2004 Toyota Avalon XLS 180K miles. I purchased from a Toyota Deaalership in 2008 with 40K miles. The ATF fluid was changed prior to my purchase and every 3OK miles since with flush and fill method as was recommended by the Toyota service advisor when I bought it. For all of those years I had the service performed at the dealership in North Carolina where I purchased it. Since moving to California I have had the fluid flush and fill service performed at a Yota dealership here and now at 180K miles it is due again. But during the last 30K of driving I have become aware of this website and learned that a simple drain and fill would be sufficient. The ATF is still red and has no unusual or burnt smell.
So when I called a local shop that performed the timing belt/water pump change and 4 axle brake service on my wife's Honda Accord last year with a fair price and quality work, he mentioned whether I wanted the drain and fill or to drop the pan and replace the filter. I informed him that no one at the dealership had ever mentioned servicing the filter and I even thought a service manger told me that these cars do not have a filter. or maybe that the filter did no need servicing. When I checked online yesterday it seems that this Avalon does indeed have a transmission filter.
So, what do you boys think? Since I have had the fluid flushed every 30K miles (and never used for towing) do you think that a drain and fill is sufficient or since the filter has never been serviced, should I have that done along with a drain and fill? $189 drain and fill; $350 with filter service
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
ATF fluid was changed prior to my purchase // I have had the fluid flushed every 30K milesThat year Avalon has a metal screen in the pan unless the previous owner had this changed. Here in upstate South Carolina the local dealers only do flushes or simple drain and fills. They claim that flushing 'cleans' the screen.. If you've had the car through several trans services with no issues I'd leave the screen as is 👀
@hixster Thank you Hixter. Going back in my mind to the original conversation with the Toyota service advisor in Hickory NC at the time of purchase and who remained my service advisor by choice for about 8 years until I moved to California, it seems that he mentioned it having a screen instead of a filter. And that their flush and fill method was recommended. If there was a filter I am sure that he would have addressed it because he was always upfront and honest about other service needs.
So do you think that still holds true if I choose to do a drain and fill only this time, and not a flush, that I would not need to have the screen cleaned?
@avalon04 My local Toyota dealer has a top notch service dept. They will not drop the pan on these cars. They'll flush or drain and fill, that's all. I've owned an '03 XLS before gifting it to family member at around 120k, it had the metal screen, it got drain and fills only. My current daily driver is a 2011 Camry (80K all city driving) same metal screen, it's had 2 drain and fills. So I chose to stick with drain and fills. You can buy aftermarket filters for these cars but honestly, I haven't seen the need for one.
@hixster Thank you for your response and advice based on your personal experience. I drive this car relatively easy and a mix of highway and city miles with no shifting problems and as I mentioned the fluid is in good condition after 30K miles since the last service. So I agree that a drain and fill with Toyota ATF should be fine. I hope your family member is still enjoying the gifted '03.
it seems that he mentioned it having a screen instead of a filter.
If you do have a screen, then I would stay on top of those fluid changes more often so the abrasive material isn't circulating around too much.
@imperator Thank you for your input. As I mentioned in my op the transmission fluid has been flushed every 30k miles but this time I am leaning towards a drain and fill because of what I have learned in this forum.😉
Good idea
@imperator Thanks.
Of course the filter should be replaced.
@chucktobias Thanks, Chuck. I still don't understand why in five previous ATF flushes at Toyota Dealerships not one sevice advisor recommended to clean or replace the filter. It obviously would have increased the repair cost and thus their profitablity. But thanks for your advice.