Switching to Redline MT-90 in 2003 GTS

[Anthony A]

I am going to be changing the tranny fluid soon and am going to switch from the factory fill with 34,000 Kilometers to Redline MT-90. Is there any problem with doing this now? Is there any concerns about leaks going to a synthetic from the factory fill?

Also I did a search and I can't seem to find any pics of the process of changing the tranny fluid. I was under the car today doing the oil change and couldn't see where the drain and fill plugs are for the tranny. When you remove the splash guard on the drivers side is it necessary to remove it all the way into the wheel well? Mine seems to be one piece and it looks like I have to remove it all to get in there properly.

[6speedGTS]

No time like the present to change it. Remove the plastic on the left side. There is a fill plug on top and a drain plug on the bottom, it will be on the left hand side of the tranny, across form the tire/fender well. If you can, warm up the tranny the old oil will drain out faster and tilt the car on it's side a little bit if possible with a jack when draining it. But make sure the car is level when adding the MT90.

[Anthony A]

No time like the present to change it. Remove the plastic on the left side. There is a fill plug on top and a drain plug on the bottom, it will be on the left hand side of the tranny, across form the tire/fender well.


So the plastic guard has to be removed all the way into the wheel well? The guard on my car is one piece on that side and it's attached into the wheel well. The gaurd on the passenger side has like a panel that you can drop to get at the oil filter and plug to do oil changes. This guard on the tranny side it no nearly as accessible.

[Anthony A]

Ok I took a closer look at the plastic guard under the car on the driver's side. It appears to be one piece. It extends from the center of the car all the way into and up the wheel well. It also extends to the very front lip of the car. It's got a bunch of clips and screws holding it in place. Removing this is going to be a PITA and probably the most difficult part of the job. Any body do this before that can give me some tips? Do I need to remove the whole thing or what?

[deltaB]

http://www.trademotion.com/schematics/images/8/8514030.gif
Undercover [1] comes out. Sideshields [5,6] stay. If the car is high enough, you can remove the rear and side fasteners to [1] and flip the whole thing forward. That's how jiffy-lube did mine. When I did it, I didn't take out the sideshields.

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PS: (Here's the edit)
Also look at page 7 of ARTICLE: How to Dis-Assemble Manual Transaxle (http://www.radphys.com/ARTICLE_MANUAL_TRANSAXLE_DISASSMEBLY.pdf) , it was in NewCelica.org Forum > Celica Discussion > Repair & Maintenance > TRANSMISSION (http://www.newcelica.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=64). It has the drain/fill plug locations and torque values.

[Anthony A]

Thanks for the info. Where did you get the pic of the covers?

Edit: Just went under the car a gain and looked at the guarding. That diagram does not correspond with the guarding on my car. The plastic guard on the driver side is definitely one piece and has to be removed. The good thing is that it wasn't difficult at all. Now I have to locate the plugs. I think I found the drain but I don't see the fill plug.

[deltaB]

The picture of the plastic parts are from the conicelli website.

You should be able to tell what is the fill plug from sheet 7.

This (http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid54/pd0a6981d5e518e2e104ba51abbbdd914/fc850290.jpg) is from kaioshin's Celica Sway Bar install photos. Both plugs are visible there if the service manual is fuzzy.

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[2way]

http://www.newcelica.org/forums/showthread.php?t=121104

[Anthony A]

That is absolutely what I am looking for. Thanks every one.

[kylebGTS]

Good luck with the change, in case you need to buy redline mt-90 still this is the best place I have found. It should be around $7 a quart. http://myoilshop.com/

[timm3r]

When i was changing my tranny fluid, i had a very hard time trying to take the fill plug off. I had such a hard time that i just decided to take it to the shop to change. The shop told me they also had a hard time taking the fill plug off which is specified in that sticky above. The correct fill plug should be a hex bolt to the left of the one specified, should be a 10mm hex female plug. Here i'll make it easy for you in this picture, sorry i only have paint to edit the picture.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/timothytung/hyoctane-C-fill-drain1.jpg

[2way]

Sorry timm3r, LarryD has it correct per the service manual... the plug originally pictured is the correct fill plug.

