Is there a how to for changing transmission fluid?

[NewShockerGuy]

Wife has a 07' Toyota Solara SE auto. And I wanted to change the transmission fluid next week... searched but found nothing.

Is there a how to?

I saw somewhere that I have to drop the oil pan to get to the transmission fluid but this seems crazy to me??

Thanks,
-Nigel

[Glenn8963]

Originally Posted by NewShockerGuy

Wife has a 07' Toyota Solara SE auto. And I wanted to change the transmission fluid next week... searched but found nothing.

Is there a how to?

I saw somewhere that I have to drop the oil pan to get to the transmission fluid but this seems crazy to me??

Thanks,
-Nigel

save yourself time, aggravation and getting dirty.

go to a transmission shop, or repair garage, or dealership, and have it flushed and refilled..takes all of about 1 hour of your time, and costs probably about $100 to $150.

if you drop the pan, i can assure you that you WILL NOT get out all the fluid, as a lot stays in the torque converter, as well as some of the crud.

just make sure the shop you go to has a transmission flushing machine.

[BlackG5]

^ +1

you'll never get all the old fluid out with a drain and fill, so take it to a shop and have them flush it. costs more, but worth it.


<-- Glad I have the 5-speed to make this easy

[mmm666]

I do drain/refill on my 2006 camry for the transmission fluid. I use 10mm hex allen.

If you do 2 times drain/refill, it will do the job. It take about 4 qt. cost about $5 /qt toyota Oem Fluid.

so whatever you do, Toyota recommend OEM transmission fluid. good luck.

[NewShockerGuy]

Originally Posted by mmm666

I do drain/refill on my 2006 camry for the transmission fluid. I use 10mm hex allen.

If you do 2 times drain/refill, it will do the job. It take about 4 qt. cost about $5 /qt toyota Oem Fluid.

so whatever you do, Toyota recommend OEM transmission fluid. good luck.

Thank you! This is what I am looking for. I already bought the fluid from toyota and I refuse to have the dealership charge me "$480" for it. I called around and they are all the same price give or take $35-42 .... I don't mind getting my hands dirty, I work on my STi all the time, what I refuse to do is pay for something I am capable of doing...etc.

Do you have to drop your pan or is it really just a hex bolt and I can do that. Drain, refill, drive a little, and drain and refill again.

Are there any pics or a how to thread?

Thanks,
-Nigel

[NewShockerGuy]

Found this somewhere but not sure if it applies.

First, drain the fluid from the pan, just like you would using Mr. Macfairlane's procedure. Once you've replaced the filter, the pan gasket, and reinstalled the pan, you're ready for the next step.

Fill the transmission to the proper level using the proper type of transmission fluid. Then disconnect the return transmission line (the line in which transmission fluid flows from the transmission cooler back to the transmission), located near the bottom of the radiator. There's two transmission lines connected in this location, and the bottom line is usually the return line. Once the line has been disconnected, attach a clear piece of tubing to the transmission cooler, the same diameter as the transmission line, approximately 5-6 feet long, using the transmission line clamp to secure it.

Place the unattached end of the clear tube in a plastic, one gallon milk container and place it where it can be seen (like not under the car).

For the next portion of the procedure, make sure that the parking brake is set prior to continuing. Start the engine. The transmission needs to be put into "Drive" so the torque converter fluid is changed as well. Some transmissions will only circulate fluid through the torque converter only in drive. This especially applies to the electronically controlled transmissions. [Craig Sherman noted that Drive is needed for most transmissions, based on technical manuals]

After approximately 4 to 5 quarts (obviously, if it's more than 4 quarts, you'll have to turn of the engine, and fetch another milk jug) of fluid have been pumped out, you should notice a change in the color of the fluid. It should go from a brownish red color, to a bright pinkish red color. When this happens, all of the old fluid has been replaced with new fluid.

Be careful not to overfill the tranny during this procedure.

When completed, reconnect the transmission return line to the transmission cooler. Check the fluid level as you normally would, and add fluid as required.

