Still problems after trans fluid topoff? Possible fix

went to the dealer today to buy 1qt tranny fluid. parts person ask what year i told him then he ask why again i told him the story. he said the service dept will check it that they are fully aware of the issue and will check it a my request. he also said that they check all new incoming tacomas before they go on the lot. i also confirmed with my sales person. went to the service counter and they pulled up my scheduled apt for apr 12 and i had them add "customer request to check tranny fluid level". will see what happens when i take it in on april 12 for the 6 month sunshine treatment.

 

I went this route but felt unfulfilled. I didn't have time to sit there all day and wait for them to clear space on a lift and actually run the check. They claimed it was normal but i have my doubts. Also have my doubts the Trans Cooler has ever reached open Temp.

 

I hear you. I pinned my stat to leave no doubt. Sometimes it's true. "If you want it done right, do it yourself" for whatever it's worth. Still love the truck, no regrets on the purchase, sucks Toyota is slipping on this and some other issues. I think eventually with enough people bitchin they will come around and make sure this crap is taken care of before the vehicle is delivered. Maybe not. I called the Toyota customer service and gave them my two cents. Made me feel better to vent. Send off a email to Toyota customer service @ touch.toyota.com. It's the squeaky wheel (or U-joint) that gets the grease.

 

Smitty... did you mean that you were left "unfilled"... I think that was the case....hehe

 

Pun was intended

 

Good one..!

 

My truck is still going strong after a couple days and about 350 miles. Seems like the changes from disconnecting the battery are still holding. I'll report back again

 

That's great, I am glad your truck is running better. I also have the long delay from R to D. Would you mind posting the service ticket on here for those of us getting flack from the dealer when trying to get the atf checked?

 

Nevermind, I believe you did this in the other thread

 

Thanks for the post.

My truck (TRD sport access cab with tow package) was obviously, to me, not shifting well.

Like others on the forum, dealership "could not replicate problem" and "all diagnostic scans were good". I was told that is how this truck drives. Fortunately, they (Barkley Toyota) easily agreed to do an actual fluid check upon my request. Even though the scan was good, it did turn out to be approximately 3/4 quart low. I was hopeful this would resolve the shifting problems I was experiencing. The truck responded much differently after topping off the ATF, in some good ways and in some bad ways. Shifting at higher speeds was noticeably more smooth and gear hunting at higher speeds was reduced. However, shifting at lower speeds in the lower gears seemed more sluggish and clunky.

I suspected that the adaptive learning (1500 miles) with low fluid might account for this.

Thanks again for your post. I will try the battery disconnect tonight.

 

I bet that will fit it for you.. Stupid dealers, eh..??

 

^^^^THIS!! I disconnected my battery overnight and reconnected it before I left for work. Its like a brand new truck! Thank you OP for the tip!!

 

Awesome!!! Glad its working for some other people!

 

I think I may have a better fix, although dramatic, but this damn truck has put such a bad taste in my mouth. I have been seriously just considering getting rid of it! I really don't have faith that this truck is built to last without causing me some major hassles down the line. I know previous models have been great overall, but this being my first Toyota really isn't giving me that warm fuzzy feeling inside, and I'm kind of starting to regret buying it and really resent the dealerships and the company in general. Plus my MPG has dropped noticeable since the transmission issues have started back up. I know i'll take a hit on a trade it, but if I can negotiate a great price on a new one I think I'm going back to a Subaru. Owning a truck is nice and all, but I can get along perfectly fine with an AWD wagon, and will just rent a truck when I need to two something more than the 3.6R Subie can handle, which won't be that often and Toyota can suck it.

 

Oh not you @Sbpark , you gave me so much crap, and defended that t..d gen so much. I will hate to see you go.. You can not just give up....

BTW I am really enjoying my 2016 Crosstrek. I laughed I found where those smart Toyota eng went after they quit Toyota. Did you know Subaru has oil filter on the top of the engine just like older Tacoma had...

 

I know when to throw in the towel! I really wanted to like this truck but cannot see myself driving it for years. And yes, Subaru started putting the oil filter on top a couple years ago on the Forester. Not sure if they do it on the Outback, but hope it's that way now. My 2012 had it on the bottom and it was basically wrapped in the manifold and made it a bit of a pain to change and could get messy. I actually really miss my Outback. I just have no idea what I could get on a trade for my '16 TRD Sport. I know comparing a Tacoma to an Outback is apples to oranges, but I really feel that Subaru is a better built vehicle, and they are a much smaller company and really seem to care about their customers, unlike what Iv'e experienced with Toyota so far.

 

Well you have to do what need, this year for first time in my life I bought Subaru and first time since long time I bought non Toyota vehicle. I needed commuter that was AWD and better on gas, and 2016 Tacoma to me was disaster so I went with Subaru Crosstrek. Its well made, and after 1000 miles i have 0 issues and you know how OCD I am right ? interior is million times better than Toyota. Really happy with my Scuby purchase.

 

So.... just got back from a ~1000 mile trip for a conference. Prior to, i had manually checked my ATF and found it low. Took it to the dealer. First off they apparently didnt record my previous visit asking them to check for low ATF, because they had no record of me coming in for it, which pissed me off. They then kept the truck for the rest of the day, and apparently still good on ATF. I told them it needed manually checked, and when i had done it hours earlier i didnt get a drop come out. I get the truck back at the end of the day, and he tells me he also reflashed the computer and the "learning habits".

So, following day i drive 200 miles. Could not get the truck over 11 mpg the entire way. Didnt drive...bad but nothing new. Day 2, i drove 300 miles (about 150 flat land and 150 through mountains). Truck drove like a dream. Shifted great and somehow managed between 17-19 mpg (which ive never seen it get after the lift and 285's). Im assuming once it got reflashed, it needed to complete a drive cycle, unfortunately i just happened to drive 200 miles the first day, getting shit mileage. So i was ecstatic.

The let down. Heading back the way i came Day 3 of driving (the same route i took that got me 17-19mpg, couldnt get over 15, and shifted like shit. it would downshift into 4th to get up hills, and then stay there as i was going down hill, unless i tapped the brakes. I put it in S mode, while it was doing this... and would "shift" to 5th and 6th (and i put "shift" in parenthesis for a reason), and although my dash was telling me i was moving up into 5th and 6th, it hadnt shifted at all. I shifted back down to 4th and back up to 6th, still nothing. 3000 rpms in 4th gear going down 6% grade...

 

At this point I'm thinking ill drive mine until maybe 1 year of warranty remains then dump it.

 

I should have leased