Tranny Fluid Change

Shadow · 10-28-2006, 04:59 PM

I realized the changing the tranny fluid is an involved process for the AT's, but needless to say, I need to change my tranny fluid and I was wondering if anyone had an procedures or links on how exactly to do it.

I have all the fluid and a pump, but given this is a very different transmission, I'm not really sure what I need to do. I was looking for a filler tube but it obviously doesn't have one. Anyone have any ideas.

According to the dealer, this can only be done at a dealer. They told me changing my own tranny fluid would void my warranty. Personally, I thing they are full of sh#t! and I can't believe that If I had to do an emergency fill because my pan was puntured that only a dealer can do it.

etch111 · 10-28-2006, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Shadow previously said:

I realized the changing the tranny fluid is an involved process for the AT's, but needless to say, I need to change my tranny fluid and I was wondering if anyone had an procedures or links on how exactly to do it.

I have all the fluid and a pump, but given this is a very different transmission, I'm not really sure what I need to do. I was looking for a filler tube but it obviously doesn't have one. Anyone have any ideas.

According to the dealer, this can only be done at a dealer. They told me changing my own tranny fluid would void my warranty. Personally, I thing they are full of sh#t! and I can't believe that If I had to do an emergency fill because my pan was puntured that only a dealer can do it.

you'll notice there is no tranny dip stick or fill tube....SURPRISE!

Shadow · 10-28-2006, 06:08 PM

Ya I did, but I still figured I could still change it. From looking at the post's, it still seems like it possible with one of those manual pumps (which I already have), I'm just wondering more about the technical details. Toyota said the car has to be at a certain temp, etc., etc... So, I was just more or less wondering if anyone has done it, and how they did it.

If can answer the how to as well as a background on why its important to fill at a certain temp, etc.

Thanks!

trentoncruiser · 10-28-2006, 06:42 PM

I don't know how do change the fluid but i can find out at work. That is a sealed transmission and the fluid is good for over 100K. Leave a link or email address for me to find on monday. I'll be online monday night while at work from 7pm till 9pm

powderpig · 10-28-2006, 07:14 PM

You may want to make sure you have the right fluid. It is not just dexon 3 or 4. The fill on the side of the tranny and the drain is on the pan. This is what I have seen in a manual. The fill is also where you check the level.
I would bet that if you filled it with the wrong fluid, it will void your warranty. good luck, robbie

Shadow · 10-28-2006, 07:22 PM

Thanks for all the info. As a background, I'm pretty sure I know where the fill and drain holes are. Some posting's reference a fill window and a fill spout or something to that effect, but the reality is that both plugs are on the bottom of the pan. The 14mm bolt is the drain, the hex nut is the overflow/level drain. I removed the hex nut I can see there is some sort of tub that goes upwards, which Is why I suspect its the overflow/leveling hole.

If you can find out via work and post on this thread for everyone to follow, you'd be the man.

I can figure out how to fill the tranny up via the drain hole and I have heard of folks filling it up via the overflow/level hole, but I'm not sure which is the right one. And also, once you get the fluid filled to the right level, how in the heck do you remove the filler without loosing fluid. It would make more sense if the actual filler hole was some sort of one way valve. Anyone wanna make something

Also, I'm still unsure of the purpose for running the engine to a certain temp. Supposedly, the toyota folks have some type of device which they claim costs $5000 buck which reads the temp of the fluid. According to the tech's, its a 2 hour process to fil the tranny.

And, to answer one of the posted questions, yes, I did get the right fluid, its the fluid that is supposedly some world standard, yet noone else sells or recognizes this standard..... Gota love marketing.

Trader098 · 10-28-2006, 07:40 PM

I'm kinda curious why you'd want to change the trans fluid.

I have an automatic as well and was curious about the absence of a dipstick to check the oil, so I asked one of the mechanics at the Toyota about this and how I go about checking it.

His response was that it is basically a sealed system and unless there is an obvious problem (ie: leak, hard shifting, etc.,) there's no need to open it up or change the fluid until specified in the owner's manual. This mechanic is not only knowledgeable about these units but a trusted friend as well so I doubt he'd steer me wrong.

I can also understand the statement about the warranty. If you open it up and fail to do the job correctly and the transmission blows out, they may have grounds to decline the repairs. Being in the warranty administration business, I've seen it happen more than once.

I'd ask one of the techs at your Toyota dealer to go over it with you. They usually don't mind sharing their knowledge.

Shadow · 10-28-2006, 07:59 PM

Sealed doesn't mean much other than the fact that it doesn't have a fill tube and or dipstick. The advantage is keeping water and debris out when fording or other weather factors.

I wanted to change it immediately after break-in. I have always done this as a standard with all my vehicles. The purpose is to remove any metal deposits, shaving and or debris when the tranny was made.

Some don't do it so its completely up to you...

**1911** · 10-29-2006, 06:34 AM

If you're going to change it, do a complete flush. If you just drain and refill, you're leaving the majority of the old fluid in the torque converter. To flush, find the lines to the tranny cooler in the radiator, and disconnect the return line in a convenient place (usually a rubber section where you can easily divert it into a bucket). On every other Toyota AT I've ever had, it was the rear-most line on the tranny. Start the engine and let the old ATF flow out of the cooler return line into a bucket for about 60 seconds. Then stop, and refill to level with new synthetic ATF. Repeat as necessary until only new, sweet, cherry red ATF is coming out of the cooler return (should only take two times) and reconnect the cooler return line and refill tranny to level.

Use synthetic ATF (Mobil 1 or Amsoil) and you will notice a dramatic improvement in shifting smoothness and overall tranny perfromance. Spendy but worth it.

etch111 · 10-29-2006, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Shadow previously said:

Sealed doesn't mean much other than the fact that it doesn't have a fill tube and or dipstick. The advantage is keeping water and debris out when fording or other weather factors.

I wanted to change it immediately after break-in. I have always done this as a standard with all my vehicles. The purpose is to remove any metal deposits, shaving and or debris when the tranny was made.

Some don't do it so its completely up to you...

I dont see anything wrong with the strategy of changing fluids after breakin in fact i have already done evrything that i can ... but not the the tranny..... and if i do ...ill just have a tech do it ... and put the responsibility on them.... but on the other hand toyota knows their trannies and if they are sealed for ..like up to 100k i cant see why there would be a real need to do it.... diff's, oil etc...but the trannies today with all the computor sensors ..id leave it to the tech...imo