ATF Level Check

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

Hi,

I want to change my transmission fluid. I need to bridge some connections on the DLC connector.


Where is the DLC connector?

Thanks,

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Maybe a dumb question but dont you just drop the pan, replace filter and fill back up via the fill hole on the side of the box ?? And what is the DLC ?? Im going to get myn done by the pro's, $90........Cheers Steve

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

The fluid is supposed to be checked when at a certain temperature. There's a proceedure that if followed, the A/T light on the dash come on when when the fluid reachses 46 degrees. If the fluid is not hot enough it won't be fully expanded so you'll end up with more oil in the gear box than required.

I ended up draining the flushing the sump twice is I couldn't remove the hose form the radiator. It was on tight and I dind't have any hose on hand if I cut the hose and had to re-run it. After the first flush the fluid was still dark brown. After the second it was dark red. I dumpt the sump and got out 2.8L. I refilled 4L and idled/cycled through gears for a few minutes to circulate and warm the fluid then opened the check plug. The level is close enough (slightly over full) as I ended up with 3.9L (original 2.8L + excess from check plug) in the oil drain pan when I opened the check plug.

The whole job took 2 hours which included removing and re-installing the bash plates and cleaning up the mess.

The shift feel is much bettery. The gear changes were a bit thumpy when accellerating hard or with a load. Now they're smooth.

I'll drain and refill with 4L every 20 000km to keep the fluid clean.

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

If you're getting the job done for $90 are they draining and refilling the sump only or using Toyota TIV or Dexron fluid? The reason I ask is that Toyota WS costs $67 for 4L. Toyota Type IV is about half that.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Its through a bloke I know (has his on transmission shop for over 20 years) (probably knocks $20 off the price) but involves dumping the pan, changing over the filter which virtually does jack shit anyway, and refilling with what ever is the approved fluid, couldnt say wether its toyota or not will ask the question. I know when he does mitsi's he uses there genuine stuff. If I want this whole flush thing done which involves hooking it upto some flushing machine then its around $300 to get done. If I towed a big heavy load over a regular basis I may consider getting it done but I dont tow anything that heavy........But will ask the question in regards to the fluid used wether I should be using anything special. Myn is 120 V6 so not sure if it uses any thing different to say the 150 ?? Cheers Steve

[hisham saeed Member Find all posts View Profile Close hisham saeed]

Hi All

below is all the info i know about Auto trans, oil type-change-flush-check level

A750F 5 speed auto uses WS , previous Auto transmitions uses type IV , so better check yours first

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...ange-Intervals

how to check Auto tarns. oil level post#2
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...ans-oil-to-use
how i flushed my trans. oil post # 7
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...-and-Longevity

hisham

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

I had the transmission fluid "replaced" by a Toyota dealer less than 60,000km ago, this is what the fluid (on left) looked liked after I drained the pan compared to fresh WS fluid on the right. No towing - some light off road stuff. Pretty dirty actually. I'm going to change the fluid more regularly now given how badly it has deteriorated. I wouldn't have expected this specialised long life fluid to look so bad.


It is far cheaper to do it yourself and it is really not that difficult. You don't need a computer or any specialised equipment. The process is a little awkward due to the way in which you have to check the fluid level through an overflow plug as opposed to a dipstick. (This is for educational purposes only. Please refer to your Toyota service manual for more details)

I purchased 2 X 4 L containers of Toyota WS fluid for around $120 from the dealership who asked me "What I wanted it for?", and then said they didn't have any more. Makes you wonder about these guys if a Toyota Dealer only has 8L of WS oil!


There are three plugs you will need to identify on the transmission.
1- Fill plug located up the top side near the exhaust on the driver's side of the transmission (24mm socket).



2- The overflow plug on the transmission pan which is marked as "Check" (15mm hex) 3 - drain plug also located on the pan (14mm socket).


