JohnLX300

iTrader: (2)

I would pull the pan down myself. If I recall correctly there are 3 or 4 magnets at the bottom of the pan that collects the metal shavings (debris) that are smaller that pass through the wire mesh transmission filter. The wire mesh tranny filter would be original, as it seems that only the paper/cloth medium is only available at this time.

trhs75

My dealer always cleans and reuses the metal filter, according to the service advisors.

code58

John, be reminded that the magnets won't pick up aluminum and one of the major weak spots in these transmissions is the planetary gear setup. The carrier is aluminum and only 4 gears when the later ones have 5. Aluminum galls easily and once it starts to gall, it's all over but the shout'in. I'm sure from the way our DIL's failed that it was the carrier that went and it definitely exhibited the binding caused by galling.
I believe I understand what you're saying, but to clarify, the fluid is dumped back in the pan by the return line and the magnets (there are 3) catch the steel before it gets picked up by the pickup filter (screen or paper).

code58

I think the screen is better because it should inhibit the flow less than the paper and these trans. do have a very weak trans flow. I believe the paper would catch more of the fine particle and would catch aluminum as well as steel but might inhibit flow a little more than the screen.

thomas1

I put an external filter on my RX300 when I had it. It was the size of a PH8 Filter (for old car guys) held about another 1/2 to 3/4 of a quart of fluid. I ran this setup for over 88k miles with no issues. huge filter medium for very little flow restriction. Hey Code58 again I missed my chance to have lunch with you, was down at chino hills for 10 days babysitting grandbabies....we'll have to meet sometime and have a brew. Maybe wifey would like to shop down in your neck of the woods while we talk.

trhs75

Code58 --
I'm not familiar with the term "gall." Is it metal deterioration? Abrasion? Chemical breakdown?
I'm sorry to be ignorant about that, but it's a new one to me. Thanks!

carguy07

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galling

trhs75

That would have taken quite a bit of time to write down and explain. Thanks for the link!

code58

Thomas, that's an afirmative.

code58

Thanks Carguy for supplying that link. Aluminum is ideed prone to galling and as much as I like stainless steel, it is another that is prone to galling. Often a nightmare for tool and die makers. To make a die that stamps SS parts without galling takes a good tool and die maker. I used SS screws a lot and most of the time with sheet metal type screws you had to run a steel screw in 1st to cut the threads or the SS would just gall. My brother worked for Motorola, Space division and hated maching SS because of the propensity to gall.