Maintaining the transmission in your 2006 Chevy Impala as part of normal vehicle maintenance routine will help ensure a long and trouble-free driving life. This type of maintenance service is often overlooked because of the extended mileage interval between transmission fluid and filter changes. Chevy also has yet to add a transmission fluid maintenance reminder light similar to the engine oil change light, so without a reminder, this service can go unattended until it's to late.
Set the parking brake and block the rear wheels with the wheel chocks. Position the floor jack under the Impala's large aluminum front sub-frame and lift the car until there is enough room to work underneath the car. Slide jack stands under the right and left sides of the sub-frame and lower the car onto the stands for safety. Remove the floor jack.
Place a drain pan under the transmission pan located behind the oil pan slightly toward the driver's side of the car. Select a 10 mm socket, extension bar and ratchet from the socket set and place it near the drain pan under the car.
Slide under the Impala and remove the 10 mm bolts that attach the transmission pan to the transmission using the socket, extension and ratchet. Start from one corner and remove the bolts so that as the bolts are removed the corner will drop slightly and the transmission fluid can drain into the drain pan. This will minimize spills.
Lower the pan from the transmission. If the pan it stuck to the transmission by the gasket, gently pry it loose with a screwdriver, being careful not to bend the pan's mounting surface. Remove the transmission filter by prying it out of the transmission using a screwdriver. Gently pry the old rubber filter seal out of the transmission using a screwdriver.
Remove the old gasket form the pan and clean the pan thoroughly with degreaser. Wipe any transmission fluid off of the transmission mounting surface and attach the new pan gasket to the pan with gasket adhesive. Push the new seal into the transmission and push the new filter into the seal.
Bolt the transmission pan back into place on the transmission and tighten the 10 mm bolts securely. Slide the drain pan and your tools out from under the car. Raise the car off the stands, remove the stands, and lower the car to the ground.
Remove the dipstick from the dipstick tube and insert the transmission funnel in it's place. Pour 4 qts. of the Dexron-3 transmission fluid into the transmission. Remove the funnel and reinstall the dipstick.
Start the engine and shift the transmission gear selector through all of the gears twice. Check the fluid level on the dipstick and add fluid one pt. (half-qt.) at a time until the level is in the cross-hatch area on the stick.
