Does anyone know if the transmission service is just a drain and fill or does it require removing the pan and replacing a filter too? Mine is the 4 cyl, if it matters. Thanks in advance!!

I just responded to another thread about transmissions. My 03 owners manual says the transmission fluid does not need to be changed under normal driving conditions. Label on the dipstick says the same thing. Apparently there is a difference of opinion on this. I'd like to know if I should change it though. Certainly would be cheap enough anyway.

I care more about the condition of the fluid (color, smell) that what the manual says. Then it becomes a question of "how much work is it?" Drain and fill=easy, pulling pan to replace a filter=more work than I want to do. Maybe someone who knows will add their 2 cent about it!

I did my '03 4 cyl today after reading about the wisdom of doing it. It's a drain and fill. Takes under thirty minutes. I bought the transmission fluid from Toyota and was told there is an internal filter inside the case which you can't get to. I don't know if there is a screen in the pan or not. My fluid wasn't bright red but was clean and there was no metal or grit on the plug so I didn't see the need for removing the pan. It held right at 3 1/2 quarts. Not a bad job.

Your best bet is to take it in and have a transmission flush done. The cost is around 129.00 dollars, but worth it as it clean and drane the entire system. Drain and refill only get half of the old trans oil out were as the complete flush will replace all the old oil with the new.

Just like Jsmits said, I would care more about the condition of the fluid then what the manual says, and I've always done a complete flush with all my vehicles than a drain and refill. Normally, I have it done around 50-60K to keep it clean and red as by that time and mileage it's starting to get dark and somewhat brownish color.

Hope this helps.

Thanks to all for the posts!!

If you want the transmission to last change the fluid about every 20,000 to 25,000 miles also be carefully if you should have the trany flushed they normally use dexron 3 you should use toyota type 4 or mobile one synthetic fluid. I put a transmission cooler on my 06 camry and I pump 4 quarts of fluid by taking of the hose on the cooler and then fill the system again. The way I am doing it will be hard for most folks for your do it yourselfers I would just go to the drain plug in the transmission pan and drain it that way. If you are going to use the pan drain method I would do one drain drive it around for about 10 minutes and repeat this 3 times to get a good trans flush. If your fluid is brown or darker it need to be changed it should always be red to pink. 2007 CAMRYS HAVE TO HAVE THE DEALER CHANGE THE FLUID DUE TO IT IS CLOSED SYSTEM AND CANNOT BE DRAINED AND REFILLED LIKE THE OLDER CAMRY'S AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS A NEW SPECIAL FLUID AND REGULAR DEXRON AND SYNTHETIC FLUID WON'T WORK IN THE TRANS IT WILL CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL DUE TO THE CLUTCH MATERIAL ON THE CLUTCH PLATES.

2007 CAMRYS HAVE TO HAVE THE DEALER CHANGE THE FLUID DUE TO IT IS CLOSED SYSTEM AND CANNOT BE DRAINED AND REFILLED LIKE THE OLDER CAMRY'S

BS!!!

The I4 GEN6 Auto. Camrys have a dipstick and drain plug...

Both GEN6 automatics use WS fluid...

The 07 2.4 camry does not have a dip stick or drain plug on the pan it is on the side of the trans. The fluid has to be hot about 115 degrees before drain and fill this was shown to me by the tech people at toyota. The o6 was the last trans with a dip stick on the 2.4 camry'