A while back, there was a posting about a 4 cylinder Camry where the differential seized up requiring an $ 1800 repair bill. Diagnosis was that it ran low or dry because of fluid leaking past a seal into the transmission.
I believe I have just verified that this does happen. My 4 cyl. "99 Camry had the transmission fluid drained and refilled by the dealer at 24,000 kilometers and 48,000 kilometers and both times I was told that the differential did not require service yet. ( Canada is classified as "severe service but we're on the mild West Coast). At 72,000, I decided to do the transmission myself, mainly because the transmission was reading overful and I put this down to careless dealer work. I refilled with about
0.5 liters less than I took out and the level then read correctly. Like the dealer, I didn't do the differential.Now, at 96,000 its time again and, once again, the transmission is reading overfull. Checked the differential first, can't feel fluid through the Check/Fill Plug, have to add 0.7 liters (about 45% of capacity) to top it up. This, I'm sure will be about the same amount the transmission is overfull!
No leaks on the ground, and no coolant loss.
I imagine replacing this seal would be pricey, so I intend to drain and refill transmission AND differential every 24,000 kilometers. This us what the Severe Service schedule calls for, but I had no idea it was needed to ensure that your transmission doesn't overfill and your differential run dry!
Owners beware , if you or your dealer skip checking that differential!
By the way, I had skipped it before because I don't like getting that far under the car to try and loosen the Differential filler plug. Found though, that the filler plug is a bit tight but easy to get at from above, using a breakerbar and socket; also refilling from above.
Allan