Dealership lied about tranny fluid check

Still I doubt you would volunteer to be part of the experimental group.

 

Mine had low fluid from the factory. I was part of the group without volunteering. My transmission still needs Adderall

 

Resetting will make it adjust faster, but it should re-learn and adjust on its own

 

Maybe it's a secret experiment for on the job training for Toyota techs on how to check transmission levels...

 

The way I got my dealer to check my ATF level, was I first opened a case with Toyota Corporate. I then made an appointment with my dealer and told them that I had opened a case with Corporate and that they were aware of the issue and suggested I make an appointment to have the ATF level checked.

 

What did they find when they checked? If they filled it, did the driving experience change? Did you reset the ECM?

 

I'm inclined to agree. I reset the ECM with Techstream several weeks after topping off the tranny (in February before I started using Fuelly). The shifting got better after the reset *and* the gas mileage improved about 10%. I think that's what makes the difference.

 

Mine was 1 Quart low.... Yes they filled it up under maintenance warranty... I don't believe they reset the ECM, but I am definitely feeling a much better shifting than before. One immediate change I noticed was setting the cruise control at 75 mph. Before topping off the ATF, the issue I had was when the truck hit an uphill grade it naturally had to downshift to 5th or 4th gear to maintain the 75 mph speed, but failed to up-shift to 5th or 6th after the road leveled off, and I either had to tap the cruise control or hit the gas myself. Now it's acting as it should.

 

Checking it yourself per the factory instructions using the jumper wire isn't hard at all, other than crawling under the truck.
Mine had a hesitation from R to D when cold (after the warm up idle had dropped, etc...)
I came here looking for answers, not read about it and went Oh, no!
Once I topped it off & reset the computer, the hesitation was gone.
....
With the engine stone, overnight cold on a 80-85F afternoon, it took mine about 4 minutes for the D light to come on - indicating the fluid temp. was at least 95F.
I waited a couple of hours until my girlfriend got off work and started the procedure. I think it took us 25 minutes start to finish including clean up.
I had already gently broken the drain free ever so slightly plus had a hand pump connected to a bottle of Toyota WS ATF and it's output hose stuck in the filler hole when I started the engine. Once the D light came on and my helper said "go!", I began slowly pumping an entire quart of fluid in. The overflow fluid started running out with vigor just as the bottle pumped dry. I waited until it had just a good trickle going and put the plug back in. 1/4 quart had run back out, indicating mine was 3/4 low.
I had plenty of time to add the fluid and replace the plugs. The D light never changed to the blinking stage where the fluid's too hot.

Edit:
I was really afraid the exhaust pipe would get hot and present a burn danger given it's proximity to where I was working. I was quite surprised to find it only got "real warm", not "Ouch! Oh $#&@!" hot.

 

I just experienced a similar issue. Brought the truck in for the 5k service and asked them to check my trans level because I was experiencing the same issues as others. I was told the trans was sealed and they could not check it plus it was a brand new truck and there was no way the level was low. By my next appointment I was more prepared and brought documentation showing the level can be checked, so they finally agreed. When I picked it up they said the level was good. I was still having the same issues and when I got home I checked the plugs, no evidence that they had been touched. I went back in and asked to speak to the service manager but instead I spoke to the shop foreman (which was probably better anyway). He agreed to check it again and gave me permission to watch him check the level. Low and behold he checked it and it was a quart low. It's still there to have the odometer multi-function display replaced for the trip level resetting issue. I'm going to speak to them when I pick it up about getting an extended warranty. Hopefully since I have documentation that they lied and I now have put 15k miles on it with low fluid they do the right thing but I'll be contacting corporate if they play hard ball.

 

Wow. What a bunch of schmucks!!!!!!!!

 

Persistence pays off. You'll have a much better piece of mind now and the documentation to back up any future issues. Nice work.