Toyota Prius CVT repair

The world's first hybrid car, powered by both a gasoline and an electric motor, is the Toyota Prius, produced by the Japanese automaker from 1997 to the present day. It is noteworthy, however, as a transmission for these vehicles, Toyota installs exclusively planetary gearboxes, which, during maintenance, require the purchase of transmission fluid with factory approval. Therefore, in this article we will talk about the oil in the Toyota Prius automatic transmission and its specifications.

Automatic transmission oils for Toyota Prius

About approvals
The Toyota Prius hybrid line has received automatic transmission:

• P110
• P111
• P112
• P410

It is quite difficult to call these automatic machines variators, since structurally they are planetary gearboxes. At the same time, depending on the automatic transmission modification, they use transmission fluid with ATF Type T-IV or Type WS approval as oil.

Toyota Prius service cost

The price is determined by the number of services, the time spent troubleshooting, and the total cost of spare parts.

Advantages of working with our company

We guarantee each of our clients prompt and high-quality technical assistance, reliable elimination of even complex types of faults when diagnosing and repairing Toyota Prius CVTs. Our workshops are equipped with the latest technology; all faults identified during inspection of the automatic transmission are quickly eliminated with a guarantee.

In addition to restoration work, our company is ready to implement a full range of preventive measures that will help normalize the operation of the automatic transmission and extend its service life. One of these services is an oil change in a Toyota Prius CVT.

This type of maintenance is carried out in accordance with a certain schedule; as a rule, the oil change interval for automatic transmissions of this type is 30-40 thousand kilometers during normal operation.

When replacing, our employees use certain types of technical fluids approved by the vehicle manufacturer. Depending on the condition of the fluid, a complete or partial change of the variator oil can be performed.

All clients of our service center can rightfully count on the following benefits:

• We use original spare parts and consumables in our work.
• The car owner can personally monitor the progress of the repair.
• We always coordinate all important issues with the car owner.
• Free car towing to our service center for all clients.
• During repairs, the car is parked in a guarded parking lot for free.

Cost of additional services

The cost of repairing a CVT on a Toyota Prius directly depends on the condition of the unit and the number of measures taken. In our car service center you can replace the transmission.

Call the phone number listed on the website. Our managers will help you call a tow truck to deliver your car to a car service center or schedule a day for diagnostics or transmission maintenance.

Toyota Prius 11 automatic transmission oil P110/111 (variator)

The first generation Toyota Prius XW11, produced from 2000 to 2003, received planetary gearboxes of modifications P110 and P111. These automatic transmissions were developed directly by Toyota engineers and were installed on many models of this manufacturer. As for the oil, automatic transmissions of these modifications must be filled with transmission fluid with ATF Type T-IV approval. Therefore, popular products worth recommending are Toyota ATF Type T-IV, Liqui Moly Top Tec ATF 1200, and SHELL SPIRAX S5 ATF X.

Step-by-step description of lubricant replacement

Before changing the transmission fluid in a Toyota Prius, you will need to purchase:

• four liters of Toyota ATF WS oil or an equivalent of suitable quality, for example Idemitsu ATF Type TLS-LV;
• sealing washers for the drain and filler plug, catalog number 90430-18008;
• 90341-18051 is the catalog number of the drain plug. It may be necessary if the edges are severely damaged when unscrewing it.

You will also need to prepare:

• a suitable container for draining the waste,
• a funnel with a hose of suitable diameter for pouring new oil into the Prius box,
• twenty-four wrench (preferably a socket wrench or a socket wrench),
• a ten-point hexagon and a lever in the form of a hollow pipe.

Filler and drain hole
For work, it is better to use an inspection hole or a lift. If this is not possible, then you will need to lift the car from the left front wheel using a jack and install wheel chocks. If there is additional protection for the engine compartment at the bottom of the car, we first dismantle this element.

It is better to change the lubricant in an automatic machine on a warm car. This will help drain more liquid.

Progress of the procedure

We unscrew the drain and filler holes.
The procedure is as follows:

• A receiving container is placed under the drain plug. Using a hexagon, you unscrew the plug, which can become stuck or sour. In this case, you will need to use an additional lever;
• While the waste is draining, you need to start unscrewing the filler plug. To do this, use a twenty-four key;
• All you have to do is wait for the remaining oil to drain out. If you use a jack when changing the oil, you will need to lower the front of the car. This will allow more oil to drain;
• Insert a hose of a suitable diameter into the filler neck of the Prius box. We bring the second end up for ease of filling with new lubricant. We install a funnel in it;
• We clean the drain plug or replace it, install a new sealing washer and screw it into the seat;

Dirty drain plug

• We pour new lubricant into the Prius 20 box through a funnel. The total filling volume is 3.7 liters. When installing the car on a jack, four liters fit in due to the formation of a tilt;
• In the future, all that remains is to replace the sealing washer of the filler plug and screw it into place. When adding oil using a jack, you will first need to lower the car so that excess lubricant flows out by gravity. Carefully wipe away traces of drips with a rag and screw in the filler plug.

