Need help with 30k maintenace please!

[dandxg]

I am contemplating flushing my own tranny, the entire thing, and the coolant system flush as well. I just went over 30k and want to keep the car maintained well. Problem is there is still no damn haynes manual for my 2003 Camry V6 with 210 HP. Hell there ain't any reasonably priced manual for any 2003 Camry. Could I use the Hayne that goes to 2001 and assume the engine is the same or similar since it appears to be the same block, 1 MZxx?

I read the threads on flushing the tranny completely by draing pan first, disconnect trans cooler lines, etc. Problem is after looking I am not sure where the trans cooler lines are. There appear to be several lines going into the radiator? Any suggestion folks?


Also, I can't find the heater hoses on my camry, there is alot of stuff in that engine compartment that my old 84 tercel and 96 corolla doesn't have. I was thinking of doing the prestone flush and fill kit, which seamed to work well when I did it on my tercel decades ago, but I can't find the darn heater hoses! Is there any diagrams floating on the internet of the engine compartment and components that could show me where the hearter hoses are and the trans cooler lines?

I appreciate your help.

P.S. Planning on switching to full synth oil after reading much on it, does anyone have experience pros and cons on amsoil vs. mobile 1? Lastly, what do you folks think about flushing tranny fluid with full synth fluid, amsoil or mobile 1?

[touringcamry]

There should be two lines that run from the bottom of the radiator to the transmission. Those are the two. On Gen 4.5, they are 3/8" ID, so they are smaller hoses, if that helps any. They connect to the very bottom of the radiator on the back side facing the engine.

[dandxg]

Thanks for the tip, wouldn't they be facing the tranny though, since they are transmission cooler lines?

Have you ever flushed out your own tranny, any problems you ran into?

[touringcamry]

The connection for the cooler lines face towards the engine area, rather than facing ground or the front of the car.

[dandxg]

Thanks for your help touring, now a loaded question. I am not sure whether to tackle this one on my own, having never done a tranny flush before. I am concerned if I screw up I am hosed on the warranty. The local toyota mechanic just quoted me $240 plus tax to flush and fill the coolant and tranny complete with genuie toy fluids. Sounds high to me!

If I do it, do I have to use genuine toy fluids, if I don't does it invalidate my warranty? I know you can't mix red and green anti freeze. Can I flush complete and put prestone long life in? If so where do I find the heater hoses to install the prestone flush and fill kit? Also what the hell is T Tech fluid? I thought this Camry used Dextron III or equivilant. Am I wrong? Am I getting the Toyota Hype for this toyota mechanic, it feels like it?

Lastly he said no Toyotas including my 96 corolla have a true filter on tranny just a screen, is this true? The Hayne manual sure mankes it look like a real filter on my 96 corolla dx. If there is just a screen, then there seems to be no reason to drop pan, just do a complete flush, your thoughts are appreciated.

Dan

[touringcamry]

My Gen 4.5 is at 66 thousand miles right now and I just did a transmission flush through the cooler lines. I did not drop the pan. Whether it's neccessary or not, I am not certain. However, I can say that my transmission shifts smoothed out after the flush. For the transmission and the differential, I went through about 12 qts of transmission fluid.

At 32k miles, my parents brought it to an independent mechanic, but I don't know what exactly was done. Whether he did a drain an refill or dropped the pan I don't know. But some fluid was changed out one way or another.

What type of fluid your particular vehicle uses, I am not certain. Do you have the owner's manual laying around. In the back, it says what type of transmission fluid to use. I put Dexrom III in my car, but it's not the same as yours. Also, pull the transmission fluid dipstick out and see if it says anything about that.


For coolant, if your car currently has red, you can go to Toyota and buy a gallon of red coolant and use that..

I just flushed my coolant too, but I didn't do anything with the heater core. I drained the block and the radiator and ran lots of water through them both. Then poured in coolant and water until it was full. I didn't use any flush fluid. I just put a garden hose and let it run until the water was clear. If you drain out all of the coolant, you should be able to use green coolant no problem. Problem only arises when they mix and form solids.

Unless they can prove that what you did caused damage, it should not affect your warranty.

[dandxg]

Thanks touring,

I appreciate the help.

Dan