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Tools needed for transaxel fluid check?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by adamace1, Jun 2, 2012.

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  1. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    What type and size socket do i need to pull the plugs on the transaxel to check the fluid. Thanks in advance.
     
    #1 adamace1, Jun 2, 2012
  2. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    It takes a 10 mm hexagon socket, like an allen wrench. The level should be even with the bottom of the fill plug or within 10 mm.

    Be sure to open the fill plug and not the drain plug:). The fill plug is above and to the left of the drain plug.
     
    #2 jdcollins5, Jun 2, 2012
  3. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    Thanks so much, i do have ramps and have seen the plug. I am pretty sure by reading on here it's the one next to the drivers side cv axel? I'm really not interested in changing it at the moment but want to be sure it is full and will be checking it every time i change the oil.
     
    #3 adamace1, Jun 2, 2012
  4. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Yes, it is just to the left of the cv axle. I used a plastic tie wrap to check mine since it has a small angled bend at the end and it is hard to tell where the level is when it is right at the plug bottom. I could lay the tie wrap on plug bottom and when removed I could see the level on the tie wrap.
     
    #4 jdcollins5, Jun 2, 2012
  5. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    #5 adamace1, Jun 2, 2012
  6. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Yes, that is what you need.
     
    #6 jdcollins5, Jun 2, 2012
  7. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    I'm not that much of an expert, but I don't think you need to check it that often. Some wonderful PriusChat members paid to have their tranny oil lab analyzed, and based on long-term tests of multiple Gen III Prius cars, they concluded that you should change at 30K and at 60K intervals after that. I haven't seen reports of low tranny fluid, and I'm not sure what effect the ramps will have on your check, because it will tilt the tranny.
     
    #7 Rebound, Jun 2, 2012
  8. Dark_matter_doesn't

    Dark_matter_doesn't Prius Tinkerer

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    Also, to check the fluid level, the car has to be level, so both ends up in the air and the chassis level.
     
    #8 Dark_matter_doesn't, Jun 2, 2012
  9. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    Well my drive way slopes. So it will be pretty close to level. I'm not going to drain it just want to be sure there is enough in there. I have no clue if it was filled from factory at the correct level, or if the dealer has done something to lower the level. I just want to be safe and check it every 10k with my oil change. If the fluid got low and damaged the transaxel i don't have the 6grand plus needed to replace it. So i want to be certin it has enough fluid in it.
     
    #9 adamace1, Jun 3, 2012
  10. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    Ok, I give you permission to check it, as long as you let us lazy people know how it turns out :)
     
    #10 Rebound, Jun 3, 2012
  11. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    The fluid level should not change. Per the shop manual, 0-10mm below the fill hole is acceptable.
     
    #11 The Critic, Jun 4, 2012
  12. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    Well i have a gut feeling alot of prius transaxel failures are caused by low fluid. We have a dip stick for our ICE oil, i wish they would have one for the transaxel. Simple way to check it. I have seen a few rear axel destroyed because of low fluid and owners/oil change places not checking it. Same idea you have to pull a plug ti check it.
     
    #12 adamace1, Jun 4, 2012
  13. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    The fluid was 1/2 inch below the fill plug. The fluid was so black i couldn't leave it in there. I did a drain and fill today.
     
    #13 adamace1, Aug 20, 2012
  14. schorert

    schorert Member

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    which begs the question, where are these gen III transaxle failures being reported?...because they aren't appearing here.
     
    #14 schorert, Aug 21, 2012
  15. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    I didn't say gen III. I think alot of these sealed/no dipstick transmissions are not being checked, then later in the cars life it gets low on fluid. I don't have the link but have read someones teardowns of a few gen II transaxel, and they thought a good percent of failures are caused by low fluid.
     
    #15 adamace1, Aug 21, 2012
  16. schorert

    schorert Member

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    And why is it that TA's are sealed? I haven't seen any reports of TA leaks let alone failures. see if you can find the link because I'd love to see actual data showing incidence of fluid-related failures(not incidents....incidence).
     
    #16 schorert, Aug 23, 2012
  17. car78412

    car78412 Member

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    Does the plastic cover under the engine/transaxel need to be completely removed or can I change the fluid through the oil change flap?
     
    #17 car78412, Aug 24, 2012
  18. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    The whole thing needs to come out. Though, the hack flat-rate mechanic at the dealer removed the screws for half of mine and bent it back to save him time. :cautious:
     
    #18 The Critic, Aug 24, 2012
  19. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    The dealer removed the little oil change door on my car. I could have done it without doing anything to the big flap but i thought the fluid would have poored out onto the flap and made a big mess. I unbolted the back half and let it hang down during the drain.
     
    #19 adamace1, Aug 25, 2012
  20. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Just changed the fluid today and pulled the bottom panel to do it. What a piece of cake to do.
     
    #20 El Dobro, Sep 2, 2012
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