catdaddylo

I had the 15K service done on my ES330 which includes changing the transmission fluid. I have driven the car just a few hundred miles since the service and noticed I had a small transmission leak with a spot about the size of a quarter. I found a small drop of transmission fluid around the drain plug. I took the car back to the dealer and they checked it out and said that they could not find a leak. I brought it home and placed a piece of white card board under the car where the drain plug is. No leaks for two weeks. Yesterday I noticed another tiny drop of fluid on the cardboard. I wiped red transmission fluid off of the drain plug with my finger. I periodically checked the drain plug for the next several hours and drove the car a couple of miles and checked again and no leak. The next day I checked and no leak. I do not drive this car more than a couple of times a week thus the low mileage on my 2005 model. I hate to take it back to the dealer if I can't see any more leaks other than a drop or two every couple of weeks. The car is still under warranty. Does anybody have any ideas of what is going on with the drain plug?

Lexmex

If it is anything like that of the Camry (since I don't have the Lexus down here), then it is likely a gasket on the plug itself or is simply not tightened enough. I have had this issue on my RX300, and in the end it was because I didn't tighten it enough.

JSM1284

First of all, I dont know why you paid for a transmission service. The dealer SHOULD NOT have convinced you to do it, if they did. 15k miles is wayyy to early.

Besides paying for an unneeded service, It most likely is the drain plug gasket.

Lexusfreak

That's funny,

My 2005 ES owners manual calls for Toyota Type IV ATF.....not WS (it's also mentioned on the dipstick itself). I think only some models in the earlier years 2004 - 2005 had the WS ATF, not across the board.

I just did a tranny drain & fill myself and used Amsoil synthetic ATF (which is compatible with Type IV fluid). The shift quality is much improved now.

cat... Welcome to the club BTW.....my guess is perhaps the drain plug gasket is defective or they just need to tighten the drain plug a bit....I doubt it's anything serious.

JSM1284

what month/year was your car built? My 02 has T-IV fluid.....

Lexusfreak

My 05 was built in July of 2004.

There is no mention about Toyota WS ATF anywhere for mine & double checked with a master tech at my Lexus dealer this afternoon......use only type IV (or compatable) ATF.

cat.....what does your owners manual & dipstick say to use?

JSM1284

Its odd that TSB came up under the 05 model year ES. I'll check the dipstick on my 05 when I get home tonight.

catdaddylo

Toyota Genuine ATF Type T-IV

Does anybody here know what the torque should be for the transmission drain plug? I think it takes a 10mm hex.

Lexusfreak

Let us know what you find JSM.

cat.....I think it's about 33 lbs.....just do it until it's nice & tight.