2001 Camry Differental Fill Plug - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

tony1967 · 08-14-2011, 09:29 PM

I have a 2001 Camry and I need to change my differental fluid, but I cannot get the 17 mm fill plug off. I have rounded it and I bought a craftsman bolt remover but cannot use it because I have to pound it in. There is no room to pound it in.

dc_98_cam · 08-14-2011, 10:45 PM

You might not actually need a wrench to get the fill plug off.
I don't recall the access to the fill plug, but if there is room to get a prick punch, of whatever convenient length, onto the surface of the plug, you can hit it a few times, and it will probably come loose. This has worked lots of times before for me.
A prick punch is just a steel pointed chisel ... with a hardened point.
Try two or three different spots around the outside edge of the plug.
... Make sure that you are striking it so that it will turn in the correct direction ...

bolink654 · 08-14-2011, 11:03 PM

Also try vice grips or channel locks. And look around, some bolt extractors do not need pounding on, as they are spiraled inside (the more you turn the more it digs in)

71Corolla · 08-14-2011, 11:05 PM

+1 on the chisel method, a large chisel and hammer works great for this kind of thing, just make sure you get a good bite into the bolt before you start hammering on it.

tony1967 · 08-14-2011, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolink654

Also try vice grips or channel locks. And look around, some bolt extractors do not need pounding on, as they are spiraled inside (the more you turn the more it digs in)

The vice grip and bolt extractors tried both methods and the head of the bolt started to fall apart. I still have the base of the bolt in tack but not much more. The bolt extractors cannot get that thing pounded in it keeps slipping when try to turn it. Hammer and chisel may be only hope.

dc_98_cam · 08-14-2011, 11:10 PM

Try to get an actual 'prick punch'. It has a sharpened point that will grab onto the plug surface.... it doesn't matter if it's damaged or not. ... Main issue is if you have enough room to swing a hammer onto it.

Sometimes, if there is corrosion on the threads, you can try to turn the plug in the 'tighten' direction once or twice, and it will help it to break free.

After you get it loose, just get a new plug .... and some teflon tape.

bolink654 · 08-14-2011, 11:21 PM

Wow. Sounds like it is seriously stuck. Yeah chisel/punch and a hammer sounds like the next thing to try.

Always happens on the simple jobs too huh? I had a oil filter stick on a dodge pickup once. Ended up tearing off the metal, the filter inside and then still had the threaded plate part of the filter stuck on!! It had holes in it though, a screwdriver in the holes (same idea as punch and hammer) and hours of beating and cussing and it did finally come off though. Hopefully it works for ya.

71Corolla · 08-14-2011, 11:35 PM

I would heat it with a torch before using the chisel, that's your best chance to get it off.

bolink654 · 08-15-2011, 02:34 AM

Mainly just posting to bump and so you know your not forgotten...

But no, I haven't read of anyone doing that, and I have not done it myself.

One last idea. How much of the bolt head is left? Could you get a drill bit and drill a hole crossways through it, then put something through that hole to turn it? Didn't sound like you have enough left, but figured I'd throw the idea out there.

BamZipPow · 08-15-2011, 12:01 PM

You could fill it through the the breather valve hole once you take the breather valve out...

Just make sure you measure the amount that you remove so you can replace it with the same amount.

BamZipPow · 08-15-2011, 12:11 PM

You could try this method...

You Tube

ghettosled · 08-15-2011, 10:03 PM

1. heat.
2. use a grinder or dremmel and put a groove in the plug. then take an impact screw driver and give it a good smack with a hammer.

tony1967 · 08-20-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dc_98_cam

Try to get an actual 'prick punch'. It has a sharpened point that will grab onto the plug surface.... it doesn't matter if it's damaged or not. ... Main issue is if you have enough room to swing a hammer onto it.

Sometimes, if there is corrosion on the threads, you can try to turn the plug in the 'tighten' direction once or twice, and it will help it to break free.

After you get it loose, just get a new plug .... and some teflon tape.

dc98 thanks, I got a friend to take a hammer and prick punch the 17 mm bolt. I finally removed it. Wow there was only 1/2 quart of fluid in there. Never been changed car has over 172,000 miles on it, fill it up with 1.7 quarts of Dexron III.

***fenixus*** · 08-20-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony1967

dc98 thanks, I got a friend to take a hammer and prick punch the 17 mm bolt. I finally removed it. Wow there was only 1/2 quart of fluid in there. Never been changed car has over 172,000 miles on it, fill it up with 1.7 quarts of ATF type IV.

ATF Type-IV??? that's the wrong fluid! it was designed for newer U-series transmissions, not for the A-series.

Sorry bro, but you *should* drain it again and fill it up with something Dexron-III or Mercon-V compatible (dino), or could be something better (pure synthetic or blend) like Mobil1 ATF or Castrol IMV...

dc_98_cam · 08-20-2011, 08:32 PM

Glad you caught it... Didn't know if you had enough room to make it work though ... Get one of those prick punches for your tool box.

When you start hearing things, it's too late.

Check out what fenixus just posted ... it's real easy to get one of these fluids incorrect ... One time I used regular transmission fluid instead of TIV transmission fluid ... big mistake ... Best to consult the owner's manual or just find a Toyota parts department someplace.