Transmission 2016-2023- 6 SPEED AUTOMATICS COULD BE LOW ON FLUID DIRECTLY FROM FACTORY

Is the pan marked which is the drain and which is the overflow?

 

Ref https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.63851/ kindly shared above.

In short:
Jump the connectors shown in the link and start the truck.
Shift from park through D to S and back again once or twice.
Select D and then go to N, D & back to N again slowly and repeatedly for at least 6 seconds.
Don't pause more than 1.5 seconds each time.
While doing that, watch the center instrument display for the "D" to appear when you shift into N.
Leave the lever in N and the D display will stay on for 2 seconds and the go off again.
It's now in temp check mode.

Shift into park and leave the engine running. Pull out the jumper wire from the under dash connector.
Taking the jumper wire out will steady the idle - a step necessary to get a good level reading.
The filler hole is on the right side of the transmission case all the way back near where the drive shaft connects.
It's a 24mm bolt with an o-ring seal.
The inspection drain is the 5mm hex drive bolt along the left underside of the trans. oil pan.
When the fluid temp gets to 95F, the D light will come back on once more. It's time to start checking the level.
Take the inspection drain bolt out with a 5mm hex wrench and be ready for
one of three things to happen.
1.) Fluid comes pouring out. (over full).
2.) Fluid lightly trickles out or possibly just offers a few steady drops. The level is correct.
3.) Nothing comes out beside maybe a drop or three stuck in the overflow tube. (Low level)
If #1, let it run out until it slows to a trickle.
If # 3, pump Toyota WS transmission fluid into the fill hole until it begins to run out the overflow.
Once it slows to a fine trickle, put the plug back in, replace the filler plug, clean up and call it done.
It's good to have a helper watch the instrument display. If the D starts flashing, the fluid is over the max temperature (113F)
to check the fluid accurately. At that point, you'll have to shut it off and allow things to cool for a few hours before
starting again.

Starting with a truck that had not been run that day and in 80F weather,
it took about four minutes for the D to come on and I had plenty of time to add the necessary fluid
without the D blinking. Your results may vary.
Note: If during the procedure you turn the truck off, it will leave temperature check mode and you'll
have to start all over again.

 

No, they aren't. But it's easy to tell.
The drain is a regular bolt. The overflow is a 5mm hex driven one.

 

Mine is marked. On the bolt its self. Its says "overflow"

 

Thanks! I need a better flashlight. ;-)

 

Service appointment tomorrow morning. I'll let you know how it goes, but I'm preparing to take care of this myself. Symptoms I've experienced are Delay from R to D. Lot's of surging in reverse. Idle stays high even after a decent warm up time (1200rpm). 1 slip while cornering yesterday, and downshifting is rough from 2 to 1. Surprisingly it settles into gear nicely on the highway...no gear hunting issues here. I also found that if i don't baby it while getting up to 30mph for city driving, its' much smoother. I take a little hit on MPG, but it feels much better. I don't mind all the engine braking, I'm used to driving internationals and Sutphen fire trucks so I'm used to it. However, this is the first small truck that I've ever felt so much engine braking in, and that might put some people off, especially if they think its' transmission related. Good luck to all.

 

Well Toyota just called, said they did a manual level check and everything was perfect. I'm on the fence if I believe them or not. Contemplating on taking it to a different dealer or doing it myself...

 

Just picked my truck up, doesn't feel any worse than it was. Going to drive it the rest of the week and see how it feels. If I keep having these small issues I'm gonna check it myself and see what happens. Otherwise I'm going to drive it until in breaks since I have the extended warranty anyways.

 

Performed the fluid level check today and it was almost a full quart low. (Truck has the tow package)

 

+1 here. Same deal.
This is seems to be an oft-repeated occurrence.

" Well Toyota just called, said they did a manual level check and everything was perfect. I'm on the fence if I believe them or not. Contemplating on taking it to a different dealer or doing it myself... GA_Taco "

I was a bit apprehensive about the procedure until my girlfriend pointed out I'd removed $3,000+ worth of motorcycle parts just to grease two tapered roller bearings on my Yamaha. LOL Checking it yourself is a bit fiddly. But, doable in a few minutes with the help of a spotter on the dash display. Unless you buy a bottle of WS ATF, it doesn't cost anything more than a little dirty laundry from crawling under the truck.

