Auto tranny flush and fill - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

wanman75 · 05-12-2005, 11:44 AM

Couldn't believe it. Called a local Toyota dealer to ask about a tranny flush and fill including dropping the pan and replacing the filter, cleaning magnets, etc.

"That car doesn't have a filter sir."

Yikes.

Called another dealer. "That car doesn't have a filter sir."

Am I going cuckoo? Is it called something else? This is for a 94 Camry V6, btw.

Oddly enough, I can order an A/T filter from the parts counters of both dealerships.

WTF?

skewe · 05-12-2005, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanman75

Couldn't believe it. Called a local Toyota dealer to ask about a tranny flush and fill including dropping the pan and replacing the filter, cleaning magnets, etc.

"That car doesn't have a filter sir."

Yikes.

Called another dealer. "That car doesn't have a filter sir."

Am I going cuckoo? Is it called something else? This is for a 94 Camry V6, btw.

Oddly enough, I can order an A/T filter from the parts counters of both dealerships.

WTF?

when u say dropping the pan, that means oil pan rite?
cos i am not sure if the tranny have a magnet, pan.. i know for sure the oil pan has it.

maybe you were not too clear..

on avg, transmission flush is about 99US$. Might get it for less if you get a dealer's coupon.

not sure about the oil pan cleaning. Might be DYI project

wanman75 · 05-12-2005, 08:37 PM

Nope, I meant the transmission pan. It's beside the oil pan. You have to drop the pan to clean the screen.

I talked to a local mechanic and he said that they rarely drop the pan to put in a new filter or clean the screen, they just rely on the flush.

The tranny has 202,000 miles on it so far, and still shifts smoothly, so I guess I shouldn't/won't stress over it, and just do the flush and fill.

***Edmond*** · 05-12-2005, 10:22 PM

There sure is a filter in there, I've seen and touched it myself.

It's a lot of work so they probably don't want to do the work.

Just drop the bolts on the pan and the filter is right there. I changed to a Purolator filter last fall.

There is a drain plug on the bottom of the pan. Most people will just drain the fluid and refill it.

The filter kit will come with the filter and a gasket for the pan.

skewe · 05-13-2005, 10:46 AM

That is something new. I did not know about a filter in the transmission, cos usually, the dealer will do a flush and send you on your way, minus 90-100$ for the flush

Haynes manual did not mention anythign about a filter in transmission but maybe i missed that few pages

thx

***Edmond*** · 05-13-2005, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skewe

That is something new. I did not know about a filter in the transmission, cos usually, the dealer will do a flush and send you on your way, minus 90-100$ for the flush

Haynes manual did not mention anythign about a filter in transmission but maybe i missed that few pages

thx

They probably just drain the fluid and then refill it. That's a 5 minute job. You use an allen key to open the drain plug and then refill through the dipstick.

skewe · 05-13-2005, 11:32 AM

well, i did a flush @ the dealership. took quite some time as I stood there watching. also did the front differential

Tommy · 05-13-2005, 11:33 AM

thats just a drain and refill, to do it proper, they actually flush out the system with a machine, similar to how they would flush the cooling system.

***Edmond*** · 05-13-2005, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy

thats just a drain and refill, to do it proper, they actually flush out the system with a machine, similar to how they would flush the cooling system.

But if the filter is still dirty, what do they accomplish?

The magnets will have significant metal on them from all the years.

ag6286 · 05-13-2005, 11:06 PM

most tranny filters remain clean throughout the life...ive changed quite a few outta toyotas, most recently outta my 210000 mile gen 3 camry v6...at the time it had about 180000 and it was changed once around maybe 80000...i really had no reason to change it after i looked at it but might as well sinc ether are 50 million bolts to remove down ther and since im in ther...but still..they're cheap anyway....transmission pans and oil pans both have magnets, i think ur toyota dealers are just ignorant about the not having a filter...thats just ridiculous they dont know that. and for everybody here change ur tranny fluid every 10-15000 miles! or else! if u wait a really long time like i did with my old prizm (back in the days when toyota still supplied the parts for em) i put new trans fluid it around 160000 mi and the thing blew 2nd and 3rd gear within a week...woops.....costly mistake...had to be rebuilt twice before they got it right

oh and about wut edmond said about a lot of metal on the magnets......thats not normal! especially in auto's! any metal is a bad thing...none of the toyotas ive ever owned which ranges from prizms to supras to camrys etc...have ever had metal shavings on the magnets from the transmission

Toysrme · 05-13-2005, 11:12 PM

Flush (or atleast drain, drive around the block, drain again) once a year, or 10,000m
always put synthetic fluid in
add an auxillary cooler.

You'll never have a problem out of it... Ever.

Bmaintz · 05-14-2005, 09:00 AM

OK, I have done this to my 92 Camry(4cyl), here is what I did...... Bought a filter kit at parts store ($11.00) ...... Took out Drain Plug & then loosened 10mm bolts around pan (Loosen the back more to drain fluid in back)...... Clean pan & magnets, remove old gasket material, lay new gasket out in sun to get wrinkles out, use Permatex 2 to attach new gasket...... The Filter needs to be removed, take note of lenght of 3 screws as they need to be inserted back into the same holes they came out of..... Install pan, work around on the 10mm bolts, don't overtighten (good idea to recheck these bolts after a couple thousand miles) ...... THEN go to your Lube Center & have a flushing machine hooked up & you are done.... Sounds drawn out but you only do this every 60,000 miles or longer....... ALSO be sure to drain & refill your transaxle box as it is separate from the main tranny (just over a quart)..... I had Amsoil ATF put back in my '92, more expensive but will last much longer & keep the tempatures of the fluid cooler...... NOTE.. When you put in fresh fluid it will have a high level of cleaning agents, may break loose scum & PLUG your filter screen..... You can do the flush first at your lube center & then change the filter after 2,000 miles of cleaning (put new fluid beck in to replace what you drained out, you could reuse the fluid you drained if you wee careful in the draining)..... Depends on condition of the tranny..... Hope this helps

datoes1441 · 05-16-2005, 06:45 AM

I think the dealer thing is that most of the cars the techs see are newer, so they are not very familiar with older (1-3rd gen). Ive had the problem with dealers as well, but with my echo they know their way around it a bit more. Due to that, i trust myself with the general maintainence stuff like fluids, filters and plugs more tan i do the dealers in my '90 camry.

***Edmond*** · 05-16-2005, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by datoes1441

I think the dealer thing is that most of the cars the techs see are newer, so they are not very familiar with older (1-3rd gen). Ive had the problem with dealers as well, but with my echo they know their way around it a bit more. Due to that, i trust myself with the general maintainence stuff like fluids, filters and plugs more tan i do the dealers in my '90 camry.

I can understand not knowing the older models that well but they have shop manuals and computers where they can look the stuff up in minutes instead of spouting an answer from their ass.