How to Drain/Refill Automatic Transmission

Does anybody know if their is a tightening sequence for the transmission pan bolts? I need to replace my pan. I did some searching in the FSM but did not find anything.
I figured I would start in the middle of the pan on both sides and then go to the opposite side, back and forth all the way around the edge till all the bolts were in.

 

how much is everyone paying for the WS fluid now? My dealer charges $6.75/quart

 

Big thanks to Fortech! I drained/filled my 08 prerunner AT today. It went pretty much as documented.

I was concerned by those who said the 4x2 didn't have an AT temp light. Mine does and putting it in the AT Temp check mode was easy. It took only a few D to N sequences to turn on.

My local stealership still got me though. WS ATF was like $9 a bottle! Bastards!

I love TacomaWorld! I've done many, many things to this truck that I would have never attempted without the help I've found here.

 

When dropping the AT oil pan to inspect/clean the magnets, is the old gasket automatically ruined in the process or can I re-use it? Also, any answer to joesmith's question below?

 

I would use a new gasket. I did find the torque specifications .

Code:

Drain plug x Oil pan = 21 ft.*lbf
Overflow plug x Automatic transmission = 15 ft.*lbf
Refill plug x Automatic transmission = 29 ft.*lbf
Oil pan x Transmission case = 39 in.*lbf

I still don't know the proper torque sequence but I assume a criss-cross pattern will work just fine. I did find this diagram for the A340F transmission. I don't think that the tightening sequence would be that different for our transmission pans, but who knows

 

So I did this today and I got about 2.5 quarts out. I put in 3.3 quarts. When I go into diag mode though the at temp light comes on but does not go out. Thinking it was already warmed up I pulled the check hole & about a 1/3 of a quart came out. The fluid was warm but did not feel like 115 degrees. Any ideas? I have an 05 4x4 with tow package. Thanks.

 

shit, i followed each step exactly as it's written up here but ran into a troubling issue when i went to replace the fluid...when i pump ATF in the fill hole it just runs right back out like its full to capacity already. any ideas? when i drained it (from the 14mm drain plug at the rear DS corner of the black AT pan) i collected about 4 quarts. just for clarification, the fill plug is located on the PS rear of the tranny just below where the rear drive shaft comes out right?

 

Seems like you did it correctly according to the 2nd & 3rd photos of this thread. Truck parked on level ground? Transmission in park (don't know if that makes a difference or not).

 

in park on level ground...totally stressing about this! i really think that i am trying to fill from the wrong plug. the only 24mm plugs i could find are on the back-end of the transmission (really seems more like the transfer case to me) instead of being on the passenger side of the whole unit. In the first pic you can see the plug that i have tried to fill from. the second picture is the passenger side of the transmission...from other pics and diagrams that i have looked at the fill plug should be where that black plastic electrical sensor of some sort is on the top left of the image. this is driving me nuts!

 

Please look at the second and third pictures of the thread I linked to in my previous post. Those pics have arrows pointing to the correct transmission fluid drain, fill, and check plugs. From your picture it looks like you were adding the transmission fluid in your transfer case's fill port, not your transmission pan!!! You need to drain and fill your transfer case oil immediately because you contaminated it with tranny fluid. Check this thread (click here) for that procedure.

 

This

 

im a little reluctant to admit this but...yep, its there alright! I drained the tranny but tried to fill the TC. the pic form the OP looked just different enough (prerunner vs 4x4) that i overlooked the correct fill plug b/c it was just barely covered in dirt. dingdangit! dont i feel silly. thank you for insisting that the problem WAS this simple; i really had myself worked up about it.

 

What transmission fluid is everyone using? I did a complete fluid flush + filter + gasket change in my wife's 2004 corolla with 137,000 miles which needed Toyota T-IV fluid. I ended up finding and using Valvoline Maxlife since it said its ok to use and I really liked that the 1 gallon jugs were only $17 by me. This fluid states its also compatible with Toyota WS, which is what our trucks obviously need. I sort of 'get' the secure, warm and fuzzy feeling of using Toyota's own factory fluids, its probably the same feeling the BMW people get when they take their cars in for a $100 dealership oil change...you know your overpaying but your also clear just in case anything happens, but if the Maxlife ATF is just as good or better for a fraction of the price + its readily available, I would much rather just use that. Has anyone tried using this fluid for the autos in our trucks and what do you think?

 

Please tell me that you corrected this before you drove it!

 

Is there a writeup procedure for the A340E?

 

Thanks for the writeup OP. Your efforts are much appreciated.
I just finished changing the fluid, I had to go back and add a bit more as nothing came out of the overflow when I first checked it.

My fluid looked fine and a have 50k miles, but with your writeup it made it easy to do. I'll probably change it in 30k intervals from now on


Thanks again

Shawn

 

Thanks for tech tip OP, it made this job easy, I changed my fluid today with 40K on it, 3.1qt came out, fluid was off/darker red in color, I deff would not wait till 60k to do this. Very easy job, no reason to not do it. I put in 3.5qt of WS fluid, then got it in A/T temp mode and took out the over flow plug and a some fluid came out, I let it get down to a slow stream and put it back in. I think I will do it again in 10k, just to get more fresh fluid in it.

Thanks Craig

 

Thanks Bro

 

I experienced this exact same situation today.

I did not measure how much came out, but I put a little over 3 quarts back in, started up the truck and about 10 min later I had the jumper in and followed the temp check mode procedure. Every single time, the temp light would come on solid after the 6 shits and would not turn off. I put it in park and it would come back on. Pulled the overflow plug and it drained off for about 20 seconds to a dribble, so I plugged it back up and called it good. I am just assuming that since it was 80 F here today that it got up to operating temp quickly....

 

Drained my trans on Friday and I could not get it to go into trans temp mode. I jumped 4 & 13, dash lights went nuts and did the 6 n to d shifts,,, no at temp light would light. Ended up using the scangauge. Tried several more times after Friday, and no light. Not worried as the SG is accurate enough, but not sure what's up.