Low AT fluid problem acknowledged

I've looked through the ATF check/fill procedure PDF...

So, maybe I'm being dense here, but what would stop the techs from just popping the overflow plug and seeing if any drips come out? I know it has to cool, but once it's cooled enough not to scald the shit out of the tech, pop the overflow plug. If it drips a little (and I understand the concept right) you're at least within like .3 of a quart. If there's no drips when it's still "hot", then you know something is up and it's way low. Sounds like it's a painfully simple check.

Like, really, ATF's thermal expansion coefficient isn't that extreme, it would throw the measurement off on a 9.1 quart volume by less than half a quart MAX. On these people's trucks that are 2-3 quarts low, wouldn't you expect to pop the overflow and see nothing come out? Wouldn't that be what's commonly referred to as a... clue?

 

The dealership I purchased from made a similar claim, that there was a memo or notice for the fluid levels. I understood that though as a notice within their dealership alone, not a TSB. They personally had seen a few cases of low fluid and made no fuss about my request for them to check it. When I got mine back I could see marks on the thermostat where it had been pushed in and marks on the check plug.

 

Now that's one of your better memes..

 

it takes a minimum of 1/2 hour to correctly stage and heat the vehicle and check

basically means a bay is used up for an hour making zero money

 

These service departments aren't owned by Toyota. They are all private and Toyota pays them to do the work

 

to check at fluid level ? if it is normal, who pays ?

 

Better yet, why not make the internal overflow tube slightly higher so that the level can be checked at full temperature, not some middle range requiring a long cool-down period.

The fact remains, there appears to be some tendency for the trucks to be a little low on transmission fluid, and maybe Toyota has released some memo addressing it. BUT...what problem does it solve? With a few exceptions (some report slipping, etc.), it seems that adding +/- 1 quart does nothing to improve the most common complaint...the delayed R-D engagement.

I agree that a new truck should have the right amount, and I agree that one feels more confident about the life of the transmission knowing it is full. But the level of the fluid seems like a distraction from the real issue, which for me is that I dont like the R-D delay, and I think it needs to be fixed. My theory is that the fix will be in the form of an eventual software update, if there is ever any fix at all.

 

Transmission is covered to 10 years/100,000 miles ???

 

5yr/60000 under powertrain

 

It would be prudent to go twist the arm of your service adviser and get a copy of that memo. After that, I would contact Toyota Corp and ask for an extension to the warranty.

 

Toyota. They will need to get service time approved before they start