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

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by gearcruncher, Dec 13, 2015.

?

Was your transmission low on fluid?

  1. fluid level is fine

    198 vote(s)
    29.7%
  2. fluid level was low

    314 vote(s)
    47.1%
  3. Truck was built in USA and had low fluid

    152 vote(s)
    22.8%
  4. Truck was built in Mexico and had low fluid

    195 vote(s)
    29.3%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Oct 7, 2016 at 10:38 PM
    #801
    mc282000

    mc282000 Well-Known Member

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    Ok, got it into temp check mode, although I didn't wait long enough because it displayed as in the temp check zone immediately, and only stayed there for just under 5 minutes.

    Here's where I'm confused, I pulled the check plug, and a large flow came out. When it finally started to trickle, I closed it up. Poured the fluid back into the bottles and it wouldn't fit. So, roughly 2.3L came out by my measurements.

    Does that mean the truck was full or slightly over filled from the factory?

    Unfortunately I leave for 10 days of travel 4am tomorrow. So won't be able to check the fluid again for several days. Will report back when I can.
     
  2. Oct 12, 2016 at 4:02 PM
    #802
    taftafari

    taftafari Member

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    Can I please get some more opinions. Should I be satisfied with the dealers Techstream Check of my ATF?
     
  3. Oct 12, 2016 at 8:01 PM
    #803
    SilverTRD Sport

    SilverTRD Sport Well-Known Member

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    NO! The Techstream cannot check fluid level. You must check it manually. I went to the dealer and they said everything is okay by the Techstream. Many other members here have said the same thing. I checked it myself manual and I was a little less than 1 quart low.
     
    gearcruncher[OP] likes this.
  4. Oct 19, 2016 at 8:04 PM
    #804
    Ed Crankshaft

    Ed Crankshaft Well-Known Member

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    This raises another question: "is having too much ATF in your transmission going to cause any issues?"
     
  5. Oct 20, 2016 at 6:43 PM
    #805
    gearcruncher

    gearcruncher [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Great white North 51.0333° N, 93.8333° W
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    TRD Sport Rally -5 speed automatic Limited ,Factory heated leather seats ,chrome package,Super white with front windows tinted to 35 % Dick Cepek DC-2 wheels Summer tires - Good year silent armor P265/65R17 Winter tires - Good year P265/65R17 Ultra Ice studded Illuminated 4x4 switch TRD 3rd brake light cover ($20) TRD seat belt shoulder protectors (5). ($50) TRD ...B pillar emblems ($20) TRD rear slider sticker with devil horns ( $6) TRD summer floor matts ($60) TRD steering wheel emblem ($20) TRD floor pedals .($95) TRD shorty antenna ($14) TRD front Windshield emblems ($17) TRD head pillows .($60) TRD head rest protectors TRD door scuff protection $20 TRD floor matt emblems ($40) TRD tow plug emblem . ($40) TRD cigarette lighter with LED.($35) TRD tissue dispenser ($12) TRD front bezel emblems ($9) TRD door emblems ($6) TRD lanyards($9) TRD lisence plates with TRD bolts($50) TRD fender emblems TRD center caps Part Number:PT904-35070-CC ($80) TRD cd
    Far less issues than being low on fluid .
    Foaming re-agents are used in transmission fluid . When transmission fluid is overfilled , there is a possibility that the fluid can " churn up " enough to spill out the transmission vent and cause a fire or cause aeration inside the transmission causing damage to the transmission pump .
    Re-agents are added to your transmission fluid to prevent this from happening should an overfill occur .
    There are " NO " re-agents added to transmission fluid to compensate for an under filled transmission
    In some aftermarket situations , many overhauled transmissions require the fluid to be 1 liter over the full mark and this is more prevalent to off road 4 wheel drives because of the off axis situations they are involved with .
    If you consider the engineers designing the transmission pan , sometimes the engineer doesn't compensate for real world situations while sitting at his desk .Some engineers still beleive the world is flat
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2016
    Sideways Sherry likes this.
  6. Oct 21, 2016 at 7:31 AM
    #806
    bucktowntaco

    bucktowntaco Well-Known Member

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    I manually checked it yesterday and was right at 1 quart low. What a shame Toyota can't get their shit together.
     
  7. Oct 23, 2016 at 7:37 PM
    #807
    SilverTRD Sport

    SilverTRD Sport Well-Known Member

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    Not just Toyota but there dealers suck. I have an appointment next Saturday for the TSB with another dealer we will see what happens but I can almost bet nothing will happen. It will be in for the 10k service which I marked the filter housing and drain plug.
     
  8. Oct 26, 2016 at 6:56 PM
    #808
    mc282000

    mc282000 Well-Known Member

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    I don't think using the techstream automatically means they didn't do the procedure correctly. From my reading, the techstream can be used to determine when the fluid is within the temp boundaries to properly check it. This is the alternative to jumping the #4 and #13 ports underneat the dash with a piece of wire and performing the shift from N - D steps. If they used the techstream to verify the ATF was at the proper temperature, that's when they would then open the check plug and perform the rest of the procedure. The problem would be if they said all they did was hookup the techstream to check the level. That's apparently not possible.
     
  9. Oct 26, 2016 at 7:05 PM
    #809
    mc282000

    mc282000 Well-Known Member

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    Just to close the loop on this. I got back from vacay sunday evening late. Woke up early monday before work to do the check again. Got to the point of opening the check plug and nothing came out kind of as expected based on my last post. So I started pumping in the fluid until i got a steady flow, waited until it started to gargle and slow to a trickle and then buttoned it up. I'm confident I now have the proper fluid level.

