2002 transmission dipstick removal help

I’m in the process of changing the rear main seal on this 2002 and just about ready to pull the transmission but I can’t get the dipstick tube separated.

Every YouTube video I have watched skips over that process, but they tell you to remove it and show you the portion still attached to the pan. I’m assuming they do this because they were not able to do it gracefully.

I have used a little heat, tried twisting it back and forth with vice grips lightly attached. I’m almost to the point of cutting it and buying a replacement.

Any experience with separating the two half’s with out major damage?

 

Why not just remove the dipstick tube? It's 1 bolt that holds it in place to a bracket. Would be easier than cutting it. My trans pan was able to be pulled apart from the dipstick tube but I removed the tube anyway during pan re-install.

 

@DarkMint I do have the bolt removed trying to separate them.

I may try to put the bolt back in and try pulling down on the bottom half of the tube to try to get some movement. Hopefully this will give me enough resistance to break them apart and not bend or damage them.

 

I don't quite understand, is the goal to remove the pan? Or do you already have the pan detached from the trans with dipstick tube still attached, and trying to just take off the dipstick tube? And if you already have the pan removed then why do you have to remove the dipstick tube?

Pics would help.

 

Do you have this bolt removed? The one mounting the tube to the engine block itself? If that's removed the entire pan should be able to come right off.

 

@DarkMint The goal is to remove the transmission to change the rear main seal.

I would prefer to not remove the trans pan.

Yes I have the bolt removed, but the top half of the dipstick tube will not separate from the bottom half. It is held in with an print.

 

Understood. What you gotta do is grab the top part of the tube (the portion detached since the retaining bolt is removed) and pull really hard. Pulling/moving the bottom part of the tube won't do anything since that's still attached to the trans pan which is still attached to the trans. Only thing holding it in there is a little O-ring. It may help to smear a bit of trans fluid right where they join to lube it up a little bit.
Also make sure your trans dipstick of removed of course.

 

That oring kicked my ass, too for me.

looks like I’m going to pull the pan remove the tube, re-install then remove the transmission.