Stop that Dipstick!
STREET SMART
Stop that
Dipstick!
O
nce upon a time, transmission maintenance included
periodically checking the
transmission fluid level by pulling a
metal dipstick from a tube alongside
the engine.
Well, those days are rapidly coming to an end. Most new vehicles are
doing away with transmission dipsticks
and easily accessible tubes for adding
fluid to your car’s transmission.
Have you ever wondered why?
Was it the price of the stick and tube?
Was it to prevent you from taking care
of your car and forcing you to bring
it back to the dealer? A lot of people
think so.
Here’s the real reason for the
change: vehicle owners can damage
transmissions by overfilling or using
the wrong fluid. How many times have
you heard this? “I checked my transmission fluid and it was a quart low, so
I added a quart and now I have a leak.”
Most backyard mechanics don’t
realize that the difference between the
“add” mark to the “full” mark is only 1
pint. So, if you check the transmission
fluid when it’s cold, it’ll be at the add
mark; this is normal. If you recheck it
hot, it’ll read full.
But if you added a quart when
you checked it cold, the transmission
will be a quart overfilled. When the
transmission gets hot the level rises and
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1mike114.indd 24
by Mike Brown
members.atra.com
Fill Plug
Figure 1A
reaches the moving parts in the transmission. This aerates the oil, allowing
it to expand even more.
This is where the problem starts:
the expanded transmission fluid starts
blowing out the vent. If you’re lucky,
all you end up with is a mess, but if the
fluid leaks onto the exhaust it can catch
fire! Just by adding too much transmission fluid.
Transmission fluid isn’t a generic
item any more. Manufacturers are using
fluids with specific formulas to provide
the precise match for lubricating and
operating the internal components of
today’s transmissions. Using the wrong
fluid can cause a variety of problems:
harsh shifts, slide-bumps, shudder during converter clutch lockup… it can
even cause the transmission to fail long
before the car’s warranty expires.
Manufacturers generally don’t like
replacing transmissions under warranty.
It’s expensive. But proving the owner
damaged the transmission and voided
the warranty by using the wrong fluid is
difficult and often more expensive than
replacing the transmission.
That’s why manufacturers are making it difficult to service transmissions:
to protect themselves. They’re extending recommended service intervals and,
in some cases, are offering prepaid
maintenance when you buy a new car.
Let’s take a look at what’s involved
in servicing the transmission on a 2008
Tundra with an AB60E. This transmission requires Toyota Genuine ATF WS
GEARS January/February 2014
1/7/14 11:42 AM
Aisin solenoid rebuild tool kit, SAP # 35199, works
on large canister solenoids found in Aisin 5 speed
and 6 speed transmissions. Includes: AW55-50,
TF60 (09G, 09M, 09K), TR60 (09D), TF80 (AF40-6).
35199
35199
#1 SAP Solenoid Tool Set
Bluereach Washers for Aisin
Bluereach Bushes
Benefits of using the tool kit sold exclusively by Seal Aftermarket Products:
Save Money
One time tool charge- works on an endless amount of solenoids
Uses original canisters
No need to buy aftermarket solenoids
No need to buy OE valve body
Save Time
Cleaning and re-installing original solenoids
Instructional DVD included
No downtime waiting on solenoid parts
sap seal poster D.indd 2
Seal Aftermarket Products LLC
2315 S.W. 32 Ave., Pembroke Park, FL 33023 • Phone 954-364-2400 • Toll Free 800-582-2760 • Fax 954-364-2401
www.sealaftermarketproducts.com
1/7/14 9:43 AM
Stop that Dipstick!
Overflow Plug
Thermostat
control cooler
Drain plug
Figure 1B
transmission fluid. After servicing the
transmission, make sure the vehicle
remains level while adjusting the fluid
level.
• Remove the refill plug and overflow plug (figure 1).
• Fill the transmission through the
refill hole with the amount of
fluid listed in the capacity chart.
• Reinstall the overflow plug.
Transmission Fill with Trailer
Towing System (with Thermostat):
• Use compressed air to blow dust
off of the thermostat cap to clean
it.
• Using a screwdriver, push the
shaft of the thermostat until the
screwdriver contacts the step
inside the cap (figure 2).
• With the shaft of the thermostat
pressed, push a pin (diameter:
1.0–1.8 mm [0.039”–0.070”])
into the hole on the side of the
thermostat cap. Slide the pin in
until it passes through the hole
on the other side of the thermostat cap to fix the shaft in place.
26
1mike114.indd 26
• Fill the transmission with the amount of fluid listed in the table.
• Reinstall the refill plug to prevent the fluid from splashing.
Standard Capacity
If you can’t add the listed amount of fluid, try this:
Repair
Transmission Pan and Drainplug
Removal
Fill Amount
2.1 Liters (2.2 US qts, 1.9 Imp. qts)
Transmission Valve Body Removal 4.7 Liters (5.0 US qts, 4.1 Imp. qts)
Torque Converter Removal
5.4 Liters (5.7 US qts, 4.8 Imp. qts)
• Install the refill plug.
