# 2007 Toyota Camry - Transmission slip **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** transmissions, toyota\ **Created:** [March 16, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684 "2021-03-16T16:35:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8baadc/32.png) [@Leela](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Leela)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/1 "2021-03-16T16:35:12Z")
Dear Car Talk- I have a 2007 Camry XLE that I have babied for its whole life. Two days ago, I went from reverse to drive ( twice) and the gears slipped and the car revved when I hit the accelerator . The 3rd time, the drive engaged and I have driven it twice without this occurring. I took it to the local garage, who says that they cannot check the transmission fluid because it is " sealed" and they must go to the undercarriage to do it. Toyota wants $135 to check it and will " make a determination about repairs at that time". If the transmission is starting to slip, I assume it will be thousands of dollars to fix it, more than the car is really worth , and I don’t want it on the record at the Toyota dealership. I would like to get every dime I can get out of a trade in and I am not sure that the visit to Toyota is worth it on a 13 year old car as things are going to start to go anyway. It’s hard to find a mechanic that I trust and I don’t want to put good money into a bad investment. What’s your take on it? Thanks , Leela ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 11:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/2 "2021-03-16T23:08:33Z")
I’m a bit surprised you have a sealed transmission since my 2009 Corolla’s transmission has a dipstick. Anyway, that suggests you’ve probably never had the fluid changed, which is not good. It’s possible there’s something out of alignment and the transmission isn’t actually going into gear. Unfortunately it’s also possible your transmission is on its last legs. Have a good independent transmission shop look at it and give you a diagnosis but have your checkbook handy. You might put it on CraigsList as a “mechanic’s special” and just buy something else. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 11:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/3 "2021-03-16T23:17:47Z")
> [@Leela](#): > > and I don’t want it on the record at the Toyota dealership You’ll have to pick a shop carefully then, most chain type shops (Pep Boys, Meineke and many others) also report to Carfax. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 12:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/4 "2021-03-18T00:37:23Z")
> [@It\_s\_Me](#): > > You’ll have to pick a shop carefully then, most chain type shops (Pep Boys, Meineke and many others) also report to Carfax. Our local independent mechanic does too. TBH, it seems to me a mechanic who would diagnose and/or repair something like this “on the sly” could easily be a bit shady in other respects. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 12:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/5 "2021-03-18T00:39:46Z")
> [@davepsinbox\_157004](#): > > repair something like this “on the sly” could easily be a bit shady in other respects. If an independent shop does not report to Carfax or any of the other reports services ( Which requires a membership fee ) why would that be 'Shady ’ ? ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 12:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/6 "2021-03-18T00:43:07Z")
A shop that would help someone hide a vehicle repair/problem doesn’t strike me as especially ethical. As always, you’re entitled to your own opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Leela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8baadc/32.png) [@Leela](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Leela)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 1:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/7 "2021-03-18T01:22:00Z")
Thanks to all the input! You are so helpful ! Once I calmed down, I realized you all are right. I will take it to the dealer to get it looked at. Costs $135 just to open it up and they will make a determination at that time. I am hoping it is something simple and I can keep the car for another few years. If not, I will trade it in for what it is worth and a clear conscience. sigh. Again thanks for the moral support. Best, Leela ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 11:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/8 "2021-03-18T11:21:37Z")
> [@davepsinbox\_157004](#): > > A shop that would help someone hide a vehicle repair/problem doesn’t strike me as especially ethical. Just because an independent shop doesn’t belong to, or report to carfax, doesn’t mean they’re unethical ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/9 "2021-03-18T17:02:34Z")
