How to tell transmission type

[asphalt victory]

ok went to napa yesterday to pick up a transmission filter/gasket kit and the guy asked me witch one...im thinking ok theirs a stick and an automatic but apparently there are four different types
now im guessing there is a stamped number or plate somewhere on the transmission that has a number telling witch one it is

where would this be?

i found a little aluminum plate riveted to the top of the traney that had numbers on it but im not sure if that's it

thanks again mike

[ghettosled]

just for reference, manual transmissions dont use filters as they are filled with thick gear oil and not transmission fluid (unless its a GM manual...).

you might not have to go so far as to find a stamp on the transmission. i know there is a way of narrowing it down from the vin number, but that is all the info i have - sorry to say. ran into this "multiple transmissions offered" issue when i replaced an axle. all that was needed in this case was to determine if mine was US or japanese built camry. maybe this will help you?

[chronoti]

Originally Posted by ghettosled

just for reference, manual transmissions dont use filters as they are filled with thick gear oil and not transmission fluid (unless its a GM manual...).

i think the early fwd toyota had atf in them, believe the gen1 camrys had them.

what were the options??

[asphalt victory]

how do i find out if it was built in the US?
i can see a number plate
thing is its getting cold up here and the trans is acting up i want to change the fluid and filter A before theyrs snow on the ground
B befor the trans gets too bad

thanks

[JohnGD]

Look on either a door or pillar for a sticker. You should see the transmission code on there.

The sticker should have something like Manufactured by Toyota, blah, blah. And then it's either A140 or A540.

Actually if you have them the year and displacement there is one automatic choice for each engine. For automatics should be either the Aisin A140 series or Aisin A540 series.

Fram ATF kit is about $15. New strainer and cork-rubber gasket.

Originally Posted by asphalt victory

how do i find out if it was built in the US?
i can see a number plate
thing is its getting cold up here and the trans is acting up i want to change the fluid and filter A before theyrs snow on the ground
B befor the trans gets too bad

thanks

[JohnGD]

The VIN number will tell you. "Jxxxx" is Japan, a digit first is US. It shouldn't matter however for the transmissions.

Originally Posted by asphalt victory

how do i find out if it was built in the US?
i can see a number plate
thing is its getting cold up here and the trans is acting up i want to change the fluid and filter A before theyrs snow on the ground
B befor the trans gets too bad

thanks

[asphalt victory]

ok now i know whats going on i looked through a napa catalog and the variations in numbers is confusing but the a54o sounds right on the money

so theise numbers whats the difference in trans?


thanks mike

[djb2]

Which model year and engine?

How many bolts hold the pan onto the transmission? 15 or 17?

I believe that the A140 has 15 bolts and the A540 uses 17 bolts.

[JohnGD]

So this one is for the V6?

Originally Posted by asphalt victory

ok now i know whats going on i looked through a napa catalog and the variations in numbers is confusing but the a54o sounds right on the money

so theise numbers whats the difference in trans?


thanks mike

[asphalt victory]

1994 5sfe auto i checked the door its the a140 so im going to get the parts and fluid along with a little bit of Lucas trans additive

i hope this will clear up the little ticks it has


thanks mike

[JohnGD]

Yeah, the I4 gets the Aisin A140 series. Change the fluid in the separate differential as well. It's often missed.

Can you tell us more about this tick?

Originally Posted by asphalt victory

1994 5sfe auto i checked the door its the a140 so im going to get the parts and fluid along with a little bit of Lucas trans additive

i hope this will clear up the little ticks it has


thanks mike