Should I Change The Transmission Fluid on My 1998 Toyota Camry

Reader Question Hello, congratulations for your web site it is an excellent resource for all of us. Please, I’d like to ask you 2 things.

1) Should I change the ATF of my 4 cyl. Toyota Camry 1998. I bought it with all 100k miles, but I don’t know if at anytime the ATF was changed, I’ve checked and some people says that if the ATF is dark and smell like a barbecue the transmission is almost dead, but the ATF in my car is like
transparent and it smells just like oil.

I’m always worried about my cars maintenance schedule and that’s why I’d like to know please, if I am still on time to change the ATF, or is too late and is better idea to let it as is. If your answer is to change the ATF, should I change too the filter at the same time?, or it should be changed later.

2) The question now is about the brake fluid in the same car, it came with 4 discs and ABS, I don’t know if anytime the BF was changed. The question is, should I change the BF, or is better to let it as is.

I feel like the brake distance is a little long more than it should be, but the times when I’ve had to stop faster for something unexpected, it brakes as expected. Well, please let me know your advice and the better procedure to
do it.

Best regards and thank you very much
Orlando