Transmission oil change in 2gen - Does temperature matter?

I'm sorry Luk, but your post doesn't make a lot of sense. Maybe something is lost in translation.

The only part I can guess at is about temperature. When changing the transaxle fluid with new Toyota ATF-WS, most of the posts are where the temperature is temperate so nobody is really thinking about temperature. So as long as it is warm enough to work without dressing for a snowstorm, it should be warm enough – 20 - 30ºC.

 

I think you mean when refilling add fluid till it overflows, starts coming back out?

Yes, that will give correct level. Do have the car raised and level.

Regarding temperature: if I recall correctly I've always done transaxle fluid change directly after drain and fill of the engine oil, and that was just after driving.

 

Yes, as long as the car is level.

It would seem so. I do not recollect temperature ever being mentioned in the repair manual. The level of the transaxle is supposed to be regularly checked as part of some service intervals, and it never refers to any temperature requirement.

 

I don't think the transaxle fluid temperature is important, at least there's no mention in the Toyota Repair Manual (if I recall correctly).

2nd gen Repair Manual only describes level check. 3rd gen RM does describe full drain and fill,

I'm only tapping on a phone right now, I'll post RM excerpts in a bit. It's pretty straightforward, but interesting to see what they say.

Toyota's gotten increasingly adamant about only using fluid from freshly opened bottles by the way. I think they really want to limit its exposure to atmosphere, absorption of moisture maybe.

(See I'm echoing a lot of what @dolj already said.)

 

2nd gen (level check only), 3rd and 4th gen drain-and-fill:

 

Temperatures are important for other transaxles like Audi’s and VWs where the level check is done by a plug under a level car, while the engine is running, fluid is warming and testing with an OBD reader.

The Prius has no temperature requirement and it is done with car turned off. The easiest transaxle refill method I have ever done!