OK, guys I have alot of pics to upload so I may just get a few up tonight but it was really easy and I only had one single problem but my pics will walk you right through it.
I did this in my small garage on simple plastic ramps lifting the rear of the car. Very easy still.
You wil need a 10mm gear wrench to get to 4 bolts near the back of the pan.
Let it drain in an open top pan
Once drained and the pan removed, you will see this. The filter is just wiggled while pulling down gently.
Here is where it slides up into the trans.
Next remove the plug.
Then there are (11) bolts on the bottom holding the TCM (brown plastic) to the valve body (silver alluminum above TCM).
Then there are 2 bolts on the side. There is NOT enough room to remove them completely so they will remain until the unit is unplugged and pulled down.
Last edited by JayplaySS2; 12-08-2008 at 02:16 AM.
Next we need to remove the rear harness connector and sleeve that keeps moisture out. All you need to do is locate the plug at the rear of the car and pop out the white lock (like all GM plug locks) and slowly push the connector lever " UP ".
Unlocked
Before you can pull the plug out of the trans, there is a lock on the TCM towards the rear, simply pull it down while pressing the pin and it will come down about 1/2 inch.
Locked UP position
Unlocked
Then pull the connector out while wiggling it gently.
Next the sleeve can be pulled out, minor difficulty
Now AT THIS POINT the whole TCM was loose but it would not come out! I messed and messed but it would not come loose.
I called Chuck and he said it just comes out and I know there is another small plug on the top side so I did NOT want to pull too hard.
This is what I HAD TO DO. Some of you may have to do the same and others will have it drop right out. Either way it is easy.
I had to loosen the (3) 10mm bolts (2 towards the front of the car and 1 at the very rear) holding the valve body (large alluminum piece that the TCM is bolted to) and then and ONLY then was I able to tilt it sideways enough to remove the 2 bolts that are on the side. One of the 2 side bolts was getting hung up on a dowel. Wierd.
You do NOT have to remove them, only loosen them for play to pull the TCM down.
2 front bolts
1 rear bolt
Here is a view of the 2 side bolts that cause it to hang up. (TCM removed for clarity)
Then it just fell right off! Here was the last small plug to remove but it too has a press plug so dont just yank it.
NOW pay special attention to the linkage here. When you loosen the valve body to remove the 2 side bolts to drop the TCM, there is a tan plastic arm linkage that slides into a black groove. It must go back this way or the car will be stuck in Neutral, trust me, I over looked this the first time. Just make sure it looks like this when you put it back together!
Last edited by JayplaySS2; 12-08-2008 at 02:11 AM.
Lastly, you can now see why the bolt was getting hung up and the TCM would not come down.
There is a dowel on one of the 2 side bolts.
TCM still attached to valve body
TCM removed from valve body so you can see the 2 side bolts and the dowel that is the problem (the ONLY reason we need to loosen the valve body bolts)
Here is the damn thing and it is larger and heavier than I thought. It will be on the way to Chuck in a day or so. Please Chuck please tune my TCM and ECM as good as you possibly can!
Plug that was holding the TCM in also, DONT PULL TOO HARD
THATS IT. Easy to do, just take your time and if you have any problems, shoot me a PM.
Last edited by JayplaySS2; 12-08-2008 at 02:23 AM.
So you dont need to pull it if you visit with him in person with your A6?
Correct. There are no "well known" A6 tuners here locally so I decided to pull it since everyone speaks so highly about Chuck. No big deal, I will also be adding TCI's new fluid that is supposed to drop the trans temps 20-30 degrees as well.
Last edited by JayplaySS2; 08-25-2008 at 10:41 PM.
Anyone not wanting to remove this unit but still want Chuck's tune in the Colorado Springs area can come to me and he can send me the unit to upload to your car. No extra charge for this.
Anyone not wanting to remove this unit but still want Chuck's tune in the Colorado Springs area can come to me and he can send me the unit to upload to your car. No extra charge for this.
Spin you're the best. A very nice gesture and between you and Chuck to benefit all the A6 folk in the Colorado Springs/Denver area.
Hey Guy, when's the BBQ? I already checked on flights. I think Craig's afraid to ride with me for a 4000 mi round trip.
Anyone not wanting to remove this unit but still want Chuck's tune in the Colorado Springs area can come to me and he can send me the unit to upload to your car. No extra charge for this.
Wow, I wish we had guys like you in South Florida!
Then I would not have spent my afternoon covered in GM ATF.
The fill plug is the large bolt on the bottom that actually looks like a drain plug. I read a few sources that you fill it there and check it there. I will just make sure the back of the car is a little higher in the air and I will measure how much fluid I have in the pan and I will pump the same ammount back in. Unless there is an easier way, but I dont think so. The dealers are making it harder to work on cars for the simple reason of making money on things we are normally able to do.
Anyone not wanting to remove this unit but still want Chuck's tune in the Colorado Springs area can come to me and he can send me the unit to upload to your car. No extra charge for this.
Jay, I don't even have an auto trans, but that is not only a good write up but great with the pics. I think it should be put somewhere up above as a tech sticky. Thanks for all who'll see it.
Corvette Store
COW A6 mail order tune removal made EASY!
