Auto trans service

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

"Ouch Craig, That's a decent ding.
Do tell, have you been sneaking off doing some rock crawling in the prado... "
That's what happens when you drive over those little Korean SUVs whilst trying to find a parking spot at Woolies.

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

Trip to Ormeau last Sunday. Ventured down the track we did last time (Verrry Rocky...) Actually didnt notice any strong impact and we were spotting each other all the way down so I was quite surprised when finding this after backing out of a mates driveway and finding a small pool of fluid on the ground. Turned out to only be the drain plug that had been forced loose and had begun to weep fluid. (Phew....)

You really dinged that up Craig. Lucky it didn't split the pan.
Time for Santa to bring you some underbody protection. I am very happy with the AMTS bash plates.
Cheers

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

AMTS Underbody Protection definitely on my wish list (as it has been in my signature for sometime now....)

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

Now how to get that into Santas Sack.....

[johnnydrama Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close johnnydrama]

Thanks to this thread I got my ATF flushed and replaced.

I have done a fair bit of towing with both a 6x4 full of camping gear + a recent addition to the family of a nearly 2 Ton when loaded Jayco Swan Outback.
I have noticed recently that the gear box tends to hold onto a gear longer, or be reluctant to flick into overdrive. To get it into overdrive i often had to flick it out of "D" into "4" and then back into D and that would make it kick into overdrive.

Toyota quoted $400 which was obviously expensive but at this time of year with a 5000K driving trip looming I figured it's still money well spent - didn't really have the time to find a reputable transmission place. Ended up talking them down from that price and got charged $310 - mostly because i was looking over the service guy's shoulder when he booked me in and the work sheet listed "Wynns Transmission flush and replace - Parts = $150 Labour = 1Hour". So i exclaimed how skilled the toyota mechanics must be at $250 an hour. I also asked to either see / or be informed of the condition of the fluid so that i could get a bearing on how often i should be changing it. Despite this being on the worksheet - no one could tell me how bad it was when i picked it up.

Gears do change noticably faster and smoother. Haven't had any highway time yet to know if it helps with the overdrive reluctance.

Definitely recommend doing it based on how my car now feels.

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

you'll definatly notice a change in how the car drives when towing. When towing, keep the gearbox in 4, not overdrive. In overdrive the gearbox will hunt between 4 and OD causing additional wear and heat. You won't notice any difference in fuel economey if you drive at 100km/h or less.

[johnnydrama Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close johnnydrama]

When towing it would actually sit happily in OD on flat and straight sections so I've tended to let it. Kick it back as soon as it starts hunting tho. I got a scanguage to monitor the ATF temps cos i was nervous about letting it go into OD - it doesnt seem to raise temps till it seeks around tho.

(The issue with being slow to kick into OD also applied to non towing situations.)

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk 2

[CaLLaN 52 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close CaLLaN 52]

Hi Johnnydrama,
I think u got lucky having a good dealer, I'm convinced I just payed for 4 litres of trans fluid, no sign of drain of filler plugs being removed, & no changed in the way it drives. Changing dealers & last chance for Toyota to service my vehicle if not happy.

Cheers, Steve J

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

Hi Johnnydrama,
I think u got lucky having a good dealer, I'm convinced I just payed for 4 litres of trans fluid, no sign of drain of filler plugs being removed, & no changed in the way it drives. Changing dealers & last chance for Toyota to service my vehicle if not happy.

Cheers, Steve J

Steve got get your money back. There is no way they can flush a trans with 4 ltrs. No joke these dealers take us for idiots.
Go to a trans specialist and ask him to check the bolts you mentioned and if 4 ltrs does the job.
Even if they did drain 4 ltrs its not a proper flush. I bet they charged a couple of hours labour as well...

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

Steve post some pics of the drain & fill plugs mate. Let us PPers give you an opinion.

[CaLLaN 52 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close CaLLaN 52]

They did,nt charge labour just $64 for 4 litres of trans fluid,
This was when I had my 70k service done, (63k on clock).
They tried to put me off changing fluid, but I insisted due to my
Off road use etc, I've had issues with this Dealer b4,
my fault for going back there.

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

I guess it could have been worse...

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

But why only 4L? Those boxes hold a bit over 11L...

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

But why only 4L? Those boxes hold a bit over 11L...

Yes Wooley- Exactly my point... I think Toyota Australia stiffed him for $64 and did nothing to the trans at all.

[CaLLaN 52 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close CaLLaN 52]

Told they would'nt flush just drop the fluid out & refill, that does'nt take 4 litres
So they just charged me for it all, all signs to me showed no change was done, but w/out taking it else where to have it done
Again...no proof I Spose, due to previous probs at this Dealer, I will try
1 more diff Toyota Dealer for Service next time. I think most Big Dealers are Rubbish, you have to find a good one & stick with
Em.