The Chevrolet Cavalier was a compact passenger vehicle produced from 1982 to 2005. Due in part to its reasonable price and impressive mileage, the Cavalier was consistently one of America's best-selling automobiles. Unlike most cars, the Cavalier was a front-wheel drive vehicle, meaning that the power produced by the engine was directed to the front tires, rather than to the rear tires. The Cavalier's transmission is mounted sideways underneath the hood, which makes accessing the transmission, and removing the pan, much easier than with most other vehicles.
Park the vehicle on a level surface, then turn the engine off and allow it to cool. Because the transmission pan is located at the bottom of the transmission, raise the front of the Cavalier with a floor jack and support the vehicle with jack stands. Apply the parking brake before lifting the vehicle to prevent it from rolling backward. It is important the raise the vehicle underneath its frame to avoid damaging the sheet metal underneath the vehicle.
A single frame rail runs along each side of the vehicle. Place a jack stand underneath each frame rail, then lower the vehicle onto the stands and pull the jack away from the vehicle. Climb underneath the vehicle, between the two front tires, until the transmission is reached. The transmission pan is black, and is shaped like the state of Florida. At the tip of the pan is a single bolt, which acts as a fluid drain bolt. Place a large drain pan underneath the fluid drain bolt, then remove the bolt with a wrench and allow the transmission fluid to drain into the pan. Reinsert the bolt back into the pan to avoid losing it.
The pan itself is attached to the transmission with 14 mounting bolts. Remove each mounting bolt with a wrench. The pan will most likely still be attached to the transmission. This is because the pan is installed with a gasket that seals the seam between the pan and the transmission. Dislodge the pan by first placing the tip of a flathead screwdriver between the pan and the transmission. Gently tap on the handle of the screwdriver with a hammer to drive the screwdriver into the gasket. Once the seal between the pan and the transmission has been broken with the screwdriver, the pan can easily be pulled off the transmission.
