I was trying to drop the pan today, when I found out that the crossmember was in the way. Is it just the V6 that has this problem? How would I get the pan out if those bolts are behind the crossmember? (If I remove the crossmember, the tranny falls right?)

 

It won't fall, but it is heavy and will lean down. The leaning will mess up the tranny to engine seal...it may start to leak.

You need to support the tranny before removing the crossmember.

Akshay

 

You out to change the fluid & filter or cure an ill tranny....?
The pan drops easy enough for this mission.
BUT, it'll still spill, so expect that.
Fluid change should be once year.
I plan on trying that theory to see how long I can make a tranny rebuild (& a good one) last.

 

Ahhh got lazy. Had Pep Boys run their complete tranny flush through it. Filter and like gallons of ATF used to clean the sucker out.

Needed to do this because the last time the fluid was changed was like 4 years ago. Fluid was still red and didn't smell burnt, so I'm fine.

 

the last time the fluid was changed was like 4 years ago.

I hope you did a good thing.
Time will tell.
New trannys & fluid changes have a way of getting to be funny. And not when they decide to change mode of operations on ya!

 

It's close, but the crossmember isn't in the way. I can fit my 13mm 3/8" socket behind the crossmember with no problems. Undo those bolts first so you can remove 'em by hand when clearance gets tight. The bolts are only in (er, make that, SHOULD only be in!) at 15-18 ft/lbs, so they're not cranked in there. (Er, well, they shouldn't be cranked in there... it's a steel bolt going into aluminum threads, too much torque and they can strip out!)