10k mile service update

Nine month update on my 2016 dbcb offroad. Nice truck, rides and handles well and has been delivering decent gas mileage. But not all has been great. My transfer case exploded at 5k miles. Internal damage, locking it in low range. The tow and repair was fully covered and quickly resolved by Toyota with a new transfer case. Even after a transmission re-flash, I find the transmission shifting funky. I'm sort of getting used to it, but shift flare in the morning always bothers me. Hopefully another update will be coming. Another odd issue is the read wheel arch trim is discoloring at the lower leading front end. Almost looks like sand blasting is turning it light in color. I'm asking Toyota to replace these during my service visit, we'll see if they will do it.
The black paint finish isn't great, real easy to get light scratching. I really can't take it through an automated "soft touch" car wash or I spend a couple hours after with some buffing work.

 

Forgot to add Entune voice control is almost useless. I got sick of yelling at it and now just push buttons to operate it. I also tow a 2500 lb boat and it tows it ok, but could use more power. I probably should have gone the Tundra route.

 

Did you do the voice recognition with the head unit..?? That might help.
Also....Check the tranny fluid level.. Physically....!! do not let the dealer tell you it is OK by hooking up the puter..!!

 

It's not just black, black just shows more.

Paint on almost any modern vehicle is considerably softer than the paints of yore.

No low/middle class vehicle will have paint durable for 'touch' automated car washes.

 

silver sky metallic hides any scratches

The black trim pieces definitely show scratches, but I'm not super worried about it right now. Those are fairly cheap to replace if they start looking too haggard.

 

I haven't research this, but I was under the impression the transmission fluid level can only be checked by computer. Is this not true?

 

It's the exact opposite. It can only be checked manually.

It's a tedious process--which is why dealers say the computer checks it (because they dont want to).

 

Toyota service says the wheel arch trim discoloring is winter "residual". Ok, so it doesn't wipe off or clean up. I guess it's their way of saying tough sh*t, live wih it. I did the voice training with entunes and it still barely works. The voice recognition on my Android phone is 100% better. What was Toyota thinking by eliminating the transmission dip stick?

 

Hello. The shift flare is a valve body design flaw in the transmission. When the fluid cools, an air bubble is drawn into the 4th gear apply clutch circuit. The bubble causes a momentary slip when shifting to 4th gear. Toyota has a software patch that helps by causing the valve body to burp the bubble.

Here is what to do:

File a case with Toyota corporate
Have your fluid level corrected
Get the latest transmission software flashed. This should help. Good luck!

 

no dip stick for the transmission isn't as big a deal as with Porsche where there is not even a dip stick for the engine. I guess the '16's have some transmission problems but my '17 has been great so far. In fact, I don't remember ever adding more than a few ounces of transmission fluid total in all the cars I've owned in the last 50 years.

 

I'll check for a reflash. Thanks

 

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Hi Dylan. I will do what I can. My transmission was flaring 3rd to 4th gear shift. After I filed my transmission, the problem improved, but if I let the truck sit overnight it would flare in the morning. I know the transmission fluid contracts when cold, and I read there are some end caps that are known to leak. If I filled my transmission above the end caps, the transmission never flaired. Returning the level to the factory level, I used a Techstream to burp 4th gear apply circuit while the selector was in park. The shift flare never occured when I did this procedure. Thus, I concluded there was leaking down of a circuit in the valve body causing the flare. I hope that helps.