New Guy to Forum-Phila.,PA

[seahunt44]

I recently bought a 1996 Camry 4 cylinder for my daughter. I has 108,500 miles. From the original owner he doesn't remember if the transmission fluid was ever changed. It is a little brown, car seems to shift fine. I called a local dealer they stated they won't touch it, but stated that draining the pan fluid and refilling wouldn't hurt. What would be the best to do? Leave it alone or do what the dealer stated? Thanks

[TrailDust]

to the nation! I'm moving your thread over to the Gen 3&4 Camry forum so the members there can help you out. However, you should also use that forum's search tool to look for past threads that may cover the same transmission issue. Good luck!

[Nervous]

What? Dealer refused to take money from you? I don't believe it!
As to the question: it definitely won't hurt. Moreover, I would remove A/T pan and strainer (also known as "A/T filter"), clean the pan, replace or at least clean the strainer, replace the gasket and reinstall everything. Fill with A/T fluid, drive for 100 miles, drain, fill again, 100 miles and so on about 5 times.
Or, disconnect the returning hose from radiator and just pump out old fluid, not forgetting to pour the new one at the same time.
Also, I would drain and refill differential.
Use search for details of these operations.

[hill8570]

It's sort of a religious issue -- some folks are afraid of something breaking loose if old fluid is touched, others (such as myself) think no fluid lasts forever, and additive packages should be refreshed. A drain-and-fill is the conservative approach (which replaces somewhere between 1/3 and 1/4 of the total volume of fluid), although for an unknown transmission I prefer to drain, drop the pain, clean out the sludge, and inspect the magnets for metal shavings. That does change out more of the fluid 'tho (roughly 1/2 of the total).

Frankly, from your description of the fluid, it's been changed out at least once before and hasn't been abused, so I doubt you're taking much of a risk.

See DIY: Automatic Transmission Flush and Filter Replacement (5S-FE) and DIY: Differential Fluid Change for a good overview of the various operations.

Oh, and

[uibalnme]

Don't forget to change the differential fluid as well. It uses ATF just like the transmission. THE TRANSMISSION AND DIFFERENTIAL DO NOT SHARE THE SAME FLUID SUPPLY. Sorry if I seem to be yelling, but there will be some who will tell you that they do share fluid, but I know better. I have a 96 4cyl. w/auto trans., and I know for a FACT that the diff, and trans don't share fluid. They have to be drained, and refilled separately. You should change out the fluid A.S.A.P.

For the transmission I would change the fluid every weekend for the next month. It should be fine after that. Then you'll only have to change it every 12-15k miles as per the maintenance schedule.

For the diff., change the fluid along with the trans. Then you'll only have to change it every 15k miles.

I did this right after I bought my 96 just 3 years ago. It had done 110k miles. Now it has 156k miles, and no engine, trans, or diff. problems whatsoever. I just change the oil every 5k miles, trans and diff. fluid every 15k miles.

[PortugalFocus]

Let's seen some pics man! Welcome to the board. I think you will find this info more use full than you can ever imagine.

Welcome from a fellow South Eastern PA'er! Go Birds!!