The OP wanted to hide a transmission issue from the dealer (which is ridiculous anyway since she already asked them for a diagnosis) and she wanted to find a shop that would be complicit. If they don’t normally report to CarFax that’s one thing but if they assist owners in concealing issues that’s another. Years ago, well before CarFax, mom’s Malibu started acting up during a family vacation. We limped to an out-of-town Chevrolet dealer where they strained a bunch of grit out of the transmission fluid and sent us on our way. Later, a local transmission shop told her the car would be all right for a while but eventually it would need a transmission. Soon after, she traded in the Malibu on a Ford. As much as I loved mom that always left a bad taste in my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Leela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8baadc/32.png) [@Leela](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Leela)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/10 "2021-03-18T21:54:27Z")
Just got it back from dealer… $150 later… transmission fluid was low, otherwise fine according to computer and test drive… they said it was not advisable to replace the fluid on such an old car.?..Happy that my car lives on! I will probably keep it much longer now that I know the transmission is ok. It is annoying to have to pay that much for what would have been a 5 minute trip to the local mechanic, however. Thanks again for your input… ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/11 "2021-03-18T22:07:08Z")
> [@Leela](#): > > hey said it was not advisable to replace the fluid on such an old car. If you REALLY want to be able to keep driving it for the long term, you will ignore that _Old Wives_ tale of misinformation. Take the car to an **independent** transmission shop (NOT a chain-run shop like Lee Myles, Cottman, Mr. Transmission or AAMCO!), and have the fluid changed. Your trans fluid should have been changed at least 4 times so far, based on its age. You may have dodged a bullet temporarily, but if you fail to do a fluid change at this point, I predict that the need for a rebuilt transmission is in your near future. ---
**Author:** ![gdan29](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4bbf92/32.png) [@gdan29](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gdan29)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 11:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/12 "2021-03-18T23:59:47Z")
``` Are you sure you don’t have a transmission dip stick. I have a 2007 Camry LX, 2.4 and it has a transmission dip stick. ``` ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2021, 6:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/13 "2021-03-19T06:02:20Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > you will ignore that _Old Wives_ tale of misinformation. +1. It’s time someone take that legend out back and shoot it. It probably got started because people would experience transmission problems, then change the fluid for the first time in forever, and then because they’d already neglected the transmission so badly it would fail anyway. And they would assume it was all the new fluid’s fault, because it couldn’t possibly be their neglect of regular maintenance! ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2021, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/14 "2021-03-20T19:57:32Z")
I’m not entirely sure about this . . . but I believe there were 2 different automatic transmissions offered for the 2007 Camry That was roughly the time Toyota was transitioning to automatic transmissions without a dipstick Just some food for thought . . . 😃 ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2021, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/15 "2021-03-20T20:44:11Z")
> [@Leela](#): > > transmission fluid was low, otherwise fine according to computer and test drive… Good to hear but I do wonder how a sealed transmission could lose fluid. I’m no mechanic but it sounds like there’s a leak somewhere. > [@shadowfax](#): > > It probably got started because people would experience transmission problems, then change the fluid for the first time in forever, and then because they’d already neglected the transmission so badly it would fail anyway. Our regular mechanic won’t change transmission fluid for exactly that reason. He told me that in the past people have brought their vehicles in to have the fluid changed and shortly thereafter they experienced transmission problems and blamed it on him. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2021, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/16 "2021-03-20T20:49:41Z")
> [@davepsinbox\_157004](#): > > Good to hear but I do wonder how a sealed transmission could lose fluid. I’m no mechanic but it sounds like there’s a leak somewhere. C’mon, Dave . . . There’s no such thing as a sealed automatic transmission 😃 ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2021, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/17 "2021-03-20T21:09:20Z")
Would you be happier if I put it in quotation marks, i.e., “sealed”? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2021, 10:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/18 "2021-03-20T22:05:40Z")
op’s automatic transmission still has a pan gasket and various seals So even a “sealed” automatic transmission can lose fluid 😺 ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2021, 10:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-camry-transmission-slip/175684/19 "2021-03-20T22:58:01Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > So even a “sealed” automatic transmission can lose fluid Which means, unless I’m misinterpreting your post, that there could be a leak, which is what I suggested. Not a serious one since it took 14 years to cause obvious problems but such things frequently get worse with age.