1989 Camry Torque Converter

[VancouverVan]

Good morning -

my niece's '89 Camry, 4-cylinder, automatic, was flinging oil out the bottom of the bellhousing, visible through a small hole in the tin....

It seemed to be motor oil, and the motor oil dropped, while the tranny fluid did not.

I assumed the main seal was bad, and it's torn down.

When I separated the transaxle from the engine block, what appeared to be dirty tranny fluid flowed out of the torque converter, from the hole where the tranny shaft would slide in.

Is that normal? Upon reassembly, when I refill the tranny with new fluid, does the torque converter drink from the same supply?

Thanks!

[Kep]

The transmission fill tube fills the transmission and torque converter. There is a separate reservoir (at least in the older Camrys) for the differential fluid. If you decide to change the differential fluid make sure that you can open the fill port before you drain the fluid. Sometimes the fill port is stuck and if you drain the fluid out then you are stuck until you can get it fixed. If memory serves, the 1990 model used 12 quarts for the transmission and differential but only drained out two quarts from the pan.

Kep

[VancouverVan]

So - the tranny fills via the dipstick accessed at the front of the motor, driver's side of engine, and this also fills the torque converter.

There's also a differential, with separate fluid? The things I learn on-line....

So - do I assume from Kep's answer that fluid SHOULD drain out of the torque converter once the transaxle is removed from the motor?

Thanks!

[atobe]

the diff fill/drain is different place... it's above the cross member...around the back of the tranny if you will.. you should find it easy if it's out of the car.... and yes the dip stick will fill the tranny + torque converter.

[fredk]

there is a pump in the trans driven by the converter that circulates the fluid in the trans and converter and it powers all the servos and clutch packs and all, but the diff where the axles go in is a separate compartment and the fill plug is a MF to get to, its on the back side abou half way up

[VancouverVan]

Thanks for the advice, all - here's my plan:

replace the main seal as planned,

drain tranny and refill once re-installed - is there a filter on that, as there was on the old Chevy turbohydromatics?

open the fill port on the transaxle, drain it, and refill it before reinstalling...

Also planning to replace the belts, timing belt, front seals, and water pump while I have it out, but haven't gotten far enough in to generate any confusion....I've done Fords, VW Diesels, Chevy's...this'll be my first Toyota timing belt.

Looks normal in the book...

[VancouverVan]

Greetings- on the '89, I know it's ATF in the TC and into the transaxle via the dipstick...but there's a transfer case, also, right? Even though it's 2wd.

It's got a bottom drain plug and a side fill hole - the sort where you fill it till it runs out.

My manual's poor on this point - does this thing take ATF or gear oil? What I drained out ran thin like way-used ATF, but there was very little of it - maybe a pint.

Any advice?

Thanks!

[88 LE]

Originally Posted by VancouverVan

So - do I assume from Kep's answer that fluid SHOULD drain out of the torque converter once the transaxle is removed from the motor?

No.

The torque converter will have fluid in it. To drain it, you need to pull it off the tranny and dump the fluid out.

My manual's poor on this point - does this thing take ATF or gear oil?

Tranny and differential take Dexron II or III ATF. I don't think Dexron II exists anymore, so use Dexron III.