3rd Gen Transmission Fluid level Check

I checked mine on my own this morning. I got it into the check mode and rushed to get it filled. I was thinking it was only gona be in the proper temp range for a minute or two. I had atleast 7 minutes maybe 10 even. I did pin the thermostat, and i did as other members recommended, and loosened the fill and check plug prior to starting to make it a quicker process. It was a little over 3/4 of a quart low. Maybe a placebo effect, but it doesnt seem to have the R to D delay, seems more responsive, and doesnt seem to wander for gears now. If nothing else i have the peace of mind that my brand new trucks transmission is full of fluid.

 

I had not noticed any of the syndromes on my truck but got is checked anyway and yes 1.2Q low ujoints where dry and ubolts were not torqued proparly!

 

Okay. So did the ATF check, jumper method with stat pinned. Easier than I thought. Went exactly like the service advisory said it would. 3/4 qt low pretty much like everybody else. My question is. Is there a consensus on disconnecting the battery to reset the transmission learning? I have heard it works for some. And have heard it works to erase short term learning but not long term. Will my trans just learn to adjust with the new fluid level with time?

 

According to a Toyota tech , disconnecting the battery on a 2016 does clear short term adaptive learning but long term remains in effect .
I suggest trying it . Pop your cables off for half an hour after you fill your transmission .
Now you know for sure that your transmission is full , feel free to get into the gas a little more which in turn will make for a more aggressive shift pattern .Its the way you want your transmission to relearn
Transmissions that shift firm create less heat and less wear

 

Cables?
Negative terminal alone isn't good enough?

 

Done!

 

Hey split , Removing the negative should do the trick . As a practice I always pulled both just to give them a cleaning and add some fresh corrosion resistant paint to the posts .

 

I took my truck to the dealer around 300 miles and they told me that I needed to bring in after 500 miles to give a chance to break it in. I took it back when I had 600 mile and had the service writer and the service manger ride with me to go over the weird changing gear pattern. At this point they decided to get the trans fluid check. and sure enough it was short 1qt. They figure since its a new truck they cant be nothing wrong with it not specially any fluids. Well now my truck is riding alot better.

 

Bought some ATF WS and a pump.

Considering just filling it up, bringing the truck up to temp and just opening the overfill plug once the fluid has had a chance to expand once at temp.

Anyone see an issue with this notion?

 

Just took my DCLB 4x4 TRDOR w/ tow in on Friday for the dreaded R to D hesitation. The service writer couldn't tell me how much they had to add, but the report did indicate that they had to "adjust the transmission fluid level" and they also reset the transmission ECU. I definitely notice a difference in the shift patterns (much better now) and the R to D hesitation is gone.

 

I'd follow the jumper method. It's not that difficult to put it into trans check mode. It is accurate. Your way in my opinion is giving a best guess. And the window to do the check is between 95 and 113 degrees. That doesn't give much room for error.

 

That's great the truck seems to be operating better now. Would you me able to upload your service ticket for for us getting flack from our dealerships to check the fluid level?

Thanks

 

His way is just wasting ATF if he's already full, correct? I haven't checked
it myself, just curious.

 

No problem. I will get it out of the glove box and shoot a picture of it in a little while. I used Don McGill Toyota in Houston, and the first service advisor I spoke to on the phone seemed well aware of the issue and said he had another truck in with the same problem last week. The guys I dealt with when I dropped it off didn't seem as up to speed, but when he described what they did when he called me on Saturday, it was clear they had checked it properly and added fluid.

 

At operating temp the fluid has expanded too much. I'd be concerned about internal fluid flow during temp check mode as well.

 

When checking your ATF, do you crawl under the truck or go to a local garage and use their lift?

 

I crawled under mine but I have a 4x4. It was a bit tight but doable. Flat garage floor. Service advisory says truck must be level -/+ 1 degree. A lift would give you more room obviously. But if you use the jumper method you have to keep an eye on the center display so you know when the trucks AT is in the correct temp range.

 

YOLO lol. Jk I'll do the jumper method.

 

They are all the same height, so being a 4x4 shouldn't matter. Having side steps may matter though.