Transmission Fluid Replacement - DIY or Dealer?

1) no one knows

2) most replace them without knowing

3) sounds misguided, but poly doesn't have to be perfectly level.

4) having never changed my own, or had it changed by someone else, i feel i am completely impartial.

5) all the best!

 

The Owner's Manual is pretty emphatic, I would NOT mess around with other fluids.

Not sure what the diameter is, but I would get the proper washers: this is something you do very infrequently, don't cheap out.

The reason to have the car level is: that's how you get the fluid level correct when refilling. It does not take exactly 4 quarts, it might be a little less. Basically, you raise and level the car, and add fluid till it starts coming back out. That achieves the correct fluid level. Also, a simple method to get the fluid is with a funnel with a hose extension.

The correct torque value is 29 ft/lb. I would recommend using torque wrench, get it right. Also, when removing the fill and drain bolts:

1. Remove fill bolt first, just in case you have problems.
2. Use a quality, long-handled ratchet wrench or breaker bar, they are on there pretty good.
3. Both bolts are socket-head cap screw, with a 10 mm hex recess. You'll need an Allen-key style socket; Stanley for one sells a metric set.

My 2 cents: for today, fugedaboutit. Put the cover back on. Wash all the plastic fasteners out with hot/soapy water, get the grit out, before reinstalling. Taking the cover off becomes a 10 minute job after a while. Get 4 quarts of the proper fluid, and the kosher washers, at a dealership. Get your funnel/hose, long-handle wrench, allen-key socket, torque wrench, safety stands, whatever it it takes to get the car raised and level, safely.

 

Some people do ramps on the front, then floor jack and safety stands on the rear. Myself I just do safety stands all 'round, do the front first, then the rear. I like these points for the safety stands, as opposed to the proscribed scissor jack locations:

 

@Mendel Leisk aka Maple Leaf.

Good one.

 

Better figure out a way to get the car raised and level. Definitely do not start up the engine with the fill bolt off, and the car going up/down ramps. That's a recipe for disaster, lol.

 

ML? never occurred to me

 

Hah, me neither.

 

New handle kinda like “My Dude” .

 

Wife rolled into the garage, that leaf just affixed by rain. Snapped a pic.

 

MD, i was thinking the same thing

 

I know @Grit likes that a lot.

When we have meet ups out here, that’s how I greet him.

 

Use Toyota ATF WS only. Forget about moving the car while there is no fluid in the transaxle unless you really want to damage the transaxle.

If you want to make the car level while the front is raised up on the ramps, why not raise the rear of the car with a hydraulic floor jack at the inverted tower near the center rear of the car. Add the 3.6 US quarts of ATF WS until fluid starts to drip out of the fill hole. Then lower the rear of the car. Get under the front of the car and tighten the fill plug, 29 ft.-lb torque, and then you can drive the car off the ramps.

If you don't have a hydraulic floor jack, then fill the 3.6 quarts of ATF WS while the car is at an incline, until fluid starts to drip out of the fill hole, and accept that the transaxle may have ~4 ounces less fluid than it otherwise should have.

 

Or 4 oz less? Third gen fill bolt is towards rear IIRC.

A long wrench makes bolt removal uneventful:

 

Yes. And the spec is that it is OK for the fluid level to be as much as 10 mm (or 0.394") below the fill hole, so the OP should be good either way.

No engine - how are you going to get the car back up the ramps without engine power? You must be much stronger than I am.
Forget about a bottle jack, get a real hydraulic floor jack to celebrate Father's Day.

 

I actually thought it was a OEM emblem for a Canadian version of the Prius. Years ago I got a tour of the General Motors plant in Newark Delaware. They were making Chevettes, but every once in a while they would put a Pontiac emblem on the fenders because someone ordered a T1000, AND I saw some of these same cars on the same assembly line roll off as Acadias with a nice maple leaf emblem because (so I was told) "Canadians won't buy a U.S. car."

 

Hate to spoil the party but that looks like a Japanese Maple leaf . . .

Canada's logo is the Sugar Maple.

Just a reflection of today's global economy!

(Hope the fluid change went well!)