Check & Change Gearbox Oil On A 2003 Avensis D4D T3 Spirit

[Glasswarrior]

Hi,

In pursuit of the cause of the (possibly imaginary as I seem to be almost the only person to hear it!) humming/droning noise that's been happening for some time now in my 107000 mile D4d Avensis I'd like to check/change the gearbox oil. Haynes don't produce a manual for this model of Avensis yet so I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me how to do this?

I've received helpful and useful feedback about the noise (been there for months, appears at about 40mph, doesn't appear to get worse with speed, seemed to 'shift' location when I changed front tyres, sounds like a wheel bearing but just can't be sure. Check them for play and wheels seem sound) but am still hunting down whatever the cause may be and thought a change of gearbox oil wouldn't hurt anyway at this mileage.

TIA

[t-spiritpete]

Hi,

In pursuit of the cause of the (possibly imaginary as I seem to be almost the only person to hear it!) humming/droning noise that's been happening for some time now in my 107000 mile D4d Avensis I'd like to check/change the gearbox oil. Haynes don't produce a manual for this model of Avensis yet so I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me how to do this?

I've received helpful and useful feedback about the noise (been there for months, appears at about 40mph, doesn't appear to get worse with speed, seemed to 'shift' location when I changed front tyres, sounds like a wheel bearing but just can't be sure. Check them for play and wheels seem sound) but am still hunting down whatever the cause may be and thought a change of gearbox oil wouldn't hurt anyway at this mileage.

TIA

Hi mate, I have attached a .pdf file of the transmission everything you need to know is in there.

Regards .... Pete.

MANUAL TRANSMISSION & TRANSAXLE.pdf

[ALFIE B]

Hi,

In pursuit of the cause of the (possibly imaginary as I seem to be almost the only person to hear it!) humming/droning noise that's been happening for some time now in my 107000 mile D4d Avensis I'd like to check/change the gearbox oil. Haynes don't produce a manual for this model of Avensis yet so I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me how to do this?

I've received helpful and useful feedback about the noise (been there for months, appears at about 40mph, doesn't appear to get worse with speed, seemed to 'shift' location when I changed front tyres, sounds like a wheel bearing but just can't be sure. Check them for play and wheels seem sound) but am still hunting down whatever the cause may be and thought a change of gearbox oil wouldn't hurt anyway at this mileage.

TIA

Hi Glasswarrier,

I had the exact same symtoms on the wifes D4D 2003 Avensis and changed the gear oil and actually changed the front wheel bearings all to no avail, it still whined / droned, it was,nt until I bought my 2006 Avensis with 15" wheels (the wifes are 17") and thought I would swap wheels as I wanted the bigger ones on mine, and gues what mine started droning, it was the !Removed! tyres, they have the V type tread, so if yours are like this I would definately try other tyres, it cost me a small fortune to find this out .

Alfie

[Glasswarrior]

Thanks for that, it will be useful, appreciated.

[Glasswarrior]

Alfie, thanks for your reply. I drove my wife to work this morning, a distance of about 20 miles return on mixed dual carriageway and twisty roads and guess what? Didn't hear the noise until the return trip and then it seemed definitely to have shifted towards the back of the car and didn't become apparent to me (but no one else!) until higher speed, around 55-60 and it was not as loud. I felt absolutely nothing amiss with steering, no wrong noises when turning, no gearbox difficulties so I am becoming convinced - just as on my previous '98 model Avensis - it's tyres. The rear ones are about 2/3rds worn and been on the car at least around 3 years. The front ones are new last week (budget jobs, Arromax 'cause I'm watching domestic costs). Back drivers side is a Bridgestone & passenger side is a Continental. If it's tyres, I can live with it so long as I know what's causing the noise! Quite honestly, apart from this & the annoying skid sensor malfunction, the car is sound as a pound.

I intend to change the rear tyres next month so I'll see what happens then

Cheers & thanks

Martyn

[Mistermena]

Hi,

In pursuit of the cause of the (possibly imaginary as I seem to be almost the only person to hear it!) humming/droning noise that's been happening for some time now in my 107000 mile D4d Avensis I'd like to check/change the gearbox oil. Haynes don't produce a manual for this model of Avensis yet so I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me how to do this?

I've received helpful and useful feedback about the noise (been there for months, appears at about 40mph, doesn't appear to get worse with speed, seemed to 'shift' location when I changed front tyres, sounds like a wheel bearing but just can't be sure. Check them for play and wheels seem sound) but am still hunting down whatever the cause may be and thought a change of gearbox oil wouldn't hurt anyway at this mileage.

TIA

Hi,

I've changed my gearbox oil on my Avensis T180 as it wasn't going well into 1st gear when cold and crunching into 2nd. The way I did it (If I remember correctly) was you have to take the near side wheel off to get access to the plastic gearbox shield that has to be removed. I jacked up the car from the central jaking point/toe and you'll find a level/filler plug right at the front of the box, 22mm socket I think. The drain plug is difficult to see as its right at the bottom left hand side (As you look at the front of car) close to the bell housing.

The oil I used was Silkolene Pro SRG 75w full ester racing box oil. If the box is like mine it will need a straight 75w grade of oil and not a multi-grade one. No more problems with getting into gear and the crunch on 2nd only happens once in a blue moon. And never when the engine is at running temp. Hope this helps

[Glasswarrior]

Thanks for that. I couldn't see the filler plug from top or bottom of engine bay so taking the wheel of makes sense.

Thanks again,

Martyn

[Mistermena]

Thanks for that. I couldn't see the filler plug from top or bottom of engine bay so taking the wheel of makes sense.

Thanks again,

Martyn

No problems mate.