How to Drain/Refill Automatic Transmission

I had a hell of a time getting into temp check mode in my 2012 truck. I think I ended up waiting a bit longer than 2 seconds in N before doing the 6x shift thing. Maybe 3 seconds, something like that

Give that a try and see if that works for you.

Honestly though if you have a means of monitoring the temps via OBDII that is way easier. And if your ambient temps are mid 70s I would not expect it to take longer than 20 mins.

 

You may want to block off the transmission cooler with a piece of cardboard.

Even when the truck is sitting still, the fan pulls some air through it, cooling the fluid.

Granted, not much, but every degree helps...

 

I did a DAF when it was about 10° out one time. I waited over 45 minutes for the temp light to come on. Sometimes you have to be patient

 

I did a DAF today. No issues....just like the other times. However, I decided to pull my jumper adapter as soon as it went into check mode. Previously I had just left it in the whole time. The dash stops flashing but it's still in check mode.

Old fluid looked great, BTW.

 

i just recently acquired a 2008 toyota Tacoma prerunner. i will definitely check it out if there is a light that can check the temp for the tranny..

 

Yeah... I didn't do that at ALL

 

The trail has been blazed by many.....and even more that never admitted to it. Don't be one of "those people".

 

I have the 2wd Prerunner and it absolutely works. I absolutely refuse to go to the stealership since the one in Sugarland, TX screwed up big. The recent discovery was when I did head gaskets turns out they couldn't even get the timing chains right. So thank you very much for this write up.

 

I just did this on my 09 DCSB, its a 4x and has the tranny cooler. Dropped the pan and cleaned it out, replaced the filter. Refilled and could never got the AT light to turn on. After about 25 minutes of having it run and shifting around, I just gave up and popped the overflow plug, filled it up until it started drooling out. Probably not perfect but I bet it's extremely close. I read somewhere that the 09s may not even have the AT temp light at all! Anyone know if that's true?

Editing to add - I do have the transmission cooler, that might have been screwing me up.

 

You have a 750f transmission 2005–2015 Toyota Tacoma (V6 4x4). It should work on yours also.

You just probably got it to hot. Try it first thing in the morning after it’s cooled off.

 

Good to know man, thanks. I thought it flashed when it was too hot? I couldn't get it to come on at all. But I also didnt block the tranny cooler from the fan. Is there any timing needed shifting from neutral to drive, or is that just to get the fluid mixing around? I guess I'm asking if that is a computer thing or is it just random to speed up the mixing process.

 

The shifts are a timing thing. Its the one thing people have a problem with. Look at the video and try to duplicate. I think I had a problem once and added an extra shift and it worked.

 

It took my 2012 a long time to reach temp in normal outside temperatures (~75F). I was using a ScanGauge II and watching the temps, and I had to go from forward to reverse and let it sit in gear with the brake on for quite a while for it to reach temp.

 

Yes, if you dont get the light then youre not in temp check mode. I had a hell of a time getting my truck to go into check mode as well.

Edit: according to my post at the top of this page I had to wait a bit longer in N

 

Good daybreak Rob.

 

Ohhh I see the shifting procedure now. I thought the shifting around was just to get the fluid mixed in to all the gears, not to get the computer to do anything. I still bet I’m really close to where it needs to be but I’ll re check it at proper temp. Thanks a ton guys!

 

Couple questions for the crowd, being at about 65k and planning to accomplish this procedure:

How many of you are also dropping the pan, cleaning it, and replacing the gasket? Is sealant required on the replacement gasket? Would be curious to hear how much sludge folks are finding in the pan. How about the filter, is this worth replacing or should it just be cleaned?

Lastly, anyone doing multiple drain and fills so a larger percentage of the overall old fluid is getting replaced?

Apologize if much of this is covered in the thread but...86 pages and all, and I’d like to see what the latest experiences are.

 

My answers are what I do - others may/probably have different opinions.

Drop the pan. Sometimes. If you have never, it is a good idea to do. Shouldn't be too much in there - hopefully no 'sludge'. No gasket sealer required.

Filter. It's not a filter, rather a screen. Again, if this is the first time in there, changing it does not hurt anything. I do not change mine every time.

I do a drain/fill every 15K or so miles, so I just do it once. It certainly wouldn't hurt anything to do it several times within a couple of hundred miles, but it probably isn't necessary. See what the condition of the fluid is when you take it out to make your determination.

 

Soooo I had been putting this off for awhile, but I just did all of this. At 103k miles. Way over, I know. I was going by my owners manual which I believe says 95k miles.

Did a full pan drop and filter replacement. I was surprised to see how absolutely clean the pan was, less shavings on the magnets than on either of my diffs. And they didn't even have much. Fluid was definitely due though. Because I dropped the pan and really let it sit a bit, ended up putting about 4.5q back in. It wasn't too bad to do. But, use a light when you're screwing the pan back in! One of my bolts had muck on it, and was black. Looked missing. I totally DID NOT spend 30 minutes looking for a bolt that was already in. No sir, not me.

No sealant required on the gasket. Filter kit came with a new O ring for the filter itself, filter and gasket.

This was on my 09 tacoma. Watch out, there are exhaust elements right by the fill plug, wear gloves those get hot! I don't have a ton of experience as that was my first, but thems my 2 cents.

 

I probably already posted this too but the local dealership offered to do a "drain and fill" for me. Which I believe just means plugging it into their tranny dialisys machine, which is really just the transmission destroyer. Works for them when they want to sell new tacomas I'm sure. Anyways, I put maybe 25$ in fluid back in when I did mine. Their super amazing deal was only $650. So you know. Do what is right for you.

Before that they offered me $240 to change my spark plugs. I kept a straight face for that. $650 for the transmission, I was not strong enough. I laughed in the guys face.