Yamaha XTZ12BB Super Tenere, a.k.a. Shawn the Sheep.


Professional mechanic buddy Dan Roark
giving his smile of approval upon reassembly.

 

I was told by my dealer (c.f. schwartz of dover delaware) that there was no way to check the trans fluid level and it had to be hooked to the trans flush machine to flush and fill to the proper level, this would cost me $280. it seems each dealer has their own excuse not to check the fluid level. (This took place while on three way call with lashonda from corporate). Calling corporate did nothing in terms of helping me get my fluid checked.

 

And yet the truck is self-equipped with a means of verifying the fluid temperature and written instructions are available to them on how to do it without Techstream using only a few hand tools and short piece of wire. Other dealerships are able to do it that way. Why not c.f. schwartz? Unbelievable.

They supposedly checked it, according to your pre-delivery inspection sheet, I bet. Did they write off $280 or charge you then? Probably not. They also likely didn't check it, either.

 

Went to one dealer and as them to check my fluid level. One of the write up service managers asked if it had a dipstick. I explained to him that it didn't which he should at least know it doesn't have one. Then he states that its unserviceable transmission and its "sealed" and can't be checked and they could do a flush. I replied "well you didn't know it didn't have a dipstick to check" I explained to him I'm not an idiot and that I have done my research and I will be calling corporate. Which I did and created a case number. Corporate stated that its very important that issues are addressed to corporate pertaining to service members and also any issues we all may have. He gave me Managers names and other service dealers to deal with and stated that I should have it checked for sure if I am experiencing symptoms. Tomorrow I have an appointment with a different dealer and explained to him what I experienced at the other dealer and corporate was involved. He said we will make sure things get done properly for you. So hope tomorrow I have better service. Just make sure you don't let them give you the run around and do your research and be ready to back it up.

 

This is exactly what I was thinking. I had mine checked at the dealer, before I took possession of my Taco, it had 2 miles on it, they said it was .5 of a quart low, and filled it up. Then I drove it for about 500 miles, and checked myself. I was PISSED when I got her to temperature and nothing trickled out of the overflow, however I added just a few ml's of ATF and fluid immediately started to trickle out, so the dealer did in fact do what they stated. I believe that in the first few hundred miles the thermostat had to open at some point, so it appears that the fluid level isn't affected that dramatically. I will check again with the thermostat pinned and see if anything changes.

 

It really is unfortunate so many folks are having issues with the dealership regarding this low ATF issue. My dealership (Beaman Toyota Nashville) told me they were aware of the issue and got me in that same day to remedy the issue. They even dropped me back at my house via their curtosey shuttle so I did't have to wait around their shop while they did the service. Now they have a customer for life. Silly why other dealerships don't place a premium on service!

 

Dropped mine off and the service advisor told me it's normal for these new drive by wire vehicles and everything is electronic so there's nothing they can do about the transmission. I haven't been the only one in there complaining about the issue and they tried to tell me it's fine as long as there is no light on because it's so sensitive. He also claimed averaging 17 MPG was perfectly acceptable and it is a truck.

They are fixing the hood (vibration) and replacing the rear bumper (broken clip so pieces didn't align right). Doesn't seem like they care to even acknowledge my resetting trip odometer or the trans issues.

I should have the truck back tomorrow or Thursday. We'll see what they end up doing but sounds like I'll be contacting corporate. Really starting to wish I'd waited for a manual to come in.

 

Update to first post of poll
STILL HAVING DELAYS AFTER PROPER FLUID TOP OFF ( 5/4/2016 )
Some members are taking their trucks to the dealership to have the fluid level topped off properly and are still experiencing a delay from reverse to drive . Toyota uses " SQUAWK " control to prevent that initial lurching feeling when the transmission shifts into forward .
Squawk control selects 2nd gear rather than first gear to remove that lurching feeling . Squawk control is computer controlled and the logic can easily be re-written to improve this

 

Ouch.

 

Unfortunately , you cant turn it off . Squawk control is part of Toyota transmission programming . You have to wait for a program update .
Supposedly in 6 months

 

I just got back from dealership today. They found my fluid was just under a quart low and topped it off. Also have the tow package. Truck was built in Mexico.