Transmission dipstick not going in - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Vibroseis · 08-06-2003, 02:32 PM

I have a '93 Camry LE V6.

Ever since I've owned this car (December 2001), I have had trouble re-inserting the transmission dipstick after doing fluid level check. It seems to go in about half way then it just gets stuck.
The dipstick seems to be fine. no apparent damage to it at all.

Last time I had to struggle with it for about 15 minutes before it finally went in.

Could this be a design problem?

Has anyone else had this problem with their car?

Thanks for your replies.

CamrySleepsOnU · 08-06-2003, 03:08 PM

its just how toyota made it... It's a little tricky... jsut gotta work it in there. If your under the hood to the left is your battery and to the right is your washer fluid reservoir. theirs a bend in the pipe that houses the dipstick and it bends left.... so when you insert the dipstick... you want the part that can bend (the flat side) facing the battery. If you jiggle it up and down it'll jsut slip in. That's how mine is so i'm betting thats your problem... If thats not htan maybe something else is wrong with yours.

nobrainer · 08-06-2003, 03:15 PM

yeah mine is the same exact way... just work it in and make sure you are trying to bend the flat side through the pipe... did that make sense?

Vibroseis · 08-06-2003, 03:33 PM

Yes I have pretty much tried everything you have suggested..it does make sense; the flat side would have to bend and lead its way in.

Nothing seems to do the trick in my situation.
I guess something else is probably defective.

Actually, last time I got so frustrated (trying for at least 20 min) that I had to cut the dipstick in half to put it in. Now I have to go to the dealership and order a new one

Hope the new one works better.

***Tony the Tiger*** · 08-06-2003, 06:53 PM

Have you tried flipping the dipstick the other way? I noticed that my Camry's ATF dipstick goes in with the "transmission" lable upside down.

***Phi*** · 08-06-2003, 06:59 PM

I have the same prob

Vibroseis · 08-06-2003, 10:41 PM

Thanks for the suggestions all.

I will let you know how things work when I get the new dipstick.
I'm sure the dealership has encountered similar problem in the past during servicing other Camrys. I'll see if they have any solutions for this problem.

If nothing else works, then I'll just have to fabricate my own dipstick. Don't know how yet, but will think of something!

nobrainer · 08-06-2003, 10:44 PM

sounds like a trip to the junk yard