!

 

[LookAtThatDog]

 

[cashmoney]

F that dipstick. I can get it in 3/4 of the way and then no amount of jiggling and twisting will get it the rest of the way in. Have to use pliers to push it in. And as long as you cut it below the hash marks there's nothing wrong with it.

 

[alumarine]

F that dipstick. I can get it in 3/4 of the way and then no amount of jiggling and twisting will get it the rest of the way in. Have to use pliers to push it in. And as long as you cut it below the hash marks there's nothing wrong with it.

Good to know.

 

[T4R2014]

Buy a new one. Once you figure it out, it's not that hard. Don't get me wrong, it sucks, but if you damage it then you have no patience. That is unless someone before you bent it.

 

[m10karind]

Ah you'll get it. It's a huge pain at first and can really piss you off, but you get the hang of it and it's not so bad

 

[alumarine]

I just shortened mine by 3".
Still a pain to check the fluid level.

 

[animator]

I'll be the odd one out and say that I've never really noticed any difficulty with the transmission dipstick. I'd even go as far to say it's downright simple to slide in or out. And it's as original as the day it came from the factory.

 

[LittleCaesar]

It isn't the easiest one I will admit but I would rather have it than the sealed transmission found on 4th and 5th gen runners.

 

[alumarine]

It isn't the easiest one I will admit but I would rather have it than the sealed transmission found on 4th and 5th gen runners.

On those types how do you tell if you had a leak and the level got low?
Would the first sign be transmission failure?

 

[etc.]

I've cut mine. No regrets.

 

[diverscale]

On those types how do you tell if you had a leak and the level got low?
Would the first sign be transmission failure?

You can check the level but its a PITA, has to be a a precise temperature, and you have to check like you would with a differential by the overflow bolt.

A transmission flush DIY is also much more work than ours.