[Anthony A]

So the original pic is the correct fill plug? This will make a difference. You can't tell by the pic but the fill plug in the original pic is higher up than the second one. If I go by the modified pic and use that fill plug I would be under filling the tranny. If the modified pic is the correct fill plug than using the fill plug in the original pic would over fill the tranny. They are probably close to an inch in difference in the level they are on the tranny housing. Can we clear this up please?

[Anthony A]

When i was changing my tranny fluid, i had a very hard time trying to take the fill plug off. I had such a hard time that i just decided to take it to the shop to change. The shop told me they also had a hard time taking the fill plug off which is specified in that sticky above. The correct fill plug should be a hex bolt to the left of the one specified, should be a 10mm hex female plug. Here i'll make it easy for you in this picture, sorry i only have paint to edit the picture.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/timothytung/hyoctane-C-fill-drain1.jpg

Seems to me that it would be strange to use a bolt that needs an Allan key to remove for a drain or fill plug. They can be difficult to remove and require more force to get them off and I wouldn't think that a bolt that requires an Allan key would make sense. Too easy to strip.

[gameboi]

so which one is it? also how many quarts are needed for the change? Im planning on doing mines but need more info, sorry for the noob ?'s guys...

[Anthony A]

so which one is it? also how many quarts are needed for the change? Im planning on doing mines but need more info, sorry for the noob ?'s guys...

You will need 3 bottles and you will use 2.5 to fill a GTS.

I can't believe nobody has responded and clarified which plug is the fill plug. There must be hundreds if not thousands of people on this forum who have done this fluid change and can simply tell us which plug is the proper one.

[timm3r]

you sure 2way? i had this thread going a while ago. I actually stripped that plug cause it was bolted on too tight. Smaay, yoda's master, and blue bomber all told me to use the plug i specified in the picture.

http://newcelica.org/forums/showthread.php?t=204571

[2way]

Only because you couldn't get that one off. Yes, the service manual specifically labels the one in Larry's pic as the filler plug. (Adobe pg 407 Svc Man 2)

Seems to me that it would be strange to use a bolt that needs an Allan key to remove for a drain or fill plug. They can be difficult to remove and require more force to get them off and I wouldn't think that a bolt that requires an Allan key would make sense. Too easy to strip.
My Avalon's A/T drain plug is a metric hex.

[Celica402GTS]

i agree with 2way on this one..i use that same guide from larryd and it work for me..it's exactly where it's suppose to be..

[deltaB]

2way nailed this one. I thought. Then I blinked.
http://www.newcelica.org/photopost/data/500/14327Transmission_fill_level.JPG
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[Anthony A]

2way nailed this one. I thought. Then I blinked.
http://www.newcelica.org/photopost/data/500/14327Transmission_fill_level.JPG
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Does that mean you agree with 2way? So the plug closest to the front drivers side wheel is the correct one?

[2way]

The bolt (not the metric Allen) shown in Larry's original pic and the pic from Alldata posted by db is the correct filler plug.

[Boook]

do i have to change it on an auto 2002 GTS because the guy at autozone said it was only on manuals???

thanks

[toyotarkeener]

do i have to change it on an auto 2002 GTS because the guy at autozone said it was only on manuals???

thanks

You need to change your Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF). MT-90 will not work on an automatic.

[toyotarkeener]

BTW- a final note to people changing their own gear oil... Make sure that you remove the fill plug FIRST. Because nothing sucks more than draining the oil, then realizing you cant break the fill plug open. I found that out the hard way on my Tacoma.

[Boook]

what is the best ATF fluid to use and do I change it the same way?

[toyotarkeener]

what is the best ATF fluid to use and do I change it the same way?

I think Redline does make an ATF. I don't really know whether you need to flush it or not, but it should drain out the bottom, and fill from up top. I think you have to go through the dipstick tube, but dont quote me on that one.

[deltaB]

...ATF fluid...do I change it the same way?
You have the strainer and the magnets to consider. You should pull the pan. See [AX-9]-[AX-12] or [AX-10]-[AX-13] of vol. 2 depending on which transmission you have.

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[deltaB]

Does that mean you agree with 2way? So the plug closest to the front drivers side wheel is the correct one?

Absoloutely. I'd edit the marked-up photo [timm3r] if I could. Somebody might use it. There could be a detent spring/ball or something else behind the hex plug to fall out.
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