-Nigel

[mmm666]

I have a link but it is not working. but anyway I don't know why you want to do full flash and change the filter. You really don't need it. According to the 2006 toyota manual, it say change automatic transmission fluid only as necessary..

Also Drain/Refill will take out 3.7 quart of fluid.

I want to point out DIY is great way to save money and you know you do it right. Oil change and tire rotation for honda suv will cost $69 at the honda dealer. If I do it myself, It will cost about $20.

I use 10mm hex allen key. You can't miss it. After I drain, I put the old oil in the milk gallon jug.. I put the new oil from the transmission dipstick.. Make sure You put the oil whatever you drain it out. if you take out 3.5 qt, then you put it back 3.5 qt. thats it.

[somick]

Originally Posted by mmm666

I do drain/refill on my 2006 camry for the transmission fluid. I use 10mm hex allen.

If you do 2 times drain/refill, it will do the job. It take about 4 qt. cost about $5 /qt toyota Oem Fluid.

so whatever you do, Toyota recommend OEM transmission fluid. good luck.

At least one smart person here: some drivers encounter so many problems after flushing and people still keep advertising it!

Sam

[Glenn8963]

Originally Posted by semyonlibman

At least one smart person here: some drivers encounter so many problems after flushing and people still keep advertising it!

Sam

please inform me and the rest of us about "encounter so many problems"...

at my garage we did flushes all the time, rarely a pan removal, we never had any problems..

are you speaking of people who ALREADY HAD transmission problems, and THOUGHT changing the fluid WOULD HELP..???

unless you can provide SOLID proof of "encountering so many problems", you are speaking out of your ass...

[BlackG5]

Originally Posted by Glenn8963

you are speaking out of your ass...

Originally Posted by semyonlibman

At least one smart person here

yep, its Glenn.

[02CamryDesertSand]

I bought my 2002 camry V6 new and at 40,000 miles I purged the transmission fluid at the dealer. The car now has 80,000 miles and still no problems.
If you change the trans fluid before 60,000 miles you will be OK. If you have over 100,000 miles and have never changed the trans fluid it would be wise to leave the trans fluid that is in the transmission alone.

[gs_aristo]

Arent all 6th gen and up have sealed units and not easily serviceable by joe the mechanic? My old IS350 was the same issue.

[somick]

Originally Posted by Glenn8963

please inform me and the rest of us about "encounter so many problems"...

at my garage we did flushes all the time, rarely a pan removal, we never had any problems..

are you speaking of people who ALREADY HAD transmission problems, and THOUGHT changing the fluid WOULD HELP..???

unless you can provide SOLID proof of "encountering so many problems", you are speaking out of your ass...

You actually can search internet if interested.

Transmission (even rebuilt one) is so expensive that I rather will not risk it and if needed will do it in an old conventional way.

If I am screwed up by some "joe the mechanic" I will never come back to him. That might be the reason you never heard anything?

Another reason is: you cannot drive to the shop on a bad tranny...

Regards,
Sam

[carsrus]

Drain and refill is all you need. Do it every 25-30k. Flushing through the cooler lines is great but unnecessary if you change the fluid every 25-30k.

Full fluid flush on a transmission that has had little or no previous maintenance and is well over 100k miles or so equals death. Trans fluid can be changed whenever. The rule that it cannot be changed after 100k is only partially true. I have done many pan drops and refills on car with well over 120k. Ive also seen full fluid flush on a Chrysler grenade the tranny.

Its when a vehicle gets 100% of the fluid changed and all the gunk dissolves in a few hundred miles is when they blow up.

If your under 60k, drain it and refill it. If it still isnt cherry red, drain is again after 10k miles. Full fluid flush will take 15 quarts at 5-6$ a bottle.

[NewShockerGuy]

Pretty surprized how much fluid I got out.. just shy of 4qts... so that's actually really good... everyone was telling me I'd be lucky to get out 2qts of fluid...lol

Nice!

-Nigel