Auto Tranny Seal Leak

Im seeing some oil around the tranny seal (not dripping, just wet). How do you replace the rear main seal for the automatic on the 3.4L? Ive searched and so far only found this:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/144200-rear-main-seal-leak.html

Edit,
Found this: http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82992

Shit, I didnt want to have to drop my transmission.

 

Yep only way to change the rear main seal is to drop the tranny. I work in a tranny shop and we do this all the time. Some how or another the rear main goes. It's a very easy fix once you get the tranny off. It's just getting the tranny off that is time consuming and expensive if you go to a shop. At my shop we charge $400 to change the seals. The seal itself is not expensive at all, it's the labor that you pay for.

If you can do it in your front yard by all means go for it, make sure you have a sufficient size bucket to catch all the fluid from the pan and any that might spill out from the torque converter. And the most important, make sure you have something to hold the transmission up once you unbolt everything. The last thing you want is the transmission falling on you. If have full faith that you can do the job in your driveway go for it. If your scared to pull the transmission, go to someone that can do it. You might even be able to work out a deal if you talk with the shop guys enough.

One thing to remember about shops is that, "it's not the parts that get you, it's the labor."

 

Yeah dude if you can afford to have a shop do it, then do it,
second option find a place
that has a lift for DIY with tools and a tranny jack,

doing this in your garage
on your back is a GIANT pain the ass. with hand tools and lunch breaks it took me and a buddy all day to drop the tranny out and it was damn sketchy.

And I really don't think we coulda put it back without the lift, took the truck and the transmission to a u fix it center, between the vehicle lift, tranny jack, and air tools it only took an hour to put it back in

 

But once you pull it out there's plenty of space to work!

 

Awesome, thanks for the info.

How much fluid will I need to refill the transmission?

 

If you flush it it will take around 10-11 quarts, I just bought a case from toyota, only use that fluid!

 

Rear main seal. Fluid levels are good so maybe a fluke or slow leak . I wiped it down and will look to see if it comes back.

There was a little towards the output shaft as well but I didnt pay much attention as it was mostly up front. Ill look into that as well.

What would I have to do if it was leaking around the output shaft?

 

Would that require a transmission drop as well? When I get back, if my camera is working, Ill try to post some pics.

 

no, I don't think so

 

Output shaft seal would only require you to remove the drive shaft. There's a seal at the back of the transmission near the drive shaft. Pull the drive shaft change the seal. An hour or less if you know what your doing. 2 If you are reading a walk through and doing the work for the first time.

I stress this to a lot of customers that come in, if we have to fix someone else's mistake it's 1.5x the normal cost. If you have any doubt that you can can't fix it. Have someone else do it. The Duke said it best, "A mans got to know his limitations." There are certain things that you can do on your own and there are certain things that you should pay professionals to do. If you have to ask yourself if your sure you can do it...it's better to just pay someone to do it right the first time.

 

When replacing the output shaft seal, how much fluid/oil would I have to worry about draining? Ill do some research on that when I get back; first I have to look to see just where its leaking from (if at all).

 

What he said.

If you use a jack and lift up the rear end, you might be able to get away with a limited amount of leakage. I've never worried about it at the shop cause we refill whatever came out and charge it to the customer.

 

^ haha, i bet you do. Thanks for the help, Ill look into it when I get off work.

 

Are you sure that the oil filter on a V6 isn't seaping and blowing back towards the rear of the engine?

 

Nope.