1998 Front differential, transaxle, and transmission fluid

[Puddlejumper23]

1998 Toyota RAV4 automatic transmission all time 4 wheel drive:

1. The front differential appears to be part of transmission as it's right behind transmission oil pan. The transmission has a drain plug.  The front differential has a drain plug but no fill plug anywhere above the drain plug that faces rear of vehicle & located behind trans oil pan....confusing.  Does the transmission & front differential share the same fluid?

2. Transaxle: has a drain plug but no fill plug.  Has a small dipstick thickness of a pencil & pointing to right front wheel area (passenger side in USA) & tightly hidden.  Is this the fill tube for transaxle?

3. Rear differential: clearly easy to identify fill & drain plugs, but not so for front differential & transaxle.

Can anyone shed some light on this issue?

Thanks.

[christianr]

(2)Yes the fill tube is the one via the little dip stick to the right front wheel area or the front diff.

The drain is near to the gear box drain , but it is filled via the above dip stick. 

The rear as you say is clear to see both fill & drain plug..

 

[Puddlejumper23]

Thanks Christian. 

Transmission (also called "transaxle" I just learned) .....The front differential appears to be part of transmission as it's right behind transmission oil pan. The transmission has a drain plug.  The front differential has a drain plug but no fill plug anywhere above the drain plug that faces rear of vehicle & located behind trans oil pan....confusing.  Does the transmission & front differential share the same fluid?

I called various dealers & none agree on the tyfe of transmission fluid used. Mine is automatic 4 speed transmission 1998 (so Generation 1 RAV4). 

Was told by one dealer use Toyota Dextron 3 & by another Toyota T.......so confusing.

I have read that the front differential is part of the "transaxle" and is lubricated by the transmission fluid. 

Would appreciate input from anyone else regarding clarification(s).