TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

ok, nice and sunny day. had CVT WS TF changed today.

about only one word of caution:
open fill plug first. otherwise, fluid gushes out of drain plug in very uneven manner, spilling all over the place, if you do not allow air in through fill plug hole.http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/im...s/facepalm.gif.

also, when you pop those plugs open, transmission sucks a lot of air in, and it's quite scary sound.http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/im...es/naughty.gif

1. tools needed: 10mm hex head wrench. you can use socket wrench socket with it, or what i used - L shaped one; drain pan; either oil pump or long tubing with funnel that will fit in; 12mm crush washer x 2; rags and all that good stuff for cleaning. pretty basic.http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/im...s/thumbsup.gif

2. jack car securily; level position is preferred:
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/n.../IMG_04391.jpg

for barrel chested folks - there is very little clearance down there; my hydraulic jack basically ran out of height and i still could barely fit under. there was no way to turn or even to put 2 arms underneath, to hold something

3. here's suggested set - aluminum splash pan, good drain pan, oil pump, and gloves

Attachment 2903

4. here's WS (world standard) Toyota fluid; $7.42 each, total of four needed. i, also, came up with a funnel with long tubing slid over funnel and taped in place securily

Attachment 2904

5. for jobs like this, i normally use "willie the creeper" dolly, but there was no way to use it, so old rag worked fine:

Attachment 2905

6. drain anf fill plugs are located on the driver side of powertrain, right next to catalytic converter:

Attachment 2906

those are the ones with hex holes in them, lower being drain and upper/left being fill plugs.

7. takes a lot of torque to break them loose; i used box end wrench over the long hex wrench end to create leverage; cheat pipe suitable length will work; plugs pop with loud noise - don't worry, you did not break anything; once popped, after another half turn, they can be removed with fingers:

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/n.../IMG_04441.jpg

8. i can not tell if fluid came out bad; it looked slightly darker than fresh one, but did no smell very bad or had much impurities in it:

Attachment 2907

9. secure drain plug back in place; you may want to put new 12mm crush washer on it; i have very good experience with reusing original washers maybe once, so that's what i did. copper washers are the best, they do not crack like aluminum or plastic ones.

10. now it's time to refill; i ran tubing from the top down and deep into the transmission; it went in good couple inches easy; i secured funnel to the bonnet lifter and RE-CHECKED IF IT DID NOT SLIDE OUT OF TRANSMISSION!!!

Attachment 2908

11. i poured fluid in very slowly; reason being, it's thick and can easily block tubing, air gushes out, splashes all over; also, size of my tubing almost completely plugged the fill hole, so i wanted to allow air out to avoid emboli. took only about 3 minutes for 4 cans.

12. allow extra time for most of the fluid to drain down the tubing. all 4 qrts fit in, there was only minor drippage. clean everything, reinstall fill plug, torque.

13 while you there, might be a good idea to change oil. so i did.
here's oil drain plug and filter location:

Attachment 2909

Attachment 2910

also, i had cat covered with rag while filling, so that fluid does not get into it's mesh:

Attachment 2911

overall time about an hour. messiness level, with my Silverado transmission pan removal being the messiest job i have ever done, having me all covered in ATF, and graded 10 out of ten, i'd give this one maybe 3. quite simple, just a lot of dancing around with prep work.

yes, it did start and drive thereafter. so far, i can not tell any difference. but i did not drive her much anyway.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

Thanks for the DIY.

BTW, i believe the "cat'' youre referring to is the flex pipe and the actual cat is the located further down, shown in your last pic.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

u r welcome. you prolly absolutely right, as there's not a single O2 sensor connected to the "cat". anyway, because of the metal mesh, it can easily soak fluid in and burn it later, and fill plug is right above it. good i caught on covering it before i refilled it.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

several days down the road, after that fluid change and oil change (what a surprise, she took in a GALLON of oil!), i wish i could say - oh, wow, what a difference.
there's really none. maybe some really minute. mpg is the same, overall jerks and thuds about same. maybe somewhat softer, otherwise - not that i can tell any difference.
well, i'm good for another 50K miles on ATF
it awfully looks and smells like the usual ATf, so, maybe next time, i'll go with a quality synthetic one instead.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

I wouldn't recommend anything but the specified ATF. A "normal" transmission doesn't have motors with high voltage running through them.

