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How to Change Your Transmission Fluid

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Triparadox, Aug 4, 2019.

  1. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Look at the photo on Mendel's comment #122 How to Change Your Transmission Fluid | Page 7 | PriusChat
    No4 clip (90467-07166 Plastic & Plastic Clips) is listed as one that need to come off. I am not sure if you really need to buy that one or you can just re-use one since it is a plastic to plastic type of fastener.
     
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  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Yeah, regularly taking off the whole panel, I pay no attention to #4 style fastener. It's connecting the "flap" to adjacent plastic. If it's intact it'll stay that way, it's just along for the ride. If on the other hand you're using the flap regularly, then it may be damaged or gone.

    My Amayama order came yesterday. I opted to get a complete replacement set, (11)-#3 and (2)-#5. I'll probably replace both #5's next time; the ones I have are "functional", but the heads fall right out every time. With the #3's there's maybe three existing ones missing a jaw, guess I'll just replace those. I'm thinking to put silver sharpie pen mark on all the new ones, so it's easier to keep track of which are replaced.

    IMG_1617.JPG
     
    #142 Mendel Leisk, Dec 10, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2019
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I took both clips out of package, and they appear to be real McCoy. I'm liking Amayama; there's near-zero options for Toyota products from North American retailers if you're in Canada, and their prices are good. You want to be a little "strategic" in you orders, try to get everything from one country (easily done, they show the optional sources), to avoid multiple shipping packets.

    I should have wised up a little, let the cart build up a bit more, say wiper blade inserts for example, and the shipping would likely have been about the same. Anyway:

    upload_2019-12-11_18-52-2.png

    Note too: CDN $ is about 0.75 cents US.
     
  4. Triparadox

    Triparadox Active Member

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    Thank you for all of you guys responses. Didn't quite understand it yesterday since I got my focus separated to some other stuff I need to do. Following your screen shot, I found two of those from Amazon. That plastic to plastic though, is it possible to just use the clips that come in 20pcs?
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Maybe. Personally, I would even use something like nylon license plate nuts/bolts; I never remove those plastic/plastic ones. They're readily available automotive item. I've used those on the rear wheel spats, the little rubber flaps at leading edge of rear wheel wells.

    upload_2019-12-11_18-57-0.png
     
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  6. Triparadox

    Triparadox Active Member

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    Ok, so I'll just skip that for now?
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Yeah. The ones you have may be fine, something to keep in mind. The #4's are holding two edges of plastic, with a clamping piece that's 2" c/c of holes at most. Pretty trivial. Even a zip tie would do, forever or just temporary. The license plate nylon bolts are quite versatile, look good though.

    upload_2019-12-11_19-2-1.png
     
  8. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    Typo. Most transmission oil changes are done by professional shops, and not home mechanics.
     
  9. Triparadox

    Triparadox Active Member

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    Update: I got the clips, and the 10mm 3/8" Allen key socket. Took off the under panel only to find out the drain plug was stripped to a point that it's impossible to change. I'm currently struggling to find the right plug.

    On one Toyota website, this seems to be the one I need to get:
    2010 Toyota Prius Hatchback HYBRID Plug; plug sub-assembly. Hsg, overflow - 9034118016 | Stevens Creek Toyota, San Jose CA


    Another website, still official Toyota website, cannot verify that this is the part I need:
    2010 Toyota Prius Plug. Drain. Transmission. Automatic. Pan. Liter, maintenance - 9034118016 | Venice Toyota, Venice FL
     
  10. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    This is the correct one:
    On one Toyota website, this seems to be the one I need to get:
    2010 Toyota Prius Hatchback HYBRID Plug; plug sub-assembly. Hsg, overflow - 9034118016 | Stevens Creek Toyota, San Jose CA

    This is for automatic transmission, not CVT:
    You don't want this one.
    Another website, still official Toyota website, cannot verify that this is the part I need:
    2010 Toyota Prius Plug. Drain. Transmission. Automatic. Pan. Liter, maintenance - 9034118016 | Venice Toyota, Venice FL
    You could try some valve grinding compound. Put some in the stripped out area and on the 10mm hex.
    Tap it in with a small hammer, When you get it in far enough, you can start up loosen it as you continue to tap on it.
    Or use a hammer and chisel.
     
