2000 Toyota Camry transmission problem?

Mehrdad · 14 Jul 2010, 05:50 am

Hi

My transmission worked perfectly before I decide to flash its transmission fluid and change the filter myself. Now at the morning when car is cold it does not change the gears fast like usual, between 1 to 2 it goes to nutrual for couple of second then it goes to 2. Anybody knows what could be the problem. The car has 130,000 miles on it and I used Castrol transmission fluid.

Thank you

Bryce · 14 Jul 2010, 05:52 am

The problem is that it's a Toyota....

wondering · 14 Jul 2010, 05:54 am

If the Castrol was a Dexron/Mercon formulation the problem is that you may have poisoned your tranny with it. Contrary to somewhat popular belief transmission fluid is not a "one size fits all" product. GMs use Dexron, Fords use Mercon, Chrysler uses ATF+3 and ATF+4, and Toyota uses type T-IV and type WS.

There are always exceptions to the rule but always use what the owner's manual says. If it says something like "T-IV fluid is preferred but Dexron may be substituted if the preferred fluid is not available" always use T-IV unless it is an emergency situation such as sitting at a convenience store in the middle of nowhere with an empty transmission.

don r · 14 Jul 2010, 06:00 am

The wrong type of transmission fluid can wreak havoc on an automatic transmission. It's not the brand, but the type of fluid that is important. Check what you put in and check what is supposed to be in the toyota camry transmission. If you have the wrong fluid- and your owner's manual will tell you which- you need to get to a transmission shop and have it flushed thouroughly and the right fluid put in, plus cross your fingers, plus say a couple of rosaries. I'm guessing you used the kind of tranny fluid for Fords, which is too slick for other cars.

2000 Toyota Camry transmission problem?

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