ATF exchange good luck / bad luck

[snowboardwcu]

Performed ATF exchange (cooling lines version) over the weekend and had great success. Swapped out 15quarts, went from pitch black to blood red color. Dropped the pan and replaced the filter and gasket as well.

good luck part: I did this all outside my apartment, on the street, on a windy day with leaves everywhere. barely spilled anything and am confident what was taken out was what was put in. ran great all night.

bad luck part: i popped three bolt heads off on the trans pan. one popped trying to get it out, two more popped trying to put them back in.

each bolt has good adjacent bolts, and I have no leaks so far.

I am quite concerned about this, but wondering if I shouldn't be. Is it worth continuing to mess with things to get those bolts out? at this point, I would have a shop do it versus myself.

 

[03v8raleigh]

bad luck part: i popped three bolt heads off on the trans pan. one popped trying to get it out, two more popped trying to put them back in.

each bolt has good adjacent bolts, and I have no leaks so far.

I am quite concerned about this, but wondering if I shouldn't be. Is it worth continuing to mess with things to get those bolts out? at this point, I would have a shop do it versus myself.

What do you mean "popped"? Did you snap three bolt heads completely off while leaving the bolt shafts stuck in the holes? Or could you just go to a hardware store and buy 3 new matching bolts and put them in there? I can't imagine how you broke those bolts, they are not high torque at all.

Even if its the shittier case where you need to have the broken bolts drilled out from the holes, I'd personally want to have that done. It shouldn't cost too much for a mechanic to do that for you. I wouldn't risk doing it myself at that point though, because it would suck to mess it up any worse.

You would probably be fine leaving it as is but why risk it...

 

[snowboardwcu]

Did you snap three bolt heads completely off while leaving the bolt shafts stuck in the holes?

yes

I can't imagine how you broke those bolts, they are not high torque at all.

all but maybe 5 bolts came out easy. the remainder had trouble. they did not appear corroded but easily torqued off. i should have replaced the bolts but had to get the pan back on. torque wrench never clicked so they broke < 7ftlbs.

 

[catrains]

yes



all but maybe 5 bolts came out easy. the remainder had trouble. they did not appear corroded but easily torqued off. i should have replaced the bolts but had to get the pan back on. torque wrench never clicked so they broke < 7ftlbs.

use a left hand/reverse drill bit set . being a pan bolt it should unscrew as you drill in reverse . remember reverse because if you go in forward direction you will mess up the reverse drill bit. much easier than a exhaust manifold. I would not drop pan leave in place.

 

[snowboardwcu]

left handed bits, not a bad idea at all.

def do not want to drop the pan again. i should have stopped when i snapped the first one. just had to replace that screen filter....

 

[07V8]

Did you find anything in the screen? I doubt it.

 

[Morphyne]

use a left hand/reverse drill bit set . being a pan bolt it should unscrew as you drill in reverse . remember reverse because if you go in forward direction you will mess up the reverse drill bit. much easier than a exhaust manifold. I would not drop pan leave in place.

I had bad luck with those reversing bits. I broke two of them and had to drill them out. I Would just get a carbide bit with a good drill. here is a thread where I did that with skid plate bolts.


http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/213265-how-fix-broken-skid-plate-bolts.html

 

[catrains]

I had bad luck with those reversing bits. I broke two of them and had to drill them out. I Would just get a carbide bit with a good drill. here is a thread where I did that with skid plate bolts.


http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/213265-how-fix-broken-skid-plate-bolts.html

just saying here left hand or right breaking the drill bit is from improper operation .. the only difference is drill cut direction . LOL !!

cobalt bits are the best when used properly . I did many jobs removing broken bolts on big axles where the wheels were bolted on with 9/16 diameter threads.

lots of cutting oil and patience but it worked.

 

[snowboardwcu]

Did you find anything in the screen? I doubt it.

didn't check. i knew going into this it was probably something i could skip. but that OCD man.

the magnets were covered in sludgey goopness.

the filter is still in the trash at home. maybe i'll take a look. it might just make me hate myself more.

I would prefer to have a shop to this. drilling bolts out on the street will suck major donkey d0ng. sounds like its not that risky being the pan. thanks guys.

 

[07V8]

How many miles on the original fluid? Any hard use or towing in high temperatures?

 

[snowboardwcu]

How many miles on the original fluid? Any hard use or towing in high temperatures?

it was a one owner with great dealership records, purchased at 142k she has about 153k on now. so, 153k on orig fluid. I really doubt the prev owner towed (it was a female with a dog) and lived its whole life in PA.

fluid was dead black coming out. barely could tell it was ever red.

 

[snowboardwcu]

Did you find anything in the screen? I doubt it.

specs of black, at best. wasted $40 for a screen/oring.

still happy i was able to clean off the magnets. nice peace of mind knowing that despite being sludged up there were no real metal particulates of concern.