Originally Posted By: kschachn
Originally Posted By: CapitalTruck
Went to get trans filter from Toyota for my moms 07 Highlander. Dealer says "we never change those, its a washable strainer.". What a crock. I ordered a new OEM Toyota one online and it was, of course, a non-washable standard, replaceable trans filter. They push these flushes so hard now they lie about it even having a trans filter. I guess they never clean magnets in bottom of pan either? Another reason to DIY.
It doesn't look something like this? That opening at the bottom has a metal strainer in it, at least every factory Toyota one I've seen does. They also have magnets in the pan. I've never seen one that doesn't.
How is it a crock? I've gotten over 350,000 miles out of mine, I can't believe it makes much of a difference if it's that strainer or something else. When they say cleanable, I think that just means scraping anything off that screen. But to be honest I've never seen anything on mine so I think your dealer is correct, unless your transmission is different.
Toyota's ditched the fine mesh strainer for the last 10-15 years or so - they've been using the Filtran Microfelt filter like the Americans have been. I did it once on my parent's Sienna and it's not getting touched ever again, and while I would feel better taking their other car to the shop since it's a "sealed" unit that is filled from underneath, I think having the filter changed isn't too bad of an ordeal. Their other car also uses a Filtran filter.