  11. Triparadox

    Triparadox Active Member

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    Thanks for the info. I do wonder how did you differ the two from each other since both have the exact same part number?

    I'll keep your advise to take the broken bolt off in mind.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  12. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    Don’t remove the drain plug until you remove the fill plug. If the fill plug is stripped, you want to know before you drain all the transmission fluid.
     
  13. Triparadox

    Triparadox Active Member

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    Yep. That's exactly what I did. First I removed the fill plug. About 1 quart came out. Then I proceeded to try removing the drain plug. No luck. It was slipping to a point you don't even need extension or super-human power to twist it. The bolt remained but you keep twisting. Right now I'm planning on calling nearby Toyota Parts (they open tomorrow) to see which one I should get. If I'm lucky, I might not have to go all the way to San Jose and can just get it in my city.

    By the way, that approximately 1 quart that dripped out was dark brown. The smell was quite funny (so different from engine oil or engine coolant smell).

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  14. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Appears that whoever changed the ATF before your attempt must have not level the car during the drain & refill.
     
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  15. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    I clicked on the links you provided. I didn't notice the part numbers....
    2 different sites show 2 different things....

    And you are saying the drain plug just turns? Doesn't back out?
    I thought the hex was stripped. They/you are probably going to have put a heli-coil in it.
    Depending on what is stripped, the bolt or case, or both.

     
  16. Triparadox

    Triparadox Active Member

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    Or it could be because it's not exactly level when I opened it. The jack stands are different (2 pairs). I think the front ones are slightly higher than the back ones.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  17. Triparadox

    Triparadox Active Member

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    You do know the 10mm Allen bolt, right? The inner one where you put in the socket. It's like it fits in but when you try to twist it to loosen the bolt, only your socket spins. The bolt remained. It's not the swirly thing around the bolt, but the 'mouth' of the bolt.

    The case where the bolt goes in and the swirly around the bolt should be fine (or I expect they to be fine).

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  18. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Okay, I figured that's what you meant originally. Try the valve grinding compound. I've used that trick
    several time with success. Depending on how loose it is. If it's completely rounded, it might not work
    because there is nothing to make contact with. Might be hammer and chisel time.

    You could put a hose inside from the filler neck and syphon it out. You probably can't get all of the fluid out,
    but most of it.

     
  19. Triparadox

    Triparadox Active Member

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    Thanks for the heads up. I'm currently waiting on the transmission fluid plug. Might continue working when I have the time...

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  20. Triparadox

    Triparadox Active Member

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    Final update: I completed the work this afternoon (from 11 AM to 4.30 PM). The hardest part was to break loose the broken bolt from the previous mechanic. Spent almost an entire hour, if not more, just to keep trying hammering it with flat-head screwdriver. Anyway it was opened and the color was dark. It was almost brownish dark. I used the new bolt and gasket and tighten the drain hole. Then to fill it up, I used like a metal tube that has one end like the swirly for the bolt. I plugged that into the fill hole with 2 gaskets just so it won't leak (only tighten it with hands to not destroy the gasket). Then I connected the other mouth with a hose about 4 or 5 feet. I did not use pump so I had another person help me feed the hose from the engine bay. I grabbed the other end and plugged it into the mouth of that pipe. Then just filled the tank with transmission fluid slowly since the air needed to go away. Used the whole 4 quarts and when I took off the pipe, a bit leaked out. Taking out the metal pipe actually leaked more (not much though, probably 0.1 or 0.2 quarts in total). Put everything back in and I'm done. Total hrs spent is around 5 to 7 hours because of the broken plug. Might be able to complete it in 3 to 4 hrs next time.
     
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