My mechanic can’t change my SUV’s transmission fluid. What should I do?
John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader who got a surprising answer from his mechanic.
Q. I have a 2014 Toyota RAV4 unlimited, and I wanted to change the transmission fluid. I went to my mechanic, and he said the transmission is sealed. He said he does not have the equipment to do such an oil change. Apparently, the service is performed by vacuum and heat. Why would a car manufacture do something like this? The car has no dipstick and no drain plug. If I drill a hole in the pan, drain the fluid, and measure the fluid coming from it, can I put another hole in the top of the pan and put transmission fluid in?A. You might want to start with finding a new repair shop. Like many vehicles these days, your Toyota does not have a conventional dipstick. The fluid can still be changed — it does have a drain — and can be refilled. The process is a bit tedious, but it can be accomplished. As for changing the fluid, according to Toyota’s “normal” service table, there is no need to change the fluid. If you use your RAV4 for trailer towing, driving off-road, or livery use, then you should follow the “severe” maintenance schedule, and the fluid should be changed at 60,000 miles. John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has over 40 years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE certified master technician. Email your car question to [email protected].
