So I have recently acquired a 2002 Montero Sport and I absolutely love it so far. Got a really good deal and it runs great!

Anyways I am going through doing all the service I can think of... changed the oil, serpentine belt, spark plugs, plug wires, repacked the wheel bearing and more... and then I got to changing the transmission fluid.

I have never had as much problems with any other car trying to not only reinsert the tranny dipstick back in but reading the little bugger once I get it back out. I almost have to force it really hard to get it to go in (it will only seem to go in 1 way) and then when I get the dipstick out, the reading on one side is very very high up the stick while the one on the other side is fairly low or not even readable.

Is there any tricks you guys do to read the transmission fluid dipstick and getting it to go in easier?


And yes I am checking the fluid when the vehicle is running and hot.

Thanks in advance!!

 

Clean the end with carb cleaner and wait for it to dry then run a sharpie over it to outline the letters.