I am getting ready to do a drain and fill on my 2010 Outlander ES. I have heard that once I do this a degradation sensor in the CVT will need to be reset because of a code displaying. I've never seen it so I'm just going by what I've heard. Does anyone know if this is true and also if there is a way to do it yourself with paying the dealer $100 to cut it off? The closest dealer to me is 60 miles one way. Before anyone says that I need to pull the line off to get the additional fluid out, I am just sticking with a drain and fill. Thanks.

 

Did the fluid change myself on a 2011 SE, with 55k miles on it. Didn't do any sensor reset.

 

You would need a scantool to reset the oil degredation level to zero. But if the degredation level is high it will not display a code. You must have another issue??

If you dont bother zeroing it is no big deal, but if you have a problem, you will not have a proper degredation reading to aid diagnosis.

Best practice is to drain and fill CVT twice, as torque convertor will still hold a lot of dirty oil.

 

I haven't changed fluid yet just trying to be prepared. There is no code. I didnt know if doing the drain and fill would automatically throw a code or not. I just dont want to drive around with a code showing and didnt know if there was a trick way to reset it if it did happen. I know sometimes there is a way to do non dealer resets by turning ignition on and off in sequence or holding a button for so many seconds, etc...

 

No. Just a drain and refill will show no codes

 

Getting the CVT fluid Friday to change it when I do my axle. I read that it takes 4.2 quarts to do a drain and fill but that's also with changing the round filter at back of cooler. Is 4.2 right? How hard is it to access that round filter at back of trans cooler?

 

Drain the oil into an empty container, then measure the amount of fluid that drains out. Refill with that same amount of new fluid. I think on your year of Outlander you need to remove the air filter housing and battery to access the small filter, which isn't difficult.