Your new 2010 - 2015 truck -Auto transmission could be low on fluid directly from factory

Yesterday I took my 13 auto trans up to the dealership to get the trans fluid checked. Turns out it was a quart low. I had noticed very minimal things about the way it was shifting here and there, nothing really notable. But I just wanted to make sure.

Maybe someones already said this, I haven't read thru this whole thread. The reason I was posting was, if your truck is still under warranty this is something that will be covered and wont cost you a penny. The way I looked at it, I might as well. Good thing I did. Oh and if you just say your noticing it shift funny at times, that gives them reason enough to check on there end. If you do take it, be prepared to wait a while, it takes a while for the fluid tempt to get in proper range to check.

 

^^^^^ From what fellow members here are saying , you may be charged for the trans fluid check even if you complain about a problem with the shifting . I dunno , Toyota quality just took a dive

 

Guess it could vary, not certain either. If there truck is still under warranty they shouldn't be. Now the service manager is cool where I take mine. He's actually the one who brought it up to me, that he could do it for free for me since its under warranty. He said some service managers don't know of some of the loop holes or realize certain things can be done under warranty. He also said it doesn't matter to him if they do it, as long as he can write it up a certain way, then Toyota still pays them, "so they're still getting paid".
Also one thing to add (and possibly one of the determining factors) is he did mention certain geographical locations can "get by" with certain things. For instance I also took it in because I was having steering wheel vibes and jerking especially under braking, figured it was a warped rotor. And since I'n a mountainess area they were also able to turn my rotors free of charge on top of the trans fluid check and fluid.

 

Thanks for the update

 

Had my Tacoma for 40k miles. I better check mine too.

 

First I've heard of this but I'll add my past experience.
2006 Tacoma Prerunner 4.0L. At 89000 I took it in for a standard drain and fill (dealership $205).

It shifter much better after that...again, I didn't know I had an issue until now. That was earlier this year. I now have 2014 and will check things out.

Just got an ultra gauge...might have trans temp as one of the gauges...I'll check.

 

Nope. At the moment, only Scangauge has the trans temp.

 

Odd, I just checked the level on my 1k mile '14 V6 4x4, and it was somewhat "over-filled". Pulled the plug at the standpipe, and got steady flow out of it. Let a little run out, but not 100% sure how much I want to drain out...

 

the one thing im reading here that is wrong for alot of you is when you check your fluid level the engine has to be running or yes it will piss out as if its over filled even tho its not.

the fluid has to be pumping thru the system in order to check it correctly.(engine running)

i hope alot of you guys didnt fock up you trans!!!!

and BTW my 2014 was about 200CC's/ML's low

 

Mine was checked after a 20-30 mile drive, engine running in park...

 

I agree that it needs to be mentioned more often .
The engine must be running when you check the fluid .
Go to the first page and follow Foretchs post .
Once again , the engine " MUST " be running .
When you shut the truck off , The transmission pump also stops turning and fluid that kept all the hydraulic circuits pressurized drains back to the transmission pan .If you check the transmission fluid when the engine is off , the fluid will come flying out of the level check plug and you will beleive the trans was overfilled .

 

As long as you did the trick with the OBDII port and shifter to get into AT temp check mode you should be fine. Once it's running in the right temperature range on a level surface you just drain it until it changes from a steady flow to a trickle.

 

Yup...just found out after looking...
A few folks are working with UG to get that code read...
thread here...http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/318340-ultragauge-transmission-temp.html

 

Mine was shifting hard with a noticeable shudder at about 45 MPH especially when cold. After reading this thread I took my 2014 in this past week for the 5000 mile service and mentioned the hard shifting. Sure enough....it was 1.5 quarts low. Dealer seems to think the factory filled it cold then failed to let it heat up and add more. They say it's a 2-3 our process when done right. Seems like shipping trucks 10% low on transmission fluid (tranny holds 13 quarts I'm told) would be a good way to have transmission problems. I only wonder if Toyota would try to get out of fixing a tranny due to low fluid from the factory.

It would be a good idea to get it checked even if you're not having shifting problems because you might later on....

 

Just picked up a new 2015 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner V6 SR5. It has the "A/T Temp" light on the right side of the tach. Tow package - tranny/oil coolers.

My gut feeling is since this is a last yr. 2nd Gen Tacoma, I might be able to use the OBD Pin 4 - pin 13 jumper technique to check/change transmission fluid.

Would appreciate your thought on this. Thanks.

 

I beleive your new truck came with a manual in the glove box that may explain how to check the fluid , however , in my opinion , I do not beleive anything has changed during the check fluid process . Same transmission in the 4 litre since 2005 using the same computer control .
With this said , the jumper technique should work fine .

 

gearcruncher - no mention of transmission fluid check/change in 2015 owners manual. As mentioned in other threads here, Toyota wants us all to believe it's "untouchable".

I'll dabble with the jumper wire - substitute for SST 09843-18040 that Fortech pointed out in his fluid change thread.

Thanks.

 

In the following video - fast fwd. to 12:00. Deals with filling the A750E transmission in later 6 cyl Tacoma's. At about 13:30 it gets even more interesting. Guess these guys aren't aware of fluid needing to be at a specific temp and their method in my opinion would result in an under-filled unit as it would be too hot when the overfill plug is pulled.

Interesting video nonetheless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1XdzmjdsPo

 

Those guys are the pioneers of the A750 when it comes to aftermarket calibration . Chances are they may have skipped out on some of the fluid level checks in the video but I can assure you they make sure the job is done properly as their reputation depends on it .
There are many IPT customers here at TW and for the most part I have heard nothing negative so far .
I have to admit that they have a lot of ballz . Send your valve body to them to have it calibrated and get it shipped back within a week so the owner who has never worked on a transmission can re-install it .
They sure put a lot of trust in the owner of the truck .I do not have an IPT kit in my truck.
As for the fluid level , some aftermarket recalibration kits require you overfill the transmission . With this said , I would follow what IPT says rather than following the original fluid fill guideline.
Ford recalibration kits require overfill along with some chev,s . I personally beleive most transmissions need an extra quart . If you are that concerned ,i suggest sending IPT an email regarding their error . Engineers designing the transmission pan are sitting at a desk and beleive the world is a flat computer screen . Most engineers forget to work the real world into their designs.
I suppose if one of the TW members were interested in finding out how the IPT valve body functioned and how the instructions from IPT differ from oem , all they would have to do is ask .
Here is a good write up http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/performance-tuning/318077-ipt-valve-body-finally-installed.html

 

They may be the pioneers of A750 calibration, but telling people to take it out and get it up to operating temperature is wrong. Plug is pulled when fluid temp is between 115F and 130F. Operating temp fluid is > than either of those readings. The fluid will therefore be higher in the pan and too much will be drained leaving one with low fluid level. It wouldn't have taken the narrator but another 20 or so secs. to warn people that a detailed procedure is required to do a refill correctly - refer to FSM, etc., etc.

Work done in their shop may be spot-on, but let's face it, most of it will be mailed back to a customer who is going to crawl under his truck and reinstall reworked VB. Will he then follow their fluid refill advise? I hope not.