Using simple devices, fill in new oil

Transmission oil in automatic transmission Toyota Prius 20 P111/112 (variator)

Planetary gearboxes of the second generation Toyota Prius XW20, produced by the Japanese automaker from 2003 to 2009, are represented by modifications P111 and P112, which use transmission fluid with ATF Type T-IV or Type WS approval. Namely, in Prius models produced before 2005, oil with ATF Type T-IV approval is poured (Toyota ATF Type T-IV, TOTACHI ATF Type T-IV). And after 2005 - with the Type WS specification (Toyota Type WS, PENNZOIL Platinum LV Multi-Vehicle ATF).

Oil for Toyota Prius 30 P410 automatic transmission (variator)

Since 2009, the Japanese automaker began equipping the Toyota Prius line with an upgraded P410 planetary gearbox of its own production. This machine can be seen on all Prius models starting from the third generation under the symbol XW30. As for the transmission fluid, the oil for this automatic transmission is selected according to the Type WS specification. Therefore, from the products available for purchase, we will highlight the original Toyota Type WS oil, as well as its substitutes Wolf Ecotech Multivehicle ATF FE and Redline D6 ATF.

What kind of oil to fill in the automatic transmission of Toyota Prius 50

The current fourth generation Toyota Prius XW50 is also equipped with the P410 planetary gearbox described above. However, in this case, it is worth giving preference to exclusively improved transmission fluid with Type WS approval, making a choice between original (Toyota Type WS) and analog products (Kroon Oil SP Matic 4036, ADDINOL ATF XN LV).

Toyota Prius automatic transmission oil level

The transmission fluid level in Toyota Prius planetary gearboxes is checked through the control plug:

• the oil in the variator warms up to 45 degrees
• the car is placed on a level surface
• the automatic selector switches to neutral
• unscrew the control plug from the bottom of the automatic transmission
• the oil level in the variator is analyzed based on the intensity of transmission fluid leakage from under the plug

Checking the oil level in an automatic transmission without a dipstick

How often do you change the oil in a Prius gearbox?

According to the official recommendations of the Toyota Prius manufacturer, checking or changing the oil, if necessary, should:

• once every two years;
• with a frequency of 40,000 km.

It does not matter which of these factors comes first.

Prius 30 after the 2012 update
When checking the condition of the lubricating fluid in the transmission, a visual inspection is carried out. It is necessary to ensure that there are no leaks and that the oil level is normal. It should be within 10mm of the edge of the filler hole. Specific conditions when an oil change in a Prius gearbox will be required are not specified in the official maintenance manual.

According to Prius operating experience, transmission oil loses its quality after 80,000 kilometers. This manifests itself in the acquisition of a characteristic dark shade, as a result of contamination from natural wear and tear of transmission components. Therefore, changing the lubricant in the Toyota Prius 20 automatic transmission should be carried out at intervals of 40-60 thousand kilometers. The maximum threshold is 80 thousand km.

Toyota Prius oil change in the variator

Despite the differences in the design of Toyota Prius planetary gearboxes, the procedure for replacing transmission fluid in them is almost the same. So changing the oil in a Toyota Prius 20 automatic transmission, like changing the oil in a Toyota Prius 30 automatic transmission, consists of the following steps:

• dismantling the motor protection
• unscrewing the drain plug
• waste drain
• removing the pallet
• replacement of filter and consumables
• filling fresh oil according to the level

Changing the oil in the automatic transmission of Toyota Prius 20

Specifics of Toyota Prius CVT repair

In most cases in our practice, owners of cars with CVT transmissions turn to us to repair the Toyota Prius CVT at the first sign of a malfunction, without waiting for more serious consequences. As a rule, the reason for contacting is the increased noise of the operating variator, as well as constant or occasional vibration.

As the practice of our work shows, the automatic transmissions of such cars are quite reliable and, with proper care, are designed for long-term operation. Here are the most common types of malfunctions of such devices:

• Belt breakage - this can happen due to its wear or due to excessive load on the clutch system.
• Malfunctions of the control module - troubleshooting such problems requires the use of special equipment and software.
• Failure of support bearings - the bearings on which the variator cones are supported experience high loads, so they wear out quickly. Wear products can clog the hydraulics and cause damage to other structural elements.
• Problems with the hydraulics – this can include problems with the pump, clogged filters, and others.
• Electrical wiring breaks, problems with sensors. Often, malfunctions in electrical systems occur due to contamination or oxidation of contacts.

These and other types of faults are successfully eliminated by our craftsmen using high-quality materials and professional high-precision equipment. We are ready to guarantee our customers not only excellent quality and reliability, but also the most affordable cost of service when repairing a Toyota Prius CVT.