The A245E produced from 1993-2007 is a Corolla automatic transaxle that was based on the A240E, and the following changes were made to reduce its size and weight, and to further improve the shift feel, Fuel efficiency and dynamic performance. One of the more popular transmissions for sale due to it’s massive useage.
The A245E is a cleaner shifting transnaxle than it’s predessesor. Speaking of transaxles, technically speaking, a transaxle insinuates a transmission and differential assembly in one housing. The majority of transaxles are front wheel drive. We term this a transverse mounted engine and transmission. Transverse meaning the engine and transmission are mounted east to west in reference to the north south axis of the vehicle.
As opposed to longitudinal mounted transmissions wich run north to south parralell to the axis of the vehicle, hence rear wheel drive. Which uses a driveshaft to connect the transmission to the rear differential.
Realistically speaking this is one of the finest Toyota transmissions made. The only problems found with this unit are in the axle section. In the case of a Toyota transaxle, although the transmission and axle are in the same case, they are in separate compartments. The transmission side holds the automatic transmission fluid and the differential side uses differential fluid. This is opposed to most transaxles where the transmission fluid lubricates both the transmission portion and the differential portion.
That being said, the only problem we have experienced with this unit is that the differential section can develop an leak (of differential fluid) independently from the transmission section. Since most people, even lubrication specialists don’t know this, it is common to ignore checking the differential fluid. Hence, when the differential develops a slow drip, it may go unnoticed until the fluid runs out of the differential. Which cause a major failure to the transmission and an abrupt halt accompanied by a terrible noise.
My point is to make sure you advise the person servicing up your car to check the differential portion of the transmission to make sure it is full. As a matter of interest, at my shop, when we service a Toyota transmission or rebuild a Toyota transmission, we would paint the differential fill plug yellow. Then we would show it to the customer while the car was on a lift. This way the customer can advise the service technician where to check the differential fluid upon transmission maintenance.
Find more Toyota transmission information on our GotTransmissions.com Blog. Be an educated consumer.