    Couple problems though, 1, I used one of those pumps that has two tubes coming out, one from each end and is red in color. It wasn't secured to the quart of ATF it was drawing from, and in my haste I spilled the quart. Regardless I finished the procedure, but it's made it difficult to determine if I was truly low on fluid from the factory. Based on my best guess, i was anywhere from 0 - .5 qts low. Moral of the story, either have someone hold the quart for you, or get a different pump that's sealed and can't spill.

    2nd problem was more of a warning I should've heeded, and that is don't burn yourself. My tricep touched the exhaust and I have a nasty burn. So just be careful when doing this procedure.

    Ironically, I'm at roughly 500 miles on my truck and starting to notice a flare between 1st and 2nd gear. Also noticing a lurching when coming to a stop and it downshifts from 2nd to 1st gear. Once I heard a clunk during the lurch. Finally I am also noticing the hunting for gears when going up hill. I plan to take it in and have them do an ATF check and TSB is applicable. I'll also call corporate to make sure its documented and see if I can't get the 7/100k warranty.

    Edit, just saw the TSB has been cancelled on another post??? Can anyone confirm?
     
  10. Oct 27, 2016 at 12:19 AM
    #810
    SCVReady

    SCVReady Active Member

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    Ugh. I was persistent about them (local dealership) checking the fluid level before I took delivery. I was told it was ok. Just went through the check procedure and damn it, it was 3/4 quart low.

    *Edit: typo.
     
  11. Oct 27, 2016 at 6:38 PM
    #811
    EKYTacomaGuy

    EKYTacomaGuy Active Member

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    Just had mine checked at my dealer after driving 5200 miles on it. It was 2 quarts low. Built in San Antonio, TRD Sport Double Cab Short Bed 4x4 with towing package, just for reference.
     
  12. Oct 29, 2016 at 2:58 PM
    #812
    Ed Crankshaft

    Ed Crankshaft Well-Known Member

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    Has any made up their own jumper to connect terminals CG and TC instead of ordering SST 09843-18040 ?
     
  13. Oct 29, 2016 at 6:38 PM
    #813
    Beer:30

    Beer:30 There's always money in the banana stand

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    I used a paper clip.
     
  14. Oct 31, 2016 at 5:55 PM
    #814
    Dirk_Pitt

    Dirk_Pitt Well-Known Member

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    2017 Limited 4x4 from Texas plant and a 9/2016 build date with about ~800 miles so far. I live and purchased this vehicle in GA, so this is a "Southeast Toyota" region truck. I ordered 4 quarts of WS and a pump that came in today, specifically for piece of mind. The procedure to check the fluid is really easy if you have any kind of "wrench" experience and can follow directions. I initially warmed the fluid and pulled the 5mm plug and nothing came out, nada, not a drop. I immediately turned the truck off and put a fan underneath to minimize heat soak. I pumped in one quart of fresh WS and started the procedure over again. I had a fresh clean beaker under the truck and carefully measured the "overflow" after adding the additional quart. Mine needed exactly 12oz additional from how it was delivered to me from the dealer. Not as bad as some, but not full either.
     
    Ed Crankshaft likes this.
  15. Nov 3, 2016 at 11:20 AM
    #815
    1bluedog

    1bluedog New Member

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    So if I just drained the transmission and refilled it with 3.1 liters I should be at the correct level without having to check temp and all the rest right?
     
  16. Nov 3, 2016 at 12:51 PM
    #816
    SilverJA

    SilverJA Member

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    That's a good point. My OBDLink doesn't have the PID to check the transmission temp so currently I don't have a way to verify that when checking my current levels.

    Sadly, I also couldn't see where to fill the transmission back up when I was under there last week. Admittedly though, work has been very busy and I haven't had any time to research more.
     
  17. Nov 4, 2016 at 6:59 PM
    #817
    SilverTRD Sport

    SilverTRD Sport Well-Known Member

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    UPDATE: Went to another dealer here in Houston and I had no problem with them to reflash the ECM with
    T-SB-0077-16. I also had the 10k service done. All this took 1 hours. However, since I don't trust dealers I marked the oil filter housing with Torq-Seal as well as the drain plug. When I got home the oil was changed but no filter. I brought it back to them and the service manager was not happy with the tech and they apologizes to me. The dealer did do a good job on everything else and was very accommodating to do the TSB. I will go back there but will continue to mark the filter housing. I am wondering how many techs at the dealer do this. There are too many hands involved at dealerships and things can/will do wrong in a hurry.
     
  18. Nov 4, 2016 at 7:03 PM
    #818
    SilverTRD Sport

    SilverTRD Sport Well-Known Member

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    By the way the TSB works wonders for shift quality. It is not perfect but a big improvement. The R to D delay is totally gone so far. Some members here say there fuel mileage has increased but mine has stayed the same. It has only been a week.
     
    gearcruncher[OP] likes this.
  19. Nov 5, 2016 at 3:22 PM
    #819
    IPNPULZ

    IPNPULZ Well-Known Member

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    Deeper in the South…….
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    going to be fun!
    I guess I will have to try another dealer to get my tranny fluid checked....
     
  20. Nov 19, 2016 at 8:50 AM
    #820
    Moondust

    Moondust New Member

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    Yesterday I had my trans fluid checked at North Bakersfield Toyota in Bakersfield, CA. I'm pretty sure they followed the correct procedure, as they had to wait over 4 hours for the fluid to reach the correct temperature. They called the Toyota office to verify the issue. Although Toyota hasn't issued an official problem notice, for some reason the dealer didn't charge me for the check, so Toyota must know something is up!

    Anyway, my fluid level was good. My service advisor said my truck is from the Texas factory. I bought it in June.

    I was thinking about asking for the programming update, but on a long trip to Arizona, the truck did pretty well with its gear choices, and my mileage was over 20 mpg, so I decided to leave well enough alone.
     

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