Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) auto trans fluid change

[VetAllen]

I realize that this subject has be discussed extensively but I appreciate your collective patience. I have ~12K towing miles on the current Auto Trans fluid ( total 50K mi on the truck). Its time to change and I was going to do this maintenance task as dealerships and jiffy lubes just dont inspire the confidence. I have read the thread on the archived posts regarding the methods for drainage and fluid types and volumes etc. I thought that I remembered a post that described loosening the line from the trans to the radiator to improve the volume of fluid removed at time of change. Is this necessary and/or appropriate and which line out of the transmission would be the one to disconnect to drain into the discard bucket? Also, a brief description of the process would be appreciated or the link to the thread that I couldn't find. TIA

 

[bmoeller]

Some people just drop the pan. 5-6 qts. or so I think I got of mine, but yours may have a slightly bigger pan. Others also loosen the bolts on the valve body to get some more out.