Transmission Questions?

[zppeacock]

What tranny is in my 1990 Camry DX Wagon 2.0? It looks to be a half quart over filled, will this harm anything? The guy I bought it from In april changed the filter, its been about 5,000 miles since then. Should I pull the pan and change the filter or just leave it?

[ninja771]

sorry this isnt answer but mine is too! when i had my tranny fluid changed they filled it with a machine that pumps it thru the tranny...? is this a good way to do it?

[new echo owner]

How did you tell it is half quart overfilled? How high is it above the 'Hot' full mark?

N.E.O.

[bronzemaxell]

i drained and refilled my 97 camry 4cyl auto 4 or 5 times, and everytime i have my engine warm running and check the ATF dipstick, when i fill the ATF to the HOT notch, my car would have check engine light on, and give P0773, and won't lock on OD 4th gear, i watched the rpm, driving at 60mph at 2600 to 2700 rpm, i've replaced solenoid E, ECU, checked wire harness, problem still exist, until i over filled the ATF by 1/2 to 3/4 qt beyond the hot notch, and the P0773 finally disappears, and transmission now shift smooth, at 60mph, the rpm is 2100 to 2200 depend on the slope of the road. i heard over filled will make ATF become aerated or foamy, thus starves tranny.

[new echo owner]

Sounds like you either have the wrong dipstick or it is calibrated incorrectly.

True, an overfilled trans may cause problem if it is high enough to come in contact with the gear-train. Fluid don't compress as readily as air, if air enters into the system, if will decrease the over-all line pressure when being compressed.

N.E.O.

[zppeacock]

The fluid goes about 3/4-1 inch above the hot mark when the car is hot and in park/nut.

[new echo owner]

That is more than a half qt; if it is up that high that is closer to 1 qt. Just drain it out or suck it out.

N.E.O.

[Doctor J]

This is normal; on second gen camry the accurate hot reading is obtainable adter driving 3 to4 miles on steady pace 45 to 50 mph in warm day [20..25 degres C.]; in cold transmission the level must be at full cold [idling in park , started after overnight parking];
moderate overfilling wil result in firmer shifts.

[zppeacock]

Originally Posted by Doctor J

This is normal; on second gen camry the accurate hot reading is obtainable adter driving 3 to4 miles on steady pace 45 to 50 mph in warm day [20..25 degres C.]; in cold transmission the level must be at full cold [idling in park , started after overnight parking];
moderate overfilling wil result in firmer shifts.

It is shifting firm, I ordered a gasket today and it will be in on monday. When I drop the pan how much fluid do you think I will lose? 3 quarts?

[new echo owner]

You just need a drain plug washer to drain the fluid. The filter is a mesh screen, it doesn't need to be replaced.

N.E.O.

[zppeacock]

Originally Posted by new echo owner

You just need a drain plug washer to drain the fluid. The filter is a mesh screen, it doesn't need to be replaced.

N.E.O.

My plug has been in there so long that its seized so I got to drop the pan.

[new echo owner]

What were you using to remove the drain plug? A 10mm Allen socket with a breaker bar should work. Replace the washer too, that is usually the reason why it is difficult to remove.

N.E.O.

[zppeacock]

Its seized in there, im not going to mess with it. I dropped the pan yesterday and cleaned it up. And filled it with 3 quarts and the level is perfect now. I never new my transmission shifted so well for 240k on it.

[new echo owner]

Great!

N.E.O.