My question is why did the only charge me for 3 quarts, at $12 each, if the system takes 4? Is it normal to have that much left? Took them 90 minutes to perform that and an oil change. Currently at 42,000 miles. Thanks!
Hopefully a repair invoice mistake was made in your favor and the tech actually added 4 quarts of ATF WS.
So, out of curiosity, what happens if they used 3 quarts? Is the transmission under the 60 or the 96 month warranty period? Or would it depend on the type of DTC logged? I'm not that worried, I doubt they would be that dumb. Even the service sales people seemed fairly knowledgeable and this is the only dealer that hasn't tried to sell me anything crazy yet. They've replaced the 12V battery for ~140, $84 for the transaxle oil change, $15 for oil and filter change labor (my oil) and immediately knew about both recalls. He wanted to take my floormats by backed off after I told him they were aftermarket. Only thing they have done to annoy me is changed my tire pressure to 32, which was promptly corrected.
That would be bad, and the transaxle would start to produce noise and eventually fail. The failure might not log a DTC if it is mechanical in nature, such as a failed bearing. The transaxle is covered under the 5 year /60K mile powertrain warranty.
I assume it involves sticking a finger in the fill plug shown here. http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...24-changing-transaxle-oil-20.html#post1255878 What tools do I need to get access to that fill plug and open it? would I need to lift the car? My understanding is that it is not terribly easy to do.
24 mm or 15/16" socket and 1/2" ratchet wrench, might need a cheater bar for improved leverage. Tightening torque is 29 ft.-lb. You would need to raise up the front of the car and support with jackstands for access. If you have the right tools this is easy - if not then it would be quite difficult. I'm guessing that if you had the right tools you would DIY rather than have the dealer do that work.
Since the dealer did the fluid change at the first place maybe it's better to bring the car back and request the dealer to check it. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!
The service representative replied by email that the 07 prius takes 3.2 quarts of ATF WS fluid. Is he right, and if not do you have/ is there an official Toyota service manual/ document I can attach in an email to him?
the exact replacement volume will vary by how incomplete the drain was, and that will depend on drain time, ATF temperature, vehicle incline to name few variables. This is such an important question I would check myself. OP: invest in the simple tools needed, and start your DIY career off right!
So then, this guy was giving me a "stock number" and the only person who would know at any repair shop would be the actual technician who replaced it. Not currently at a location to do DIY jobs, I'm starting to regret even doing this service.
Fluid capacity (drain and refill), L (qt., Imp.qt.): 3.6 (3.8, 3.2) http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-main-forum/60662-2007-owners-manual-pdfs.html Is this guy quoting me imperial quarts? :Cry::mad2: I see you're quoting the 05 service manual.
No. Please look again: the manual says 3.6 L or 3.8 US quarts or 3.2 Imperial quarts. My source is the 2005 Prius Toyota repair manual. I've done the transaxle fluid change several times on a few 2G Prius and always use ~4 US quarts.
When I drained mine I estimated the refill volume about 3.6L (3.8 quarts). This was an estimate based on the amount I had remaining in my 4L container. Some have speculated that 4.0 quarts is the "dry fill" volume and the 3.8 quarts is the typical refill volume for a well drained transmission. In any case it's definitely not 3.2 quarts.
Yes, yes I didn't update my post above until now because I was busy attaching .pdf files to the dealer. I called him and he says the tech used 3.2 qts, that 3.2 qts fill it up at proper levels, that he asked the technician there and then and that technicians don't speak with customers. I called Toyota Customer experience and they maintain that their technical information does not specify a range of fluid that can be left, before the newer fluid is added. It's up to the tech's discretion/dipstick. So 0.6 qts means nothing to them. I got a case number 1102100753 in case my transaxle fails. My guess is that I'll replace the fluid in another 40000 miles to be certain. At this stage I think that the tech rushed the drain and only allowed for 3.2 quarts to be drained. That would leave 15% of the old fluid and contaminants in the transmission. I have done everything in my power to attend to this issue and have the dealer's and toyota's answer in writing. I'm actually a scientist and understand the concept of washing contaminants only too well. If I told my supervisor that I could only wash 85% of the contaminants off she would fire me.