I believe that the catalytic converter is under the hood, right at the manifold.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

This is great for new DIY like myself. Thanks !

Just a question. This fluid change is also known as the "Hybrid Transaxial Fluid" change, which is same as CVT Transmission fluid change??

Is there no filter that needs to be replaced?

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

No filter on the fluid change on the Power Split Device (AKA Transmission).

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

And this car does not have CVT. Toyota could not come up with a better more digestible name for what they designed. Power Split Device is totally vague for lay buyer.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

It says here http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/camry-hybrid/2009/features-specs/
Its a CVT. Now Im really confused.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

toyota calls it a PSD (power split device) instead of a CVT. Technically it functions as a CVT but the original CVT has a different design which uses belts/chains to adjust gear ratios. Other names are eCVT which is rather more simple.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

OK, you win

Toyota used a Power Split Transmission (PST) in the 1997 Prius, and all subsequent Toyota and Lexus hybrids sold internationally continue to use the system (marketed under the Hybrid Synergy Drive name). The HSD is also referred to as an Electronically controlled Continuously variable Transmission. The PST allows either the electric motor or the internal combustion engine (ICE) or both to propel the vehicle. In ICE-only mode, part of the engine's power is mechanically coupled to the drivetrain, with the other part going through a generator and a motor. The amount of power being channeled through the electrical path determine the effective gear ratio. Toyota also offers a non-hybrid CVT called Multidrive for models such as Avensis.

You are also wrong:

Like a CVT, an HSD transmission continuously adjusts the effective gear ratio between the engine and the wheels to maintain the engine speed while the wheels increase their rotational speed during acceleration. This is why Toyota describes HSD-equipped vehicles as having an e-CVT (electronic continuously variable transmission) when required to classify the transmission type for standards specification lists or regulatory purposes.

So technically, it is not a CVT. It's lawyers talk.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

Is it a good idea to change the transmission fluid while the car is on ramps. Will the slope of the ramp prevent all of the fluid coming out?

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

whats the plug use for??

https://goo.gl/photos/mh41cFFt2bUzUdwV8

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

Wonder i can use the same logic for my 2014 avalon hybrid. Heard it is same system.

Also the new plug on tiglucy's picture, wonder what is that.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

If you were to open that plug in question, there is little space behind it and some metal plate covering it. It is NOT filler plug. I had my finger in the hole. As much as I am nosy type, I care less what it is. Does it really matter?
I also know that you absolutely do NOT touch plug at the bottom of transmission. At the very bottom, facing ground. That's inverter coolant drain plug. It looks like it's ATF lowermost drain area but it's not.
Principles of PSD operation are same cross the lineup. Some have larger this or that, but principles are same.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

No, because it is drain and fill to drip replacement. Hence, you need to have vehicle horizontal as much as possible, or you will not have proper drain and proper fill. So sure, ramps are fine - as far as they are under all four wheels.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

Thanks. Need to go and buy the fluid and two washers. 4 qts of WS ATF. Car have 42.5K on it. Bought it CPO at 35.5k. Don't think it was ever changed.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

ukrkoz, at what mileage you changed the ATF? Was it black or still pink?

When i did the ATF in my 2002 Passat long time back at 80k (lifetime fluid as per VW), it was still looking ok. But some kind of organic fluid. It smells and feels like kind of honey. It was $25/qt for OEM fluid at dealership. I used the castrol multi vehicle import ATF which was $6/qt. Changed again at 120K. It was looking slight dark color but was working great.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

Just gave it to dealership for this. They charge $299 for this (here in Dallas, TX) . Little more than i expected. Car have 45k on it. He was also pushing for filters and coolant change. 100k life coolant change at 45k is too early. I was planning to do it by my self, but the warranty issues, i thought of giving it to them.

Re: TCH CVT WS fluid change
 

Great guide. Will be using it to change ATF for inlaws 08 TCH. Anyone know if drain + fill bolt torque spec is 35 ft.lbf?