BBQapple

Interesting. A transmission fluid change always does seem to make a car drive differently although I’ve never done one on a pretty new car. If a batch of 350s was under filled that would totally explain why only some cars do this.

CJS57

All the cars do it. Some drivers are so light on the gas pedal that it never happens for them. My own car never does the jerk shift anymore now that I go easy on the gas pedal.

patekwis

If you watch the video, you’ll see that the lightest pressure is being applied…

Zero to do with driving style.

patekwis

When you say “reprogram the ECU”, exactly what procedure are you referring to? The dealer has reset the learning transmission logic twice. Is this the same as “reprogramming”, as you are using that term?

kingofire

Usually disconnecting the battery power and then reconnecting it might reset the ECU. But first I'd get the transmission fluid drained and refilled.

hotwings

That's not what the Video shows. Listen to the first five minutes, especially at 1:16. He's saying it happens when he is light on the gas in rush hour traffic and you can see the RPM's abruptly change. He made a point several times it especially happens when he "creeps up" in speed towards a gear change.

patekwis

Agreed. Now, I just need to find a place that will do this with high quality fluid and knows what they're doing. Unfortunately, for obvious reasons, I do not trust the dealer here.

Crazy that I have to do this on a car I bought essentially new.

Is there no other way to check the tranny fluid level on these cars? I remember a Chevy Cruze I had as a highway beater had a Toyota transmission (I think) and it had a weeping hole indicating when the fluid was topped up.

kingofire

Yes you can open the fill bolt of the transmission which is on the top and if you see fluid come out then the transmission is filled properly. If nothing comes out then its underfilled.

july1988

I heard that on new cars, don't touch the tran fluid otherwise you may mess up your tran?
If it goes bad after they touched it, not sure if it is covered by warranty?
Is tran fluid an item on the interval "scheduled maintenance" from Lexus?

artbuc

Won’t that depend on the temperature?

patekwis

So I've been doing a bit of research and it seems that what is sometimes the "weeping hole" on the driver's side wheel well area, is actually the fill hole in these cars.

The drain plug is at the bottom, of course, but includes a little plastic check valve which automatically drains excess fluid when the transmission is level and at the correct operating temperature.

In other words, you drain this thing, take the check valve out, thereby emptying the serviceable fluid, then use the fill hole via funnel and tubing to put away about 3.5L of ATF. Then you drive it for a little bit, shift gears, and then jack it up level, and open the drain plug but keep the check valve in.

Now, I have heard that the Camrys have a "temperature mode" or "temperature detection mode" so that you can ensure you are at the right operating temperature. Anyone know how to access it?

I have also heard that, after you do the final drain to get to the correct amount, you have to put 200mL in afterwards, can anyone verify this is correct?

In fact, it would be helpful if someone had the service manual for this car and could just share the steps?

Thinking I can do this over the next while myself if I know the steps.

BBQapple

Please don’t do this on a modern car. Usually there’s a procedure to get the transmission up to temperature and a specific filling procedure. Or if you do do it yourself, do it under warranty at home using non-marring tools and factory fluid!

grp52

Before completing my other comments on this thread, a few items on checking the automatic transmission fluid level, The Car Care Nut has a YouTube video on Toyota transmission fluid changing on Toyota's sealed transmissions including the "new" 8 speed one. Starting at the 8:53 time mark is where he shows how to check the acceptable fluid using the car's built in diagnostic node for automatic transmission temperature checking and indication of correct temperature for fluid level checking: .

Thanks to UltraLux22's posting in another thread with links to lexguide.net's Lexus ES (XZ10) Owner's Manual and Lexus ES (XZ10) Service Manual, the same procedure in The Car Care Nut's video also applies to the ES's 8 speed transmission - see Lexus ES: [Automatic Transaxle Fluid] Adjustment 7. ADJUST AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FLUID TEMPERATURE (when Not Using the Techstream) [scroll down toward the bottom of that long web site page to find the 7. procedure].

artbuc

Do not drive until fluid level is correct. Also, do not use IR gun to measure atf temperature.

kingofire

Absolutely. You are supposed to bring the transmission fluid up to driving temperature and then drain it. Nothing bad is going to happen if its not precise. The OP is correct that there is a plastic straw after opening the drain bolt and more fluid comes out once the straw is removed.