Checking the various fluids on your 2002 Nissan Altima automobile is an important part of the preventive maintenance program. If your Altima has an automatic transmission, one of the fluids that you should regularly check is the automatic transmission fluid. A low automatic transmission fluid level causes wear on the transmission and eventually leads to damage. Keeping the fluid at the proper level makes the transmission perform better and prevents damage to the transmission components.
Start the car and let the engine warm up for approximately five minutes.
Open the hood and locate the car's automatic transmission fluid dipstick. The dipstick is a T-shaped handle located just to left of the battery. The car should still be running.
Remove the dipstick and wipe it off with a clean cloth. Replace the dipstick and remove it again. The fluid level should be between the two small dots marked "Cold." If the fluid is at this level, proceed to Step 5. If not, proceed to Step 4.
Insert the funnel into the dipstick tube. Add approximately 1/4 qt. of transmission fluid. Recheck the level and continue to add fluid until the level reaches the "Cold" mark.
Replace the dipstick and close the hood. Drive the car for approximately five miles.
Leave the car running and open the hood. Remove the dipstick and wipe it off with the rag. Replace the dipstick and remove it. The fluid level should now be between the two dots marked "Hot." If not, add fluid as described in Step 4. When the fluid is at the proper level, replace the dipstick and close the hood.
