Yaff

I found few threads about it. Including this very detailed one:
transmission-fluid-change-interval post 3377113

It says how, now I'm just wondering how much should I expect to pay to get this procedure done at the dealer. (How long does it take to be done properly)

Regards,

RomanTPA

your first born child and about$200 on top, that is if you dont get any "other services" that they charge you hundreds of dollars more for even tho other places like Toyota, tire kingdom, do it for free. DIY should cost you about $40, non lexus dealers about $120, non dealers (tire/lube shops) $70-99

DIY = 20-30min
Shops = 45-90min
Dealer = 6 hours to 3 days

caddyowner

Jeez, what a convoluted process.

Yaff

The 04+ is not as easy as for other cars. The so called sealed transmission makes it a bit harder. Just reading the "official" procedure from the thread mentionned above took me 30min. (Barely kidding)

Any comment from someone who actually got it done?

warminwisc

Toyota dealer hook it up to a machine, complete flush. Probably an hour 90 bucks

Yaff

Not bad at all. Worth every penny in my humble non mechanic opinion.

V8_Fan

All they do is unplug the ATF line coming from the tranny going into the ATF cooler and the ATF line going from the cooler into the tranny pan and plug them into a machine that has one empty tank for the old ATF and another tank of new fluid. You dump in x quarts of new ATF into the clean fluid tank, turn on the engine, and let the tranny suck in the new fluid while spitting out the old fluid. Presto! The charge is around 1 hr of labor plus the fluid (on discount, the fluid is around $8-9/qt for WS, meaning retail will likely be 2x that). I know when I had my LX tranny fluid changed 3 yrs ago, the Toyota dealer charged around $5/qt for T-IV ATF while Lexus charged $10/qt (x 12 qts!). I'm guessing the tranny capacity of the LS is around 7 qts. I will likely get mine done this fall, as the fluid will be 5 yrs old despite having only 27K mi on it...not good to run any fluid too long, IMHO.

RomanTPA

i didnt notice the "'04+" i did couple of <'04 at my old job and we just hooked up the pump that we had and flushed it.

Yaff

Right, some significant differences between pre and post 2004.

pass427

I just called my dealer and he told me $139 for the fluid change, I plan to get it done when I do my 70k service on Monday

chris81964

Is your dealer doing the evacuation and replacement procedure? Which dealer? I am in NJ too.

pass427

Hmm I am not sure I ask them how much to drain the fluid and replace with fresh new fluid and that was what I was quoted. the dealer is BridgeWater Lexus in NJ. I guess I will get the full details once I get their on Monday and let you know.

StanVanDam

http://www.bullockcity.com/pricemenu.html shows the Canadian prices for taking it to an independent shop.

chris81964

What did the NJ Lexus dealer do for $135.00?

V8_Fan

For that price, I bet they just drain & fill the pan (< 2 qts). The WS ATF retails for like $12-15/qt alone, plus labor for ATF change is typically 1 hr @ $100-120/hr. The total capacity of the system is around 5.6 qts, so the dealer charge for fluid alone should be around $75, plus 1 hr labor (say $120), plus the shop supplies/misc charge and tax. I estimate for a full change, it should run $200-220+tax.

PS: the '04-06 LS's have fill and aoverfill plug (bottom) on the ATF pan...just no dipstick in the engine compartment. If you use the machine, you first put in 5 qts, then remove the overfill plug and fill until it it drains out the overfill.