• Allow the engine to idle with the air conditioning off.
• Move the shift lever through the entire gear range, one range at a time, to
allow the fluid to circulate.
• Wait for 30 seconds with the engine idling.
• Stop the engine.
• Remove the refill plug and add fluid.
• Reinstall the refill plug.
Fluid Temperature Check
When not using the Techstream (using indicator light):
• Connect a jumper between terminals 13 (TC) and 4 (CG) of
the diagnostic link connector (figure 3).
• Start the engine.
• Turn all accessories off, such as the air conditioning, audio system,
and lighting.
GEARS January/February 2014
1/7/14 11:43 AM
Push in With
Screw Driver
Insert the Pin Until it
Passes Through the Hole
on the Other Side
Figure 2
• The indicator lights of the meter
blink to output DTCs when terminals TC and CG are connected.
• Slowly move the shift lever from
P to S, and change the gears from
1st to 6th. Then return the shift
lever to P to circulate the fluid
through each part of the transmission.
• Move the shift lever to D, then
Used, New and Rebuilt Hard Parts, Soft Parts
Electrical Components & Flywheels
quickly move it back and forth
between N and D (once every 1.5
seconds) for at least six seconds.
This will activate the fluid temperature detection mode.
SLAUSON
TRANSMISSION
PARTS
Order Online 24/7 at www.slauson.com • Phone Hours: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm/ PST
Call (800) 421-5580 • Local (310) 768-2099 • FAX ( 310) 768-8298 • Se habla Español!
STP_Gears_1-14-3.indd
1
GEARS
January/February
2014
1mike114.indd 27
27
12/22/13 4:33 PM
1/7/14 11:43 AM
Stop that Dipstick!
Standard condition: Indicator light
(D) remains lit for two seconds and
then turns off (figure 4).
• Return the shift lever to P and
disconnect terminals 13 (TC) and
4 (CG) at the diagnostic link connector.
• Allow the engine to idle until the
fluid temperature reaches 46ºC to
56ºC (115ºF to 133ºF).
TC
16
8
15
7
14
6
The indicator (D) will come on
again when the fluid temperature reaches 46ºC (115ºF) and will blink when it
exceeds 56ºC (133ºF).
13
5
12
4
11
3
10
2
9
1
CG
Indication of ATF
Temperature
Below Proper Temperature
Jump Pins #13 & #4
Figure 3
Proper Temperature
Above Proper Temperature
Data List [ATF Temperature 1]
37°C (99°F) or less
Data List [ATF Temperature 1]
37°C – 44°C (99°F – 111°F)
Data List [ATF Temperature 1]
44°C (111°F) or Higher
Indicator Light (D) Off
Indicator Light (D) On
Indicator Light (D) Blinking
NOTE: Perform the fluid level
inspection while the indicator light is
on.
Fluid Level Check
• Start the engine and let it idle.
• Remove the overflow plug and
the refill plug.
• Fluid should dribble out the overflow tube.
• If no fluid comes out, add fluid
through the refill hole until it
starts to dribble out the overflow
tube.
• If fluid runs out, let it continue to
drain until it’s just a trickle.
• Reinstall the overflow plug and
the refill plug.
• Shut the engine off.
• Remove the pin from the thermostat.
• Make sure the thermostat shaft is
protruding from the hole of the
cap (figure 2).
• Make sure there’s no ATF leaking
from the cap hole.
Job complete! As you can see, this
is no job for the do-it-yourselfer.
Transmission fluids still break
down. Transmissions still develop leaks
and they still need to be serviced.
Failure to maintain a transmission
through routine service will shorten the
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1mike114.indd 28
Will Light When
Temp Reaches
99°F
Figure 4
transmission life.
But from the manufacturer’s point
of view, a transmission that fails outside warranty isn’t their problem. And
since most people who purchase new
cars don’t keep them longer than five
years, they probably won’t have to do
anything other than routine maintenance.
So what should you do?
Experienced mechanics change the
transmission fluid on their vehicles
every 40,000 to 50,000 miles. They
want their vehicles to last and they
understand the importance of maintenance.
If your customer plans on keeping
his car for 200,000 miles, recommend
that he allow you to change the transmission fluid level occasionally, and to
check the level between changes.
It’s no longer a simple matter of
lifting the hood and pulling out the dipstick to check the fluid level on newer
style transmissions. It’s an involved
process that demands the professional’s
touch.
That’s where you come in. Fluid
level is still critical to your customers
and their cars. You have the equipment
and the know-how to perform those
checks reliably.
And that’s not just smart… that’s
street smart!
GEARS January/February 2014
1/7/14 11:43 AM
VBX_Difference_FullPage_Layout 1 8/9/13 9:41 AM Page 2
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