How to Drain/Refill Automatic Transmission

I'm due to perform a drain and fill on my transmission pretty soon. In order to get familiar with the procedure, I wrote up the steps as I understand them. If any of you guys would be willing to give me feedback, I'd greatly appreciate it.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/...ouid=118308423208133141760&rtpof=true&sd=true

 

Nice write up. I scanned through it and the procedure(s) look good to me. My only suggestion would be to change the color of the lettering on the first picture. My old eyes had a hard time reading the orange. Did you try white?

Thanks for the write up!

 

Yeah, the text color isn’t ideal. I wasn’t too concerned about making the writeup perfect, since there are already solid instructions in this thread. I did this as a backbrief exercise to ensure that I actually know what I’m doing when it comes time to do the deed. That, and to verify that I’m not missing any important steps. Transmission-related work freaks me out.

 

Don't "freak out".

You'll find the work is easier than you realize. Just follow the procedure for the temperature check and don't get in a hurry.

 

I’ve got Ford PTSD like a motherf’er. @EatSleepTacos can verify.

 

What I did the first time I did the temp check, I sat in my truck with my iPad and the video from 1st post and just mimic the movements. I think I did that because I read so many post with people having problems.
Since then, I have done it 2 more times and hit it every time.

 

Did the drop/strainer at 160K (first touch since new) and just did the 3rd drain/fill this morning!

 

I did a drain and fill under the watchful eye of @EatSleepTacos last week. It was nowhere near as difficult or freaky as I thought it would be. I printed out this procedure, which I followed to the letter:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/...ouid=118308423208133141760&rtpof=true&sd=true

That is, with the exception of manually getting the truck in temp check mode. Randy has some fancy OBDII-connected dongle doodad, which gives you a live feed of the transmission fluid temperature. We simply waited until the temperature on his iPad was between 115 F and 130 F, then drained the excess fluid through the overflow port.

 

What’s the dongle doodad? I have an ultra gauge but I am not 100% sure it is reading the same temp as the on board temp check mode

 

I'll defer to @EatSleepTacos for specifics on that one.

 

See.....Like I said.....no reason to freak out.

Glad you were successful.

 

did it yesterday it was easy peezy - getting to operating temp took a 20 minutes maybe because of the trans cooler and being idle. used a scan gauge 2 AND infrared gun. Just like #tacomaholic i switched out the check plug with a regular drain plug.

 

Any Bluetooth OBD2 dongle will do, I used the Carista one. The app is what’s important, it needs to be able to program custom PIDs. I used Torque Pro on android which costs like $4.

edit: all it does is read the pan and torque converter temp and pan is what you care about for the fluid check. On the tacoma it needs to be between 115° and 130°. If your ultragauge reads that then you’re set.

 

meh....just use the indicators already included with the truck. No need to buy extra doodads.

 

Here’s the custom PiD for the Trans temp for ODB Fusion

 

Especially easy if you rig up a plug-and-play option.

 

I just use a simple paper clip to jump the pins....... pretty easy.

 

A small paper clip is much better than trying to jamb a wire in there.

I just happened to see an OBDII adapter on Amazon for $6 three years ago. I permanently jumped the pins. Now I just plug it in when I need it.

 

I can buy a lifetime supply of paperclips for $6 and be able to pass them on in my will......