While checking ATF level, dropped cork in transmission.. what to do?

^It'll probably cost you $300 in WS fluid by the time you are done.

 

Costly accident but I would drop the pan immediately and get it out.

RJM

 

If there is any evidence that the transmission has been opened up it will void his warranty. Something to think about before you drop the pan and besides there's good chance your not going to find the cork.

 

^Not true, esp. since removing the pan is needed to replace the filter, a legit maintenance item.

 

First, drink everything in the bottle that originally contained the cork.

The next morning, take a dozen ibuprofen, lube your wallet and your backside, and go see your dealer.

Or drive it to the shitty side of town and leave the keys in it.

 

My type of sarcasm.

RJM

 

The filter is not changed when the transmission is serviced. It consists of a mesh screen and is not a fiber filter. Toyota's method is to simply drain and refill.

 

The filter is still a legit maintenance item with approved replacement instructions in the FSM. The transmission isn't like some electronic parts (car stereo, PC hard drive) where merely opening the case voids the warranty.

 

Update????

 

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IMHO, if not removed soon ... The cork will probably slowly disintegrate and most of it will get caught in the filter.

I would drop the pan immediately and see if I could catch it before that happened.

FWIW, higher quality corks (ones with tighter lines) will last longer that cheaper corks. But most higher quality corks are in higher end wines. Your cork is probably a lower quality cork that will disintegrate faster with heat and time.

I am not sure how TOYOTA would handle a warranty claim on a transmission that ingested a cork.

FWIW, I would move on this quickly without involvement from Toyota.

This is a very easy mistake to make and I have done much worse .... ie got up very close to electric fence and whizzed on it in the rain once. That was a much bigger mistake than a cork in your transmission.
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I guess if you had money to waste. It's a screen not a fibre filter. If your Toyota vehicle had high mileage you may want to have a look but you could simply clean it. The OP has a brand new truck and it the pan is removed and it's discoverable it will void his warranty if it comes in at a later date for a transmission failure. It would make a dealer very suspicious as to why the pan was removed on a new vehicle with a failed transmission.

 

I would think cork would be chewed up so much you could not tell what it is.

I am interested to know what decision was made.

 

There isn't enough material in a cork to plug the filter.

 

there is to plug one critical fluid passageway, then bam, no worky

 

You think putting foreign objects inside his transmission doesn't void a warranty?

Lol.

 

This accident isn't going to be free if he goes to a dealer.

 

What a cork soaker

 

Try blowing it out with pressure air. On cold running truck remove level check plug and fill plug, blow air trough check hole and watch fill hole for cork flying out. If this doesn't work, drain fluid and drop oil pan, if cork is not there try blowing commpressed air in transmission fill hole and watch for cork flying out, last thing you want is looking for something that is not already there.

 

I don't think the OP is reading anymore.

 

It's a tough one. If it didn't cause any problems and they completely remove it, it should be ok. I think if the transmission did fail they would have to determine/show it was due to the cork material to deny warranty. Then it is up to how truthful the service department is....

If they open it up and the cork is already disintegrating, well.....

Any updates OP?