Toyota said they cannot advise a dealership to check transmission fluid level on my truck...

Not entirely correct. Some autos are checked when running and either hot or cold via the dipstick. Others, like Hondas are checked after shutting down the motor and checking within a couple minutes.

As far as the 3rd gen, if I owned the truck I would read the manual and check it myself.

 

Well, you can read the manual all you want. The only thing it says is to take it to a dealership to have the level checked/transmission serviced.

 

Go to the dealership, make sure they open a repair order, keep going in with the complaint and getting repair orders.
This creates a paper trail, and eventually they have to do something about it, and will work towards Lemon Laws etc...
Don't let them keep pushing you away, or go to another dealer...

 

the only way you can check the trans fluid is to run until the fluid temp is between 105*F and 114*F, pull an overflow plug out and the fluid should just trickle out. If nothing comes out its low, if it pours out its overfilled. Typically when shifting into gear and it hesitates is a sign of low fluid. Id like to know where you can get a manual because Toyota is very protective on this. I found somewnere but cant remember you can pay for access to factory service info, its like $ for 4 day access and they have more expensive access fees.

 

You all who are having problems with the dealerships checking the transmission fluid. You need to shoot a letter to Toyota about the issue. Inform them to either give you an easy way to check the fluid level or request them to install a dipstick so you can check the fluid level yourself. The squeaky wheel gets all the attention!

 

Sounds like the build process at the factory had a flaw. Hopefully this has been corrected at the source. Toyota should identify the affected vehicles and send a letter to owners.

 

It's just like making cheese and selling it, but it really isn't cheese! Flint Michigan tell everyone there's nothing wrong with the water! So they short change a quart of transmission fluid per vehicle, no one's going to know. It's greed and management is under pressure to cut cost wherever they can. Wake up you're the customer who's getting screw!

 

Well, I'm at the (different) dealership now. They tried telling me the same things the other dealership told me but the service manager stepped in and told them to go ahead and check the fluid level. Hopefully it gets sorted out today.

 

I wonder why they switched to a sealed unit "that never needs to be changed" apparently....

 

awaiting your update...in the same boat.

 

I was told the reason they went wth a sealed transmission an no dipstick was because they found that if they left it up to the consumer to check and maintain the fluid level it actually ended up causing more damage down the line because people were overfilling heir transmissions, which was more detrimental than having too little fluid.

 

BS! Low fluid can burn a trans up very quickly, too much fluid can blow seals etc...
Both conditions are bad!

 

I'm not disagreeing. I'm just relaying what the lead tech told me at the first dealership I went to.

 

Im not really sure what was explained to you is correct .
An underfilled transmission will do more damage than 1 that is slightly overfilled .
Below is the explanation from the manual .

WHY DID TOYOTA REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION FILLER TUBE AND DIPSTICK ?
Took me a while to find the explanation when we had low fluid issues with the 2nd gen truck but here it is
The reason for no dipstick is that the car builders want you to believe that you don’t need to check or maintain the fluid. Many of them actually say that the fluid they use is good for the life of the vehicle.This ofcourse is simply not true
This was the explanation Toyota used when they started installing the 5 speed automatics without a dipstick in the tundras and Tacomas . I am sure someone will eventually find the same information for the 2016 model AC60 transmission

Page 18 of this PDF explains why they removed the dipstick in more detail
http://www.toyotatundraforum.com/pdf/A750E.pdf
They say the overflow plug is more accurate . I think I could probably have a good argument with Toyota about this . At least with a fill tube , it gets checked on a regular basis

This information can be found here
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...be-low-on-fluid-directly-from-factory.405642/

 

Pookie, have you had any luck finding us a workable dipstick, maybe an older model might have had a dipstick offered?
I'm selfishly hoping for a 2nd gen solution!

 

Ive been a little busy answering questions on this low fluid problem . Its gone viral at Tacoma World
Yet the dealers still insist we are all lying through our teeth and there is no issue Ha !!

 

If your truck is found to be low, which we all know it is, you should report that back to the dealer who didn't want to check it and ask them WTF their problem is.

 

Oh, I'll be doing more than that. I also plan on writing a lengthy letter to Toyota Customer Service expressing my concerns and why did I get so much pushback on what had eventually become a legitimate safety concern. I also will mention that because of their repeated refusal to check the fluid it has resulted in worsening symptoms and quite possibly premature wear on the transmission and expect to be fully compensated if I ever have any issues with the transmission even once it's out of warranty.

 

Well said my friend .
I wish you the best of luck .
I do not own a 2016 , but if you start some kind of petition , I will be the first one to sign

 

I would imagine that in casting of the transmission housing. There's an area for the dipstick and it's capped off with a plug, just like a freeze plug on an engine block. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/aaf-all69112/overview/