3rd Gen Transmission Fluid level Check

I just opened a case with corporate earlier this week and am waiting to be scheduled at a third dealer to have the ATF level checked. This is ridiculous. The hesitation seems to be getting worse all the time. If Toyota doesn't replace the trans I may end up selling it, which sucks because I love the truck otherwise. 2800 miles in with some hard offroading/hauling well after the 1,000 mile break in period recommended in the manual on page 156. I have tried to get it checked before I picked it up, at 545 miles, and at 2715 miles. Plugging it in was the most that was ever done; if that. The extended warranty that some people have gotten is not enough. Toyota corp failed to fill it properly at the factory, dealerships fail to check it before going out the door, and the service network fails to actually check it. There is failure to perform due diligence at every stage, despite many of us bringing these issues up repeatedly, and now we all have $37,000+ trucks with premature and irreversible damage to a critical drive train component.

 

I will attempt to keep this post sub-novel length, but that may not be possible . . .

This, hopefully, clarifies my smart phone post last evening.

The automatic transmission on my '16 TRD ORSB has been revving, between shifts, most noticeably when upshifting between 1st & 2nd gear and 2nd & 3rd gear. The problem has been getting noticeably worse. Twice in the past couple of weeks when switching from reverse to drive the engine revved, without any truck movement, before very noticeably clunking into drive and lurching forward.

The truck was seen at the dealership on 03/14/16 & 03/16/16 for this problem. *See invoices*

Toyota called me Monday, 03/21/2016, presumably about this issue, but since I was in a federal courtroom, in San Antonio, TX, I did not answer the call. When I returned the call yesterday, 03/22/2016, I spoke with a Toyota national customer representative and not the regional manager as I had been promised. As stated in my post last night, Toyota customer service representative Daniel stated Toyota had discussed my transmission problems with the regional manager and the dealership technicians and they determined my truck was performing as designed. So apparently a truck revving, with the transmission selector in D and not moving, is "performing as designed."

I almost posted a smarmy comment about legalities, but I'll let my actions speak for me.

On a different note. Posted are 4 pics of the MPGs I obtained on my drive to San Antonio, TX. I am disgusted. All the driving was the same; i.e., highway driving utilizing the cruise control. If I am expected to "guess" what kind of mileage I may get on a tank of gas, especially on the highway using cruise control, then Toyota has another surprise coming.

This is the biggest, most expensive, piece of junk I have ever talked myself into wasting money on.

 

The same guy talked to you? This guy.....

 

Sounds like this truck isn't for you, go and trade it in on the very reliable Jeep brand.

 

ftfy!

 

Just got this from my Facebook spam lol.

 

I am confused as to what "same guy" you refer.

 

How was it fixed for me?

 

manofsteele2003 said: ↑
Sounds like this truck isn't for you, go and trade it in on the very reliable 2nd gen.

I altered your quote , I should've posted this with it, supposed to be funny...

 

I realize now you said Daniel, the guy that called me was David. At first I thought it was the same dude. Different dude same BS tHough it sounds.

 

Check. Toyota is completely full of BS, and that is the kindest thing I can come up with.

 

Just had my 2016 tacoma limited 4x4 with the tow package in to look at the transmission issues. My truck was made in Mexico and has 6000 miles on it. They gave me a loaner because of needing to cool the transmission down to the right temp. Level was OK but did the computer updates and it made a lot of difference. Smoother shifts and no slipping! Am now a happy camper. Thanks to all of you for the great information.

 

Can you elaborate on the "computer updates"? AFAIK, the only ECU update is related to a shift flare on 4-cylinder trucks. Can you scan in / take a picture of the log sheet?

 

Computer updates???

 

Probably just cleared the adaptive learning .

 

His level was ok, supposedly...
What good would that do?

 

Had the dealer check my fluid. I was a half quart low. I asked if it would cause any transmission problems in the future since I'm already at 10,000 miles. He said "it shouldn't and since you're documented in the system, even after warranty, you will be ok if anything does happen to it".

 

Just got a call from Voss Toyota,dropped it off this morning,little over a quart low per tech.

 

Don't worry, it's a lie.

 

I am assuming most of the guys here who had low levels had the adaptive learning cleared at the dealer after they had their transmission topped off . I wouldnt want my transmission learning my driving habits with low fluid . Can you imagine a transmission that is trained to shudder and slip ?
I bet the dealer even cleans the clutch volume index after topping off the fluid .
If you haven't had your adaptive learning cleared after you added fluid on your trucks , I believe disconnecting the battery for 20 minutes should do the trick. Some guys say the clearing procedure can only be done with the Techstream , but I believe disconnecting the battery for a while will also do it . Ill go see if I can find some info on this and post back to avoid misinformation

Here is an older document that I was using . Not even for a Tacoma but the technology hasnt changed until 2016 I guess
http://testroete.com/car/Toyota/celica/Service Bulletins/Transmission & Clutch/04.pdf