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Toyota Camry 2002-2006: How to Change Automatic Transmission Fluid

Have you checked the maintenance schedule on your Camry? Looks like it's time for a flush, but before you pay a shop to do it, why don't you save a big chunk of change and do it yourself.

By Neftali Medina - August 5, 2015
Contributors: Peter Finn

This article applies to the 5th generation Toyota Camry (2002-2006).

Has your car been shifting a little rough? Sounds like it's time to check your transmission fluid. Word of advice, if it looks like chocolate syrup, then it's definitely time for a flush. Your transmission requires a special liquid to keep all of its internals operating smoothly, and it's called transmission fluid. If you look at your Camry's owner's manual, you'll see specific date ranges for maintenance intervals. Transmission fluid is required to be changed every 30,000 miles. If you manage to forget or skimp out, the transmission will begin to experience symptoms such as late, rough, or hesitant shifts. Although the best way to flush a transmission system is to use a commercialized pump, you can still manage to get most of the old fluid out of the housing at home–all the while spending less than half the cost. Use these following instructions to change the transmission fluid in your Toyota Camry.

Materials Needed

  • 10mm Allen key
  • 12 quarts of Toyota T-IV transmission fluid
  • 10mm socket
  • 3/8" socket
  • Drain pan
  • Oil funnel
  • Jack and jack stands

Step 1 – Jack and secure the vehicle

You'll be spending half of the time doing this repair under the vehicle. So use a jack and raise the vehicle. Then use a pair of jack stands to support the chassis.

Figure 1. Raise and support the car.

(Related Article: How to Jack Up Your Car - CamryForums.com)

Step 2 – Drain the fluid

Before you begin the flushing process, you'll want to clean the bottom of the transmission pan. So, locate the transmission drain bolt, which uses a 10mm Allen key. Place a pan directly under it and remove the drain bolt.

  • Figure 2. Locate the drain bolt.
  • Figure 3. Remove the fluid.

Step 3 – Clean the transmission pan

  • Use the 10mm socket to loosen and remove all the bolts around the pan.
  • Drop the pan. You may have to use a large flat head to pry it off the transmission.
  • Pour out the rest of the fluid into your drain pan.
  • Remove the magnets from the transmission pan and clean them off.
  • Clean off the rest of the pan, and remove its old gasket (if your model has one, some Camrys only used a sealant between the mating surfaces).
  • Figure 4. Remove the 10mm pan bolts.
  • Figure 5. The removed pan, exposing the magnets inside.
  • Figure 6. Scrape away the old pan gasket.
  • Figure 7. Cleaned pan and magnets.

Step 4 – Replace the transmission strainer and pan (optional)

Locate the strainer inside the transmission (Figure 8).

Figure 8. The transmission strainer.
  • Remove the strainer.
  • Install the new filter.
Figure 9. New strainer installed.
  • Install new pan gasket, or sealant.
  • Install the cleaned pan back onto the transmission.
Figure 10. Install the cleaned transmission pan.

Step 5 – Flush the transmission fluid

Congratulations, you've completed the hardest part of the job. Now all that's left is for you to flush the old fluid out of the system.

  • Remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle.
  • Locate the transmission cooler lines.
  • Disconnect the return line and let it drain.
  • Attach some clear tubing to the return line.
  • Place the opposite end of the tubing into a large container.
  • Figure 11. Locate the return line.
  • Figure 12. Disconnect it and let it drain.
  • Figure 13. Drain the fluid into a large container.

Step 6 – Re-fill transmission

Here, the best option is to have someone with you to start the car, so you can easily pay attention to the fluid being pumped out of the transmission.

  • Top off the transmission to its capacity.
  • Tell your helper to turn the car on.
  • Pay attention to the fluid as it falls into the container.
  • If there are air bubbles, tell your helper to turn the vehicle off and then proceed to top off the transmission.
  • Repeat this process until the fluid looks new.
  • Reconnect the return line back to its pipe and top off the transmission fluid.
Figure 14. Flush the transmission fluid.

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