Automatic Transmission Fluid Inspection

I know these transmissions are "sealed" and only need full service at a recommended 100K miles.

So, why in the maintenance schedule is the fluid inspection an item under normal driving conditions? It starts at 30K I believe. For you guys that do your own maintenance, normal or harsh driving, do you bother with this inspection? for people that do dealer maintenance, are they doing this step for you?

 

Just so you know, Toyota revised the schedule maintenance down to 60,000 miles.

Link : http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=324340

 

Checking the transmission fluid on the 2nd gens is a lot more 'involved' than a typical maintenance item. It can be done....but frankly, it looks like a pain in the royal ass. I'm not even gonna bother with checking it.

The last time I was at the dealer for warrantee work, I requested they check the fluid. I had to leave the truck overnight so they could check it while it was COLD.

I do my own maintenance, but with the amount of times I've been to the dealer (maybe once a year) for a variety of things....I'd rather ask them to check it.

 

What has changed? At the end of October I saved a copy of the maintenance schedule from http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/guides.php?v=22&y=2006&int_id=12 which recomends inspection every 30K miles and repolacement (if you tow) every 60K miles. Today I get the same recommendation.

 

^^You should replace the ATF at 60k miles regardless (if you tow or not).

 

My 05 has got a dipstick and drain plugs.

 

god I'm glad now that my regular mechanic changed it for me -
he based it on my all my miles for a 22 month old truck - 53K !!
he said not to wait for 100k

 

Thanks for that info. I had no idea. I just wish they would've put in a dipstick for the simple flippin' sake of the owner being able to check condition of the fluid on his own.