Low transmission fluid level

My build date was 4/16. After 500 miles, it was obvious that something wasn't right with the transmission. The lag to shift from D->R or R->D was my big clue. I took it to the dealer and had them manually check the ATF level. They didn't argue and kept it overnight to test. 1 full quart low. They did the fill and the truck is much better now.
As a side note, they also ripped off my driver's side mirror in a car wash on site

 

Thanks for the link, I hadn't been over to the tech section. Still less organized then I would hope b/c we don't really know dates on those low/OK data points, but that's just me being picky.


Going on an adventure today, going out to see if I can find someone who will actually physically check the fluid level!

 

It was time for my 5k service today so I showed the dealer the video they are going to keep it until end of day and check ATF levels I'll report back if I'm low.

 

Got a different dealer's service manager to tell me unequivocally that he would check the fluid manually, and he had checked other '16 Tacos.

He told me something very alarming, though. The conversation went something like this...
SM: Yeah, we've seen a few that are leaking, they can't seem to get the seal right.
Me: Oh, it's not a leak, it's supposedly under filled from the factory.
SM: Well that's not what we've seen. We see them leaking into the transfer case, that's why they're low.
Me: Wow, I didn't hear any reports of leaks.
SM: Yup, when you separate the transfer case you get a few quarts of ATF on your head if you're not prepared for it to be in there.
Me: Well mine is 2WD so...
SM: So it probably shouldn't have any issue. We'll still check it for you though.
Me: Well I definitely saw someone report their 2WD as low from the factory, so I appreciate that.

As I drove away the implication of that hit me and I was like "holy fucking shit, people with 4x4s might not just be factory low, their shit could be actively leaking..."


Fuuuuck. I need to report this in the other tech thread.

 

Interesting about the leak.... but as long as they warranty and fix it I could care less. Still waiting to hear back from the dealer on mine.

 

Well I'll never be going back to that dealer (Charles Maund Toyota in Austin). Gave them my car for the entire day so they could manually check the level and the service adviser told me that wasn't done.

Me: What did you find out?
SA: The computer said the levels were fine but we reprogrammed it just in case.
Me: Why didn't you do what I specifically asked for?
SA: The tech took it on a drive and said that they couldn't duplicate the issues that you are having and that it's operating at factory specs
Me: Ok.... well tell my sales guy that the 4 runner we were supposed to get my wife will be purchased from another dealer because you guys can't complete a simple request (by the way I offered to pay for it if it was low).


To make this more interesting... they called me prior to the test drive to ask if my dash cam was also a GPS and if it measured how many miles they drove it.... Makes me wonder how far they really drove it, I should have checked exact mileage before dropping it off

 

Sooooo good news! I called Toyota corporate on Thursday of last week, and told them about all the issues I was having with my truck including but not limited to, the erratic shifting problems in the transmission, the low fluid in the transmission, the alignment appearing to be off at high way speeds, low grease in the zerks, etc... After 2 business days, today, they called me back and said they have granted a 7year/100000mile warranty upgrade on my truck. They will be working out the VSA tomorrow with me over the phone. The advisor I spoke to said that this will be the first one that she is doing so she is going to have some help when she calls me back tomorrow. If you have any questions for me about how to do, or anything pertaining to the issues on my truck, please let me know. Also,

ANY PROBLEMS NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL HAVE TO BE REPORTED TO TOYOTA! Thats how we get things fixed in a timely manner. Toyota has been very good with me and I am a very happy customer.

 

subbed

 

So...is there any weight to this 'theory' of our ATF ending up in the transfer case?
Geez, I hadn't thought of that possibility. As I mentioned, mine too was 1/2qt low and I have the tow package.

I don't really buy that it's ending up in the transfer case - but it's food for thought on this and could explain some stuff.

 

Very very common in old vehicles with seals that are hard as rock . Not too common on a new truck when the double clad seal is new and in constant contact with the transmission output shaft , well lubricated and the garter spring is in place .

 

I'm just reporting what I heard because I figure it might help some people. So at this point it's just hearsay from one service manager as reported by me. Take it with a grain of salt, could be miscommunication, could be a single isolated issue mis-attributed to other trucks, could be a huge issue. Not enough data to say at this point. And sadly it's not like you can just take a peek inside your t-case.

 

Just got the call from the dealership after dropping off the Tacoma...transmission was 2 quarts low. I only had 600 miles on it.

For tracking purposes, it is a 2016 Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4x4 V6 with tow package. June 2016 build coming from Mexico.

 

I have had a lot of customers have me check their fluid, and I have found a few that were low, out of the ones I have had to check, about 20% were low, and generally they were about 1/2qt under, I havent seen one that needed 2 quarts yet, thats a lot!

 

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the printouts from a dealership usually only ever "round up" based on how many bottles of ATF they had to crack open?

So like, if the service order says 2 quarts that could be anywhere from 1.00000001 quart to 2. Even if they only had to crack that second quart for a quick splash of fluid, it still gets marked down as "used 2 quarts"... right?

 

Mine noted "added 0.8 quarts."

 

Mine already Auto Revs, but it does so randomly and usually when I'm trying to park in a very tight space which in turn gives a pretty high Pucker Factor!

 

haha I know the feeling. I think it is trying to compensate for varying loads from the power steering pump.

 

4ADVTRS have you placed your votes for tracking purposes?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...be-low-on-fluid-directly-from-factory.405642/

 

I had mine checked out the other day by @Speed Freek (Our go to guy in SoCal)and it turned out fine. I have a TRD Sport with a tow package, Built in Baja Mexico 02/16. Thanks Jason for your help!!!