Took the car for diff service, now leaking?

[panthermike]

The car is a 2000 Toyota Corolla. I took it to a shop and told them the diff is seperate of the trans on the 3spd autos. Seemed easy enough to me. I drove home about 20 miles, parked and noticed transmission fluid on the ground.

I then checked the service order and the guy put 3qts ATF (capacity is only 1.5?). I then checked the transmission fluid and it is way overfull.

Does it appear this guy tried to fill the diff through the transmission?

Sorry for the rant, but it seemed to be a simple job.

 

[VK56VD]

I don't know what is up with some shops, but apparently many of them think Toyota Corolla's, Camry's and Avalon's don't have a separate differential compartment. I've had many mechanics look at me funny when I told them there is a separate drain and fill plug for the diff.

A lot of shops never touch the differentials when doing transmission service on vehicles since they assume the diff. is in the same compartment, sharing the same oil with the transmission. These shops and mechanics I would of course avoid at all costs.

I would get the car looked at by someone more knowledgeable ASAP. I'd also use Synthetic ATF in the differential.

 

[John_K]

I've learned that when dealing with people there is no such thing as a simple job.

John

 

[exranger06]

Soo...If he drained the diff, and put the new fluid in the transmission, is the diff still empty?

 

[hate2work]

Shouldn't the differential take gear oil, not ATF fluid?

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
Soo...If he drained the diff, and put the new fluid in the transmission, is the diff still empty?

I'd crawl under and check. The fill plug is on the front side of the diff. Should take 1.5 quarts of Dexron II ATF. Then take it back and demand the diff be drained and filled correctly and that the transmission fluid level be corrected. File with the BBB if need be.

I swear, some of these shops employ borderline mentally incompetent people.

 

[Drew99GT]

Now that I think about it, if the guy was smart enough to know the 3 speed has a separate diff, he would have known to at least fill the darn thing after draining it (you'd think...

).

I bet Mr. Genius just drained and refilled the trans - and apparently did a [censored] poor job since it's overfilled.

 

[VK56VD]

Originally Posted By: hate2work

Shouldn't the differential take gear oil, not ATF fluid?


These FWD Toyota's take ATF for the differential.

Take the car back, watch them drain and refill the transmission and Differential using the right fluid- either Synthetic ATF or quality Dex III.

 

[panthermike]

Ok, thanks everyone. I'm going back in an hour or so. I'll update.

 

[mechtech2]

I'm glad I work on cars, otherwise I would not know where to take them.

 

[panthermike]

I took the car back and they fixed the issue with no problems. Kind of sucked driving all the way back, but it's better than having the transmission overfull and leaking.

 

[Camu Mahubah]

I hope the did it right this time. I'd have watched them like a hawk this go 'round!

 

[Rabbler]

Gear oil is sometimes used in the Differential section of a trans axle but ATF is the norm.
Gear oil is probably the better lubricant for the job but the problem is that if the transfer shaft seal between the trans and diff fails (depends on design) the gear lube can contaminate the ATF and ruin the trans.

 

[panthermike]

Originally Posted By: Camu Mahubah
I hope the did it right this time. I'd have watched them like a hawk this go 'round!


Oh, I did watch them. I didn't want to drive back a third time for a service that only cost 18.00 in the first place. They don't like it too much, but that wouldn't happen if the job was done right the first time.