Toyota Venza AWD Rear Differential Pinion Seal Leaking

My son's 2012 Toyota Venza AWD starting leaking rear differential fluid. Found the Pinion seal leaking. Could not find a video for the Toyota Venza, so I decided to make one to help anyone with this issue. The part number for the seal is: 90310-54001. I always use manufacturer parts when it comes to something like this.

[@renenowicki]

Hot tip. Before you drain, open the fill plug to make sure you can replace. This applies to any fluid change.

[@pwilki8631]

That's never been an issue EVER!!

[@thejeepers2242]

I just got a quote for this exact same thing on my 2013 Venza - they told me it would be 7 hours worth of labor. I just called them and told them you did it in 11:08 minutes!

[@torqued7601]

LOL!! That was good!! Thanks.

[@timothybowden8618]

Thanks for posting this video. As you mentioned, not much out there for the Venza. I do not necessarily have a leak, but my drive system is rather noisy. Think I'll go ahead and the the service you showed just because I do believe the noise is from old or low gear oil and maybe those spacers (washers) are worn or no longer in place correctly? I'll find out soon enough! Thanks again - keep 'em coming.

[@abbasa7860]

You have a bad viscous coupler bearing

[@sergeibzk]

Thanks a million for your work!
Doing this right now on the same car, your video is so helpful!!! 🙏

[@jeremypeacock3485]

Great video, thank you. You are correct, there are too few videos with Venzas in them.

[@sidhusharma1513]

Thanks for the video. I'll change the seal on my venza this weekend

[@wesrawlings7003]

Hey, thanks for doing the video. very helpful.

[@tranthai3101]

Thanks

[@chetboisen1187]

Another great video. Thanks for taking time to make it!

[@a70duster]

Thanks for your efforts.

[@a70duster]

Thanks for your effort.

[@mannysilveira1823]

Thanks brother, appreciate the info

[@munirshaikhshahid6550]

you forgot to check that vent valve ontop of rear diff. it's known to clog and the pressure of heat pushes fluid through the seals.

[@torqued7601]

Sorry, I didn't state that in the video. I did check the vent first before changing the seal. Thank You.

[@nicopaletta9853]

Thank you for making this video. Very much appreciated. Can you tell me where to find the torque specs for this job?

[@torqued7601]

@nicopaletta9853 when I picked up the seal from Toyota, I asked about torque specs there.

[@zerocool5395]

I drive an 09' Matrix awd, same set up. Now I know what do to if this happens, thanks!

[@fizout]

Thanks for posting this video. If the pinion seal leak is small, is there any harm in waiting to replace it? I've checked the differential gear oil level and it is not decreasing appreciably, so my main concern is whether the leaking oil could cause damage to clutches or electronics in the electromagnetic coupler.

[@torqued7601]

@fizout You can wait indefinitely. Make sure to keep the oil level up and wait until you are ready to replace the seal.

[@fizout]

@@torqued7601 Thanks. No concerns about oil getting into/onto the electromagnetic coupler? The video didn't show what its internal condition looked like after it was pulled off of the differential.

[@torqued7601]

@@fizout My son's vehicle leaked for a while and no issues with the coupler. From what I remember the oil leaked out and did not build up inside the cavity

[@firecharger]

You didn't share the torque spec putting it back on? 😠

[@GatesRapes]

I just did this & never marked anything ,, just dropped the joints ,, replaced the viscus clutch , alls well !!

[@mannysilveira1823]

It's good to make it it because some cars have weights on the shaft

[@mmarconi6346]

How long did it take to get it done?
Toyota in Canada quoted me 3 hrs for this job plus bearing to be replaced. It's it necessary to replace the bearing swell or not?
Thank you.

[@torqued7601]

It took me a couple hours to replace it. The car I worked on had almost 100k miles. There was no play in the bearing. I would ask why they want to change it. At least have them show you.

[@mmarconi6346]

@@torqued7601 Thanks.
I was wondering why they're requesting to replace it. Mine has 194k km and i don't hear any noise from it.
I'll definitely ask to look at it.
Friend of mine who worked at Toyota in Cambridge told me that they had extended warranty 10 yrs/200k km. Thisxwas their weak point. His replacement of rear diff cost him over $2k.

[@mmarconi6346]

@@torqued7601 So I had it fixed. I asked to look at the bearing and keep it.
Once I have arrived for pickup, they said beating didn't have to be replaced. They quoted it because it can be cause for the seal to leak. Oh well.
It played out a little bit better than they had thought.

[@danielboguse4249]

You fill the differential until it overflows the fill plug.