inelson87

So I just got an 87 pickup 4x4 with a 5-speed manual and 22r (168,000 original miles). I wanted to check the transmission fluid before I really put miles on it. I removed what I thought was an aftermarket fill plug with a Torx bit. Turns out this was not the case. The plug says "do not remove on it" (it had grease on it so I didn't see the writing). The plug is directly above the drain plug on the driver's side. I put the plug back in and haven't had any issues. So my question is did I do anything catastrophic? Did I start a ticking time bomb? Or is the warning just some Toyota precaution? Also then where is the fill plug? The only thing on the passenger side is a plug with a wire to it (4x4 switch?). Then on the driver's side directly under the shift linkage is a bolt. Is this the fill plug?
Thanks,
Isaac

Paul22RE

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f120...l-plug-231874/

inelson87

so ive seen this thread but my transmission does not look like this. I took pictures and labeled them to help.

Paul22RE

This thread may shed some light:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f120...70/index2.html

First thread was for a W56 tranny, appears you have a G54. Fill plug on a G54 is on the tail housing, so your assumption is correct. That 24mm bolt on the tail housing is your fill plug. (In 1987, 4x4 22REs came with a W56, 4x4 22Rs came with a G54)

This chart might be helpful for folks trying to identify what tranny their truck came with from the factory: https://core-shifters.com/pages/toyo...identification

inelson87

Awesome! Thank you. So did I screw anything up removing that torx?

Paul22RE

From what I can gather in the FSM. that torx bolt is removed to gain access to a ball and spring which needs to removed for tranny disassembly. It says once the bolt is out, you need to insert a magnetic finger to remove ball and spring. So if you just removed the bolt and put it back in and nothing popped out, I'd say you're fine.

inelson87

sweet! Nothing came out. I was nervous. Thanks for the help!

RJR

If it's like the transfer case, that torx bolt as said, holds a ball and spring. The ball drops into notches in the shift rail to serve as a detent for the various shift rail positions. Without it, the shift rail could work out of gear as you drive.

There is probably at least one more, probably two more, of those torx bolts on the tranny somewhere, since there are multiple (3, I think) shift rails.

Usually when you loosen the torx bolt, the spring tension completely releases before you come to the end of the bolt threads, so nothing flies out.

ev13wt

This. Interlock pin and spring. If you didn't shift while it was out, you *should* be gtg.

Actual Toyota Box rebuild: Minute 10+

Junetaco90

so what if I took out that torx bolt and refilled my tramission fluid from there. Nothing flew out of there like parts and stuff like that except a bunch of oil. How screwed am I? Damn! First time changing the transmission on this new little truck I got.

Paul22RE

You're probably fine if nothing popped out. But now you are over or underfilled (depending if that torx bolt is above or below fill plug). You need to open up the actual fill plug and use that hole to add oil or allow oil to come out.

Junetaco90

ok thanks for the advice I’ll check out the full plug when I get home thanks again!

millball

I find it hard to believe that any substantial amount of oil could be put into the tranny through that spring detent hole.

Junetaco90

I even poured some in while the bottom bolt was out so I can see that I did actually go through and fall out to the pan. After that I filled it with the fluid until it started to drip out from the top. 4qts full

Blueman

Be careful out there. Some transmissions (ZF, for example) have bolts that secure the shift-fork pivots. Pull one out and you might end up having to open the transmission to re-install them. Glad to hear no such drama happened in your case!

Junetaco90

Thanks for the reply I actually just checked the fluids today and drove it in the freeway a few times everything shift well even the noise that I had on fifth gear went away or at least the noise went down a little bit with the new transmission oil I added

87-4runner

I'm glad the drivers side emergency eject torque head, didn't activate the ejection system. You must have gotten the torex head replaced in time. Although, your now on the "watch list"
the FBI was notified as soon as you remove the torx head and satellite images are taken, you and your family are in no imminent danger but, if Jason Bourne shows up at your house...
the code word is YOTATECH.
thanks for reporting your trans is shifting properly ... pics of your actual fill hole might be helpful to somebody in the future.