transmission

Transmission R&R - Automatic

for 2012 Toyota Camry 2.5L I4 · FWD

Difficulty

Expert

Time

6.0 h

Tools

Steps

Complete removal and reinstallation of the automatic transmission from a 2012-2017 Toyota Camry with 2.5L I4 engine, including drivetrain disconnection, mount removal, and fluid replacement.

Warnings

⚠️Transmission weighs approximately 140 lbs. Ensure transmission jack is rated for this weight and properly secured before removal.

⚠️Vehicle must be properly supported on jack stands. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a floor jack.

⚠Do not use any ATF other than Toyota WS specification. Using incorrect fluid will cause transmission damage.

⚠Flywheel bolts may be torque-to-yield (TTY). Inspect for stretch and replace if reusing is questionable.

ℹ️Mark all electrical connectors and vacuum lines during removal for correct reinstallation.

Tools required

Transmission jackEssential

Engine support bar or hoistEssential

Torque wrench (10-100 Nm range)Essential

Metric socket set (10mm-19mm)

12-point socket set for flywheel boltsEssential

Drain pan (minimum 12 quart capacity)Essential

Pry bar

Jack stands (4 minimum)Essential

Floor jackEssential

Axle puller or slide hammer

Fluid transfer pump

Breaker bar

Parts

Transmission oil pan gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
Transmission drain plug crush washer × 1 — 90471-14002 or equivalent
Drive axle shaft seals × 2 — Use OEM specification
Engine oil pan gasket (if disturbed) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Fluids

Toyota WS ATF — 10 qt

Preparation

Disconnect negative battery terminal and secure cable away from battery post
Raise vehicle on lift or jack stands to working height with front wheels off ground
Remove front wheels and both front fender liner splash shields
Remove engine under covers and protective panels
Drain transmission fluid by removing drain plug with new crush washer ready for reinstallation
Install engine support fixture across engine bay or attach engine hoist to support engine weight
Remove air intake assembly and air cleaner box for working room
Disconnect battery positive cable and remove battery and battery tray

Procedure

1
Disconnect electrical and control cables
Disconnect all electrical connectors from transmission including: park/neutral position switch, vehicle speed sensors, transmission range sensor, and solenoid harness connectors. Disconnect shift control cable from manual valve lever by prying off cable end clip, then remove cable bracket from transmission case. Label all connections for reassembly.
2
Remove transmission cooler lines
Disconnect transmission cooler lines from transmission using appropriate line wrench to avoid rounding fittings. Cap or plug all openings immediately to prevent fluid loss and contamination. Note routing of lines for reinstallation.
3
Remove both drive axles
Remove axle nuts (previously loosened with vehicle on ground). Separate lower ball joints from steering knuckles. Use pry bar to carefully release inner CV joints from differential, pulling axles from transmission. Support axles with wire - do not let them hang on outer CV joints. Be prepared for residual fluid spillage.
⚠Do not damage drive axle seals during removal. Keep axles straight during extraction to prevent seal damage.
4
Disconnect exhaust system
Disconnect front exhaust pipe from manifold and remove exhaust hangers as needed to drop exhaust away from transmission bell housing area. May require removing catalytic converter heat shields for access.
5
Remove starter motor
Disconnect starter electrical connections. Remove starter mounting bolts and extract starter motor from bell housing. This provides access to lower torque converter bolts and reduces weight on transmission.
6
Access and remove torque converter bolts
Remove inspection cover from lower bell housing area. Rotate crankshaft using 19mm socket on crankshaft pulley bolt to access each of the 6 torque converter-to-flexplate bolts through inspection opening. Mark flexplate and torque converter relationship for reinstallation. Remove all 6 bolts and push torque converter back into transmission bell housing.
⚠Keep torque converter pushed fully into transmission during removal to prevent it from sliding out and dumping fluid.
Torque spec
Flywheel Bolts95 Nm (70 lb-ft)
7
Remove front engine mount and subframe bolts
Support front subframe with floor jack. Remove through-bolt from front engine mount. Remove subframe mounting bolts and lower subframe approximately 2 inches to provide additional working clearance for transmission removal. Do not fully remove subframe.
8
Remove rear transmission mount
Support transmission with transmission jack, positioning saddle to balance transmission weight. Remove rear transmission mount through-bolt, then remove mount bracket from transmission. Ensure engine support fixture is securely holding engine weight.
Torque spec
Mounting Bolts61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
9
Remove transmission mounting bolts
Remove all bell housing-to-engine mounting bolts. There are typically 6-8 bolts of varying lengths around the bell housing perimeter. Note bolt locations and lengths for correct reinstallation. Verify all electrical connections, cables, and hoses are disconnected before separating transmission.
⚠️Ensure transmission jack is securely positioned and transmission is balanced before removing final mounting bolts.
Torque spec
Mounting Bolts61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
10
Separate and lower transmission
Carefully pull transmission straight back away from engine, ensuring torque converter remains fully seated in transmission. Move transmission back until input shaft clears engine, then carefully lower transmission jack while guiding transmission past subframe and out from under vehicle. Keep transmission level to prevent torque converter from sliding out.

Reassembly

Before installation, verify torque converter is fully seated by measuring depth from bell housing face to converter lug - should be approximately 1 inch recessed
Apply thin coat of high-temperature grease to torque converter hub and input shaft splines
Install new drive axle seals in transmission using appropriate seal driver
Align torque converter with flexplate using alignment marks made during removal
Tighten all bell housing mounting bolts in star pattern starting with upper bolts first: use 61 Nm (45 lb-ft) for main mounting bolts and 27 Nm (20 lb-ft) for smaller mounting bolts
Tighten torque converter-to-flexplate bolts in star pattern to 95 Nm (70 lb-ft) - rotate crankshaft to access all bolts through inspection opening
Install transmission drain plug with new crush washer and torque to 30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
Reinstall drive axles ensuring inner CV joints snap fully into differential with audible click
Refill transmission with Toyota WS ATF through dipstick tube - initial fill approximately 4 quarts, then add based on level check procedure
Tighten inspection cover screws to 11 Nm (8 lb-ft)
All electrical sensor bolts should be torqued to 11 Nm (8 lb-ft)

Verification

With engine running and parking brake applied, shift through all gear positions and verify smooth engagement
Check for fluid leaks at drain plug, pan gasket, cooler lines, and axle seals
Perform transmission fluid level check with engine at operating temperature, running in Park on level ground - fluid should be in HOT range on dipstick
Road test vehicle through all gears verifying proper shift points and no slipping or unusual noises
Recheck fluid level after road test and top off if necessary
Verify no check engine light or transmission warning lights are illuminated
Scan for diagnostic trouble codes related to transmission operation