Toyota Camry Transmission Maintenance

[madbomber08]

I have a 1998 and 2000 Toyota Camry's each with 2.2 Liter engines and auto transmissions. I bought each Camry with 100K miles and had each transmission flushed (no filter change) and now have approximately 130K miles on each. Most of the last 30K miles are local short trip miles. The current trans-fluid in each is somewhat discolored with no smell. The local Toyota dealer service rep suggests a simple transmission flush but if I would want to replace the filter with the flush we are looking at $345.00

My 18 & 19 year old teenagers will likely drive these cars for another 80K miles and beyond if no accidents occur, so my question is three fold as follows:

1. Since I'm not wild about spending $345.00 for the combo service mentioned above and recently hearing horror stories about flushing higher mileage transmissions, would it be better to simply drain and change the fluid and filter leaving much of the old fluid in the transmission?
2. Would just a flush be adequate or advisable without the filter change?
3. Am I taking on added risk with future transmission problems if a combination filter replacement and flush is not done.

Any shared experience with Camry tranmissions will be appreciated.

Thank You

[Mister_Perkins]

1. Since I'm not wild about spending $345.00 for the combo service mentioned above and recently hearing horror stories about flushing higher mileage transmissions, would it be better to simply drain and change the fluid and filter leaving much of the old fluid in the transmission?
Yes, I would advise to simply drain and refill the transmission. After multiple drains and refills it will turn red again


2. Would just a flush be adequate or advisable without the filter change?
I would personally change the internal transmission filter, but you dont nessicarily need to change it unless it looks bad (Visually)


3. Am I taking on added risk with future transmission problems if a combination filter replacement and flush is not done.
Yes. Your always taking a risk when replacing one thing and not the other. What I would do is keep changing the fluid (Drain/Refill) until the fluid is bright red again.. And after its red, then drop the trans. pan and replace the filter / gasket

[BMR]

The trans filter on these is just a fine wire mesh; won't trap much fine stuff, just big. It's nothing like an engine oil filter, filtration-wise. When I changed mine out at ~280k, it was no where near plugged. But that's just a sample of one. YMMV.

[hill8570]

Heck, you've only got 30K since you had a complete flush, and you've already inspected the fluid and found nothing out of the ordinary.

Were it my rig, I'd do a single drain and fill and be done with it. The only thing you're missing out on there is inspecting more of the transmission when you drop the pan. Risk at 130K on a reasonably well-maintained transmission? Darn little.

[capnblinski]

Drain and refill is the course I'm taking this summer from the advice here, and with one cycle completed, there is a slightly better feeling to the shifting already. The tranny fluid was clear on the dipstick and now is becoming a bit reddish, what drained out was dark. Why is the fluid drained out dark when it's clear on the stick?? Well, anyhow I do believe in keeping an eye on that as well as other things that need the maintenence.

I also drained/refilled the seperate differential case. The majority of Camry 2.2 fours have to have this done as well - a bit tricky - but there are some great DIY's here on TN.

[Woodyg]

for what it is worth......I have recently done a few tranny pump outs on variety of different cares.......

it is a POC

drain your pan. replenish the pan..figure out where the return line is pull it off and put another hose on it. stick the hose in a jug and have someone start the car and go through the gears.......pump out one quart at a time and then turn the car off and replenish with a fresh quart....this is atotaly simple predcudre and in the end you have replaced all the fluid......I would recomend this method short of dropping the pan.

[capnblinski]

for what it is worth......I have recently done a few tranny pump outs on variety of different cares.......

it is a POC

A proven method of preventive maintaining - or toyota buys new transmission lol. Im gonna check there's a DIY around here somewhere on totally replacing the fluid.

What an 'odd' sort of car these camrys are. I've never seen tranny fluid turn clear before, but i have seen some nasty sh$% in other car types.

I've been 'getting on it' more lately with the trans smoother and the vehicle, as a whole, feels better - this is basically a good solid camry that is about halfway back to being in shipshape condition... i like it.

ok back to the barbeque now..






'00 Camry le 5sfe american edition
lunar mist
general atlimax 215/60's

[capnblinski]

Yes, I would advise to simply drain and refill the transmission. After multiple drains and refills it will turn red again

Roughly, how many drains/refills does that take? After the first one, mine is very slightly pinkish.

[Woodyg]

Originally Posted by capnblinski

Roughly, how many drains/refills does that take? After the first one, mine is very slightly pinkish.

you will never get it 100% even doing multiple drain and refills. I think you are repalcing about 40% on a draiin and refill........it is very very easy to pump the rest of the fluid out using the start the car and pump out a quart at a time.......it is much easier to do this once then multiple drain and refills.........

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by BMR

The trans filter on these is just a fine wire mesh; won't trap much fine stuff, just big. It's nothing like an engine oil filter, filtration-wise.

++^^ The most you'll need to do is clean the "filter" screen. Since you seem to have kept up the trans fluid and have no symptoms I would not advise the $345 dealer cost or the filter change, which after materials is an exorbitant labor charge, for this service. My own experience is that non-synthetic tranny fluid usually needs complete change after about 30k. The last time I did this on my (wife's) Camry my wife noticed much improved shifting and performance. You can get a simple trans fluid complete change at non-dealer outlets for much less.

[bronzemaxell]

Originally Posted by Woodyg

you will never get it 100% even doing multiple drain and refills. I think you are repalcing about 40% on a draiin and refill........it is very very easy to pump the rest of the fluid out using the start the car and pump out a quart at a time.......it is much easier to do this once then multiple drain and refills.........

i was thinking doing the same, does it really work well, how many quart you normally do at once?

[Woodyg]

Originally Posted by bronzemaxell

i was thinking doing the same, does it really work well, how many quart you normally do at once?

all you do is find the return line to the tranny. it should be the lower one at the radiator. you can unhook it from the radiator. mine was held on my a regular squeeze clamp. remove the line and then put a plastic hose onto the line at the radiator. put the other end into a jug, start the car and when about a quart comes out turn the car off and then add a fresh quart. do this as many times as your system holds quarts........my car held 7 quarts and when you drain the pan about 3 quarts comes out.........so i drain the pan and then added 3 fresh quarts. I did the pump one quart at a time method 5 times so in total i pumped 8 quarts. that way i know I got all the old fluid out........do some searches for how to's with pictures

[hill8570]

Originally Posted by bronzemaxell

i was thinking doing the same, does it really work well, how many quart you normally do at once?

Works great. See the DIY @ DIY: 5S-FE Transmission Fluid & Strainer Replacement Procedure

[capnblinski]

.......it is much easier to do this once then multiple drain and refills.........

Thanks again folks.

I was thinking about going the homemade flushing route - that's the way I'll go now in this case - I'll let you know how the job goes.

Any more, I hate taking my car to mechanics..