Tranny problem. I was in New Mexico @ 10k' when my 16 off-road died in the highway. Message said tra

In NEw Mexico @ 10K' when my 16 off-road died in the highway. Message said hot trans. After 15-20 minutes restarted and back to camper. Called toyota service at home and they said don't lock it in a gear (2nd) pulling a hill. It was shifting from 2nd to 3rd every 10 seconds so I put it in second and ran 2300rpm for a minute or two just before it died. I said Ok they said wont happen again. Next day drove 20 miles normal speed it died again same message. Turned for home died every 5 miles till I got there. Same message
Truck has 20K miles and is totally under under warranty. No one in NM wants to come get it without me paying 4-500$ up front for the tow. Pissed off loaded it back on the trailer, hooked up Motorhome, cut vacation 1 month short and hauled ass home dropping it off at local dealer. After two weeks of whatever they do I should get it back today with a new converter. Happen to anyone else?

 

Geez. Does it have the tow package with coolers?

 

Prior to this, did you get the TSB done and have your ATF checked?

Sorry to hear, that really sucks. I can't imagine how stressful that'd be, especially if you had family with you.

 

Going up a hill at 2300 RPM in 2ND gear for 2 minutes killed it? That's hard to believe. Did I read that wrong?

This sound similar to the crankshaft position sensor issue that has been leaving people stranded. Did they check that sensor was operating correctly?

 

IIRC, you have to hit 300° for that warning. Best case, your atf is probably fried.

 

Yeah the 2nd gear thing sounds fishy to me... I have a manual and drive at 2300 rpms all day long, thats the sweet spot for highway speeds and where I get the best mpg.

 

Was it slipping or did you feel it losing power as it was shifting constantly between 2nd and 3rd? Just curious, since this would be a good indication of low fluid. Also curious to hear if you have a trans cooler with the tow package or not!

 

"Truck has 20K miles and is totally under under warranty. No one in NM wants to come get it without me paying 4-500$ up front for the tow."

With the truck being under warranty, why didn't Toyota tow it to the nearest Toyota Dealer? Isn't that covered under Roadside Assistance?

 

How slow are you going to be in 2nd gear? How much weight? Factory tow package?

 

Yeah I was thinking why not call Toyota roadside assistance hotline, if it's under warranty doesn't the manual say that it's free towing.

 

I was wondering why they hit you up for a tow bill if you have the Toyota Care for the first two years. That really sucks that they didn't honor that

 

Fuck I'm often running 4500-5000RPM in S3 or S4 up long steep grades for 5-10 minutes. Often several times over a few hours in the mountains. This way I can avoid constant shifting between 3-4-5. If this is not advisable I'm fucked because I can't handle the constant shifting on grades!

 

Have them check your crankshaft position sensor. It's becoming a common failure. I think I recall 1-2 CPS failures that indicated the same way as your issue (tranny overheating)...

 

Not sure how to add info to a previous message. Santa Fe toyota said I was too far away. To call toyota assistance. Did that they called a tow service $400 over the $100 they paid. Warranty should apply. I'll get my chance to question their policy once it's fixed. Truck has tow package with cooler

 

Due to the circumstances reported (towing and 'hunting' gears) I could be wrong. BUT, mine acted exactly the same, including trans temp light, start/stop, when it was the crankshaft position sensor.

 

Left out part of it. When my dealer worked on it first week they said nothing was wrong. Computer showed hot converter but worked fine. I picked it up drove it 30 miles check engine light came on took it back to them. Say they're putting a converter in it. Didn't quit me that time. They did the shift update the first week.

 

Sweet new engine and transmission, such a good choice by Toyota. Hope the step up to the plate as a company worth anything should, and fix ALL these trucks.

 

Get that crappy OEM Tranny fluid flushed out completely and refill with AMSOIL Low Viscosity Signature Series ATF and add Dr Tanny Additive and a bottle of LubeGard Platinum Tranny Additive to tranny, this will cure and protect for 60-75,000 miles,but I flush mine every 30-40,000 miles,Tranny way to expensive to R&R !

 

Couldn't even get the service foreman to check the fluid or smell it to see if burnt. They are installing a catalytic converter not a torque converter. I'm not ready to trust it to Mars and back like my 15 YO landcruiser