🔧 Camry - Transaxle Fluid Drain & Fill

On your Camry Hybrid, the “transmission” is an eCVT transaxle that uses Toyota ATF WS fluid. This is a drain-and-fill service (no dipstick), and the goal is to replace the old fluid and refill to the correct level through the fill plug.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1-2 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🧯 Work on a level surface and support the car with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🔥 Let the drivetrain cool; hot ATF can burn you.
• ⚡ Avoid touching any orange high-voltage cables or connectors; this job does not require HV system disabling if you stay clear.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for a basic transaxle drain & fill.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (8-quart minimum)
• Shop rags
• 10mm socket
• Ratchet
• Torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• 24mm socket
• 10mm hex bit socket
• Fluid transfer pump (hand pump) (specialty)
• Funnel with hose
• Trim clip removal tool

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Toyota ATF WS automatic transmission fluid - Qty: 4 quarts
• Transaxle drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1
• Transaxle fill plug crush washer - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner spray - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🧭 Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• 🛠️ Raise the front of the car and support it on jack stands at proper lift points; keep the car level for accurate fill level.
• 🧼 Clean around the fill and drain plugs with brake cleaner so dirt can’t fall inside.
• 📝 If your plugs are not obvious: the safe rule is always loosen the FILL plug first before draining.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the lower splash shield (undercover)

• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet to remove the bolts.
• Use a trim clip removal tool for any plastic clips.
• Set fasteners in a cup so none get lost.

Step 2: Identify the fill and drain plugs

• The drain plug is at the lowest point of the transaxle case.
• The fill plug is higher up on the side of the transaxle case.
• Use either a 24mm socket or a 10mm hex bit socket depending on which style your plugs use.
• Hex bit socket = an Allen-style bit on a socket.

Step 3: Loosen the fill plug first (critical)

• Place the drain pan underneath (a little fluid may seep).
• Use a 24mm socket or 10mm hex bit socket with a ratchet to crack the fill plug loose.
• If it won’t budge, stop and do not drain yet—so you don’t end up empty with no way to refill.

Step 4: Drain the old transaxle fluid

• Move the drain pan directly under the drain plug.
• Use a 24mm socket or 10mm hex bit socket with a ratchet to remove the drain plug.
• Let it drain until it becomes a slow drip (usually 10–20 minutes).

Step 5: Reinstall the drain plug with a new crush washer

• Clean the drain plug and sealing surface using shop rags and brake cleaner spray.
• Install a new drain plug crush washer.
• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a torque wrench to tighten: Torque to 39 Nm (29 ft-lbs).

Step 6: Fill with Toyota ATF WS

• Insert the hose from the fluid transfer pump (hand pump) (specialty) into the fill hole.
• Pump in Toyota ATF WS until fluid starts to run back out of the fill hole.
• This typically takes about 3.5–4.0 quarts on a drain-and-fill.
• Slow down near the end to avoid a big mess.

Step 7: Reinstall the fill plug with a new crush washer

• Install a new fill plug crush washer.
• Thread the fill plug in by hand first.
• Use a torque wrench to tighten: Torque to 39 Nm (29 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Reinstall the splash shield

• Reinstall the undercover using the 10mm socket and ratchet.
• Reinstall any clips using the trim clip removal tool.

Step 9: Lower the car and clean up

• Carefully lower the car using the floor jack.
• Wipe any spilled fluid with shop rags.
• Pour old fluid into a sealed container and take it to a recycling center.

---

✅ After Repair

• 🚗 Start the car and let it idle; check underneath for leaks at the fill and drain plugs.
• 🛣️ Take a 10–15 minute test drive, then re-check for leaks on the driveway.
• 🔍 If you see fresh wetness around a plug, re-check torque and confirm the crush washer was replaced.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $180-$350 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $45-$90 (parts only)

You Save: $135-$260 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1-2 hours.

---

🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.