How do you get to the ATF dipstick?

Durenol · Post by **Durenol** » 26 Jan 2018, 18:27

2007 XC70. The ATF dipstick is buried a solid 16 inches down at the bottom of the engine, centered directly under a T junction between a 3in dia hose and a 2in dia hose, with an electrical conduit snaking through and part of the radiator farther above and forward. There's only 2in of clearance between the top of the dipstick and the hose- not nearly enough to pull the dipstick out. The hoses are fixed in place with brackets, and I can barely get my hand down there anyway. Is there something obvious I'm missing?

Durenol · Post by **Durenol** » 26 Jan 2018, 18:30

Standing directly front-center of the car, looking towards the driver's side wheel. The measuring tape is carefully slipped down between all the hoses and wires so that it's near perfectly vertical. The bottom edge of the tape is just touching the edge of dipstick handle (not seen here).

Durenol · Post by **Durenol** » 26 Jan 2018, 18:32

Standing directly in front of the tape. The hose going from top-center to center is held down by brackets and sits directly on top of the dipstick (not seen here).

Durenol · Post by **Durenol** » 26 Jan 2018, 18:34

Standing in front of the driver's side blinker. You can just see the edge of the dipstick near the center of the image.

Durenol · Post by **Durenol** » 26 Jan 2018, 18:36

Standing directly in front of the driver's side wheel, looking towards the front-center of the car. The measuring tape goes down alongside the edge of the 2in dia hose and just touches the edge of the dipstick.

Post by **oragex** » 26 Jan 2018, 18:41

Yours being turbo is much less obvious (compared with the non turbo engine)

I'd remove first the intake plastic piece we see in the picture, slide a butter knife to undo two small tabs towards the front of the car then twist a little at the other round end to break it free (helps if the engine is warm)

Then I'd use thick gloves and try to toss the radiator hose that's in the way with one hand (maybe use a pry bar to keep it away without forcing too much) and pull the dipstick with the other hand (the hose will be hot, you need to check the level always with the transmission fluid fully warmed up and the engine running, which is hard if not impossible to achieve in winter time)

Careful with loose cloths not to get anything near the radiator fan in case it starts turning

Durenol · Post by **Durenol** » 26 Jan 2018, 18:42

Above the engine bay, reaching far over the fuse box. Top of the image is the front of the car.

Durenol · Post by **Durenol** » 26 Jan 2018, 18:44

Closeup. There's only two inches of clearance. The tape measure has not been moved at all between pictures. As far as I can tell it's physically impossible to pull the dipstick out without taking the hose assembly out first (and probably the electrical conduit and radiator part).

Am I missing something obvious?

Durenol · Post by **Durenol** » 26 Jan 2018, 18:46

oragex wrote: ↑26 Jan 2018, 18:41 Then I'd use thick gloves and try to toss the radiator hose that's in the way with one hand (maybe use a pry bar to keep it away without forcing too much)

I thought about that, but those hoses are pretty firmly mounted in brackets and have almost zero slack.

Post by **abscate** » 26 Jan 2018, 19:01

Just ease the bolts on the brackets, remove them, and move stuff out of the way

It's quirky Swedish stuff but there is much much worse out there in the automotive world.