3rd Gen Transmission Fluid level Check

The warranty is for the life of the truck as long as I own it, if I sell the truck to someone else, the warranty is non transferable. Below image is what all is covered.

 

Need help locating the Tranny Fill Plug on my 2016 OR 4x4. Taking it in to the dealer to have the ATF level checked but I wanted to paint the plug first to verify the procedure was performed.

 

Maybe my transmission is low on fluid & I just don't realize it. How does the transmission act when it's low? How does it act when it's full? To anyone that had the trans topped off how did it change?

 

I dont mind trying to answer questions from the armchair but nothing beats live testing .
Judging from your description , its not the transmission .
You could try shutting the truck off in neutral just before you normally feel the rumble strip and rolling to a stop without using the brakes .
This will guarantee its not your engine or anything caused by the Atkinson cycle .
Process of elimination and we will eventually figure out where the problem is .
Are you sure your transfer case is in two wheel drive when testing ?
How long has the truck been doing this ?
Whats the mileage ?
Have you ruled out the tires ?
Was your driveshaft and slip yoke greased or does it have the factory lubrication ?

Any reputable transmission shops in your area can diagnose this stuff on a test drive .
Those guys know how to road test .
Most transmission shops offer free road testing and it wouldnt hurt to get a third party professional opinion before you take it back to the dealer so they can tell you its normal or they couldn't reproduce the problem

 

My truck had a definite delay when going from park to reverse on the first shift of the day. After I topped it off, .75 quart, that has not happened since. That was my main symptom. Good luck.

 

Alright, time for me to throw my beloved truck under the bus...

Here's my issue:
I'm in drive truck is warm (10-15 plus miles), I'll take my foot off the brake and apply just a little throttle to roll forward (say a roundabout), the truck tries to up shift, hangs the revs, yet doesn't really accelerate, but since I'm at a roundabout I don't come back to a complete stop. I go to give it gas, and the revs are still hung the truck lugs, I take my foot off the gas, revs finally fall, give it gas again and it slams back to gear, but usually grabs 1st. I look like the worlds worst clutch manager (with an auto). This has hung me out at highway speeds trying to pass vehicles, at low speeds (intersections) and has almost got me dinged more than a few times.
Truck went in for 5k service last Saturday, the one thing they didn't check... Trans fluid.
Truck has 6800ish miles.

Love my truck, but the transmission is wearing me out! Kinda wishing I kept my clutch pedal...

 

Whenever the rotation of gearing inside the transmission changes direction , it usually involves filling multiple clutch packs with transmission fluid .
With this said , to obtain reverse , more transmission fluid is used than selecting forward and higher pressures are needed for reverse

 

I would definitely start by getting the transmission fluid level checked and short term memory cleared on the adaptive learning

 

The poll is up to 111 votes for low fluid today coming from both factories . Never expected to see sooooooo many trucks with low trans fluid .
The fluid check procedure - PDF file for the 4x4 with tow package has been downloaded 468 times .
Guests are allowed to see and use the files just the same as members
Where is our TSB Toyota ? Keep screaming to Corporate gentleman . The squeaky wheel gets the grease !!!!
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...be-low-on-fluid-directly-from-factory.405642/

 

Thanks gearcruncher...and the dealer said my tranny fluid was full. Guess it's time to check myself.

One question, if I'm checking in my garage, how do I know when the transmission is at the designated temperature to pull the overflow plug?

 

I can't see the poll on mobile, but I'll update as soon as I can figure that out.

Service manager called and left a message that said the ATF was a half quart low, the toyota field tech flashed my trans ECU for a 3-4 gesr problem, they have to replace my rear differential, and that my tires were causing my brake pulsating issues. That last one doesnt make any sense at all to me since I can actually hear something actuate when the brakes pulsate. Which means is mechanical or electrical not my tires.

I'm out of town for work so I'll update when I talk to him in person tomorrow. They've had it all week so I sincerely hope they've verified the brake issue is fixed. But like I said, I will be shocked if it's tires related. He didn't mention anything about the hood buffeting.

The diff is on backorder. So I'll have to go back in a few weeks when they get it.

Positive note: the service manager seems great so far. He hasn't been in anyway dismissive and seems to be actively troubleshooting... Which is much more than I can say about the service rep I've been assigned to.

Here is to hoping they've sorted everything out. I'll keep everyone posted.

 

just wondering why you had to have your diff replaced?

 

@gearcruncher,

As per your suggestion I coasted to a stop, with the engine off, a few times. I learned that placing the truck in neutral and pressing the start button does not initially "turn off" the ignition. A message advising to hold down the start push button to perform an emergency engine shut down was displayed in the information center, so I did that twice. Each time I coasted to a stop with the engine off the "rumble" occurred. I can't tell you at what speed it occurred because neither the information display, digital speedometer nor the large, dial speedometer work when the engine is off. That being said I am going to research federal law in this regard. It would seem to be a poor decision, if not outright against federal law, to not display the speed of a moving vehicle. REGARDLESS if the engine is running or not.

Ahhh but I digress, anyway back to my rumble issue. Since the truck still exhibits this rumble with the engine off and coasting to a stop, what would you suggest next?

It is a 4x4, but I guarantee 4-wheel drive is not engaged.

 

You have ruled out the engine and transmission
These questions need answers .
How long has the truck been doing this ?
Whats the mileage ?
Have you ruled out the tires ?
Was your driveshaft and slip yoke greased or does it have the factory lubrication ?

 

If you have the "rumble strips" vibration coming to a stop...
PLEASE CALL Toyota/Customer service 1 (800) 331-4331
They told me that if there enough complains, they will issue a TSB!

 

Would I be right in assuming that if I checked the fluid level while the tranny is cold, engine NOT running, that nothing should run out...??

Or am I wrong in that assumption because there is no fluid being moved around to the other parts of the tranny, cooler, etc, and has drained back to the pan.???? And fluid WILL come out when cold and not running..

I pulled the check plug this afternoon, while it was cold and engine off.... fluid started to "run" out at a good pace. I plugged it right away..!! I'm now thinking that the fluid had drained to the pan and I should get it in the temp range and then pull the plug while the engine is running...(as per the instructions)...

I think I messed it up by thinking nothing would come out.

 

Truck has approximately 7100 miles on the ODO.
Haven't ruled out oem, Goodyear tirrs, but rumbling has occurred since very early on.
Drive parts all have (just) factory grease.

 

Just called and rep didn't seem overly concerned. She said she would add the rumble strip complaint to my open transmission complaint case.

If you call Toyota customer service be VERY specific with the words you use, and make the rep read back their notes. I recently caught them, twice (intentionally IMO), incorrectly noting what I VERY CLEARLY advised them.

 

Go to the end of the first post and download the pdf for AC60E(2wd).
After you check, please take the poll in the linked thread.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...d-directly-from-factory.405642/#post-11356671

 

You will see fluid running out of the overflow with the engine turned off . There are anti-drain back valves to compensate for fluid draining back into the pan , but you will definitely get a false reading if you check your trans fluid level with the engine off .
Your truck needs to be running through the entire check fluid process