1. Warm up the car a little as this will save heaps of time later waiting to achieve the correct fluid temp.
2. Loosen the fill bolt.
3. Loosen Overflow bolt don't remove.
4. Remove drain bolt and drain old fluid. Be sure to measure exactly how much came out.
5. You will need a fluid pump to refill the transmission because the hole is in a really difficult place to access. Make sure it's with the same amount that came out plus an extra 200 ml or so.
- Hand tighten all plugs back up.

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

Pt II


6. Get a piece of electrical wire about 15 cm long and strip the ends off, you can use this as the jumper wire on the OBDII port.



7.Locate OBDII port and Jump terminal 4 and 13 with the wire and start the car. The OBD port is under the dash lower right hand side. The pins are in numerical order from top left to right. 4 is on top row, 13 is on bottom row.



8. Slowly run through all the gears and back to park.
9. Place selector into N and shift between N and D for approx. 6 secs. A/T Temp light will illuminate on dash for about 2 secs and go off.
-Remove jumper wire from OBII port. You are now in A/T temp detect mode.
10. Place transmission in P and let idle until A/T Temp light illuminates. If you warmed the car up previously this should only take a minute or two. If not you could be idling for 20mins or more.
When the light comes on this is now the correct fluid temp for checking the level. If the light blinks, AT temp is too high and you will need to let it cool.
11. With the engine STILL idling, remove overflow plug. Oil should trickle from the hole when fluid level is correct. If it doesn't you will need to shut the engine off, add more fluid and repeat the process. This is why it is better to add a LITTLE more when refilling to avoid having to go through this process again.
12. If fluid trickles out shut down the engine, torque all bolts up to spec and you're done.

This procedure only changes about 3 litres of oil so it's something you want to repeat every now and then to get to all the oil in the torque converter and lines.

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

The old fluid is dark but still appears red on the glass. I had to flush mine twice to get to this state. When you checked the fluid level did you keep the level check plug open until no more fluid came out? You can end up with too low a fluid level if you do this. When the car is idling the fluid comes out in small pulses. I was told by my local Toyota servie centre to close the level plug when it starts to pulse (as opposed to pouring out smoothly). They suggest the other was was to let the fluid flow stop, close the plug and add 200mL of fluid. You'll be able to tell if the fluid level is low as when driving up hills you'll get RPM flare and possibly a gear down shift.

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

The old fluid is dark but still appears red on the glass. I had to flush mine twice to get to this state. When you checked the fluid level did you keep the level check plug open until no more fluid came out? You can end up with too low a fluid level if you do this. When the car is idling the fluid comes out in small pulses. I was told by my local Toyota servie centre to close the level plug when it starts to pulse (as opposed to pouring out smoothly). They suggest the other was was to let the fluid flow stop, close the plug and add 200mL of fluid. You'll be able to tell if the fluid level is low as when driving up hills you'll get RPM flare and possibly a gear down shift.

No, I didn't leave the plug out. I just made sure fluid was coming out of the check plug - not pouring out or dripping, just a slow steady flow. According to the service manual this is when the level is correct.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

I purchased 2 X 4 L containers of Toyota WS fluid for around $120 from the dealership who asked me "What I wanted it for?", and then said they didn't have any more. Makes you wonder about these guys if a Toyota Dealer only has 8L of WS oil!

That's because most people probably wouldn't do it themselves. And Toyota would buy in bulk 44gal. From caltex, castrol, etc.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Why didnt they just put a friggin dipstick in the bloody things to make it sooooo much easier to check and refill. Probably saved them selves $10 per dipstick, tight arses.............Cheers Steve

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

Why didnt they just put a friggin dipstick in the bloody things to make it sooooo much easier to check and refill. Probably saved them selves $10 per dipstick, tight arses.............Cheers Steve

Sealed units are all the rage these days.

[ff1_69 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ff1_69]

Sealed units cost less to manufacture (not by much), but they also improve the cash flow at service centres, which really was their main aim. It cuts out the DIY industry and puts more money in their coffers.That is why, also, they're reluctant to sell you the AT Fluid.

[azzss Member Find all posts View Profile Close azzss]

THIS is why I have a manual lol!. Strange about no dipstick my brothers 2010 D4D auto hilux runs a dipstick for the auto its a 4 speed though.