1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Is a transmission fluid change possible on the Prius C?

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by ViperDriver, Sep 15, 2014.

  1. ViperDriver

    ViperDriver New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2014
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    This is my first post. I'm a little disgruntled. The guys at the dealership laughed at me saying you can drain the tranny but there is no way to refill it. I thought they were pulling my leg so when I got home I put the car up on ramps, and damned if I could find a drain AND fill plug. If anyone has performed a tranny D&F on a 2012 Prius C, could you please advise. Some pics would be awesome and helpful! Thanks
     
  2. maddog61

    maddog61 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2012
    44
    13
    0
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Look under Prius c care, maintenance, and troubleshooting............ there's even pictures of drain and fill plugs
     
  3. ViperDriver

    ViperDriver New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2014
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    Thanks so much for responding. I finally found the pics on page 6 of the discussion. Surprised to see so many people having a heated debate over whether or not to change the tranny fluid! I am trying to adapt the pics to correspond to my car. It doesn't appear there are any other bolts in these areas that I could mistake? (I made the mistake of draining my gfs gearbox oil, thinking it was the tranny fluid, on her Honda Pilot. It was much harder to fill the gearbox than one would expect. I don't want to make another mistake).
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,465
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Does anyone have the Prius C Repair Manual instruction they could post? This is for regular Prius, hopefully similar.

    FWIW, some regular Prius info, you would need to verify this applies to the Prius C:

    1. Both drain and fill bolts are socket head, require 10 mm hex socket driver. A 3" and 6" ratchet extension are good to have on hand. The torque is 29 lb/ft on each. It's a very good idea to open the fill bolt first, just in case it's tough to break loose. You don't want to open the drain bolt, and then have a problem with the fill bolt.

    2. Both bolts have aluminum washers that should be replaced. Normally the best place to get those washers is the dealership parts department, but good luck with those clowns, lol. Try another dealership.

    3. With regular Prius the fill quantity is around 3.5 liters or quarts. Get 4 and you'll be ok. The spec fluid is "TOYOTA GENUINE ATF-WS". My 2 cents: use this, nothing else. The simplest method to get it in is a funnel and hose extension, say 3' of hose. The hose shouldn't be too big OD, say 3/8'?

    4. The car should be level when filling. Fill till it starts coming back out, then let it stabilize. That's the correct level.

    5. The Repair Manual instruction says to recheck the level, say after a day or so. I did the first time, but there was no change in level. I would bother, considering the bother involved, getting the car raised and level again, and removing plastic panels and so on.
     
    farmecologist likes this.
  5. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,842
    3,099
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
  6. Adventurer2112

    Adventurer2112 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2019
    29
    16
    0
    Location:
    Urbana
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Hi All
    St 30K miles I changed tranny fluid. it was black.
    Glad I did. jack
     
    Gale Hawkins likes this.
  7. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
    1,945
    1,785
    0
    Location:
    Southern MN
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II

    Just changed out the transmission fluid on the 'new to us' Prius C today :

    Hi all, new Prius C owner | PriusChat

    It is pretty much exactly the same as the Gen 3's....same crush washers as well. Unfortunately, I didn't get pics of the drain/fill bolts...but they are pretty easy to find. Just look for two 10 mm hex bolt tops. I did get a pic of my effort to keep the car 'level' after jacking it up...to get the correct fill. In my opinion, this is the trickiest part of the job for the DIY'er. (y)

    For the record, I never recheck the level after changing the transmission fluid. I doubt a dealer would do that either. Oh wait...dealers just laugh at us for even mentioning that we want to do this! (y)
     
    Raytheeagle and Mendel Leisk like this.
  8. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2012
    1,555
    659
    0
    Location:
    Central MO
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    II
    Replaced my fluid at 50k and came out dark
     
  9. topshot

    topshot Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2017
    141
    56
    0
    Location:
    Midwest
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Did mine at 50k and it was pretty good actually. It's possible previous owner had already done it but not likely.
     
    farmecologist likes this.