Previous Owner JB welded Tranny Drain Plug... Ideas?

[Truman325i]

Well fun times, I got under the new to me m3 and found the transmission drain plug JB welded shut. It also appears to have a small leak coming from somewhere.

Either way, any ideas on how to drain and fill the transmission without using the drain plug?

[earthwormjim]

Heat plus impact gun?

Otherwise, drill it out and re-tap with a larger thread.

[shogun]

Get a large size cement mixing tub from Home Depot for a few $. Position it under the ATF pan, and then losen all pan bolts so that the pan and the ATF drops into the cement tub. Clean the pan and inspect it, much easier to inspect and repair the bolt when you have the pan out.

[DSTX17]

If the fill plug isn't j b welded shut you could potentially suck the fluid out of the fill plug, although I'm not sure what kind of room there is to fish the hose deep into the transmission, may have to try a smaller than normal sized hose. I would be scared of using an impact on that plug, could crack the transmission potentially. It may have been j b welded because of a crack already, why else would it be j b welded?

[pbonsalb]

I think the JB Weld might break free. I’d be tempted to try, but be prepared for a mess and dealing with a repair/replacement.

[RRSperry]

Heat, lots of heat... Preferably Oxy- Actylene, or an induction heater, but the JB weld will eventually give up.

Now the question is why the JB weld?

Both the fill and drain plugs are pipe threads so there's not a sealing washer. Did they crack the transmission case?

[eseeling]

Shogun is on the right track - I've tried suction methods with minimal success. Too much heat might warp the pan, but maybe not if it's localized.

[MauiM3Mania]

Wait... forgive me, it's still early here, but are we talking about a manual trans of auto?

[Stephen Max]

Wait... forgive me, it's still early here, but are we talking about a manual trans of auto?

Both, it seems.

[pbonsalb]

It’s a convertible so I will guess 50/50 chance of auto. That is why my response was transmission-neutral.

[RRSperry]

Eh, M3 probably not an automatic...

[shogun]

wait.... looks like the E36 M3 forum is the wrong forum, I just see

My Cars: 2003 M3 Vert

E46 ?

[pbonsalb]

Well, that changes everything about how to remove jb welded trans drain plug.

[RRSperry]

Well, that changes everything about how to remove jb welded trans drain plug.

Lol.. yep, all the difference...

[bluptgm3]

Well, that changes everything about how to remove jb welded trans drain plug.

Lol.. yep, all the difference...

Ya, for an auto, replace the pan.


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[blckstrm]

Ya, for an auto, replace the pan.


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Well, to be serious for a second before we go off the rails, an "auto" E46 M3 is an SMG, which is to say there is no difference. It's the same transmission as the manual. Certainly no pan on it like a real automatic.

... and we're back where we started - no pictures or response from the OP while we all theorize on just how bad / extensive this JB Weld job is and how to attack the thing.

And now we're not even sure if it's an E36...

[pbonsalb]

This is getting more interesting all the time.

[scooper]

isn't jb weld just epoxy? That bond is far less strong than say steel....should be able to break that drain plug free just by hand...worst case use a cheater bar.

[tjm3]

Aluminum pan? Drill it, then Timesert. Better off, anyway.

Auto and steel pan. Well, it's lifetime fluid, right? Good luck!

[TostitoBandito]

isn't jb weld just epoxy? That bond is far less strong than say steel....should be able to break that drain plug free just by hand...worst case use a cheater bar.

Yeah I agree. The stuff is strong for sure, but it will break loose with enough torque. As others have said, some careful application of heat to get the bolt up to at least 200-300F might help. Then, it's just a matter of a long breaker bar, pipe, and maybe a helper. Probably easiest on a lift, or very high/secure jackstands.

Also, whoever does something like that should be shot. It probably just needed a new washer or plug, and they went straight to JB-Weld. If they wanted/needed to put some sort of sealant in there I'm sure the black Permatex stuff you use on oil pans and whatnot would've worked fine. Lifetime fluids I guess...