I am about to go crazy. I recently changed some of the transmission fluid and I've been trying to figure out where is the level of the fluid and I can't get a proper reading. After letting the vehicle run I've checked it on level ground with it in neutral like the service manual says to do.

But every time I get a different reading. One side of the stick will always smear all the way up, and the other side will have a lower reading that is always different. Sometimes it seems higher than the proper level, sometimes lower, sometimes it doesn't even show up at all! I don't know if it's the stick itself or what but I can't get a consistent reading no matter what I try to do...Has anyone run into this issue at all with this vehicle?? I've never had this problem before with any other vehicle's transmission...

 

You definitely should be able to get a consistent reading on one side of the stick. The other side will usually read funky. To me it already sounds like you're low on fluid.

If you drained it until it basically stops coming out fast it should take about 4 to 4.5 qts to put it at the right level.