3rd Gen Automatic Transmission Fluid Level Check DIY

thanks I was looking at that one on Amazon..

 

When I did my wife’s 5th gen 4runner a few weeks ago, I bought some clear vinyl tubing off Amazon and a found a long funnel that fit into it snugly. I filled the trans up from above the engine and just used gravity. It was way easier on the arms then pumping 200 times, haha.

 

There is something to be said about this method. I have considered it.

 

I have a 1 gallon garden sprayer set up for WS. I got rid of the sprayer wand, added a fuel shut off valve and about 3' of additional tubing. I pour in the amount I need, pump it up and get the tube in the hole then let it rip. Been using this on my Tacoma, my old 4Runner, and my wife's Rav4.

 

Going to do this over the weekend. My truck has a tendency to slightly shake/lug when I slowly accelerate through 45 mph and the transmission shifts from 4th to 5th. The vibrations are much less if I keep the truck in S4 under the same acceleration conditions. Could this be a symptom of low transmission fluid?

 

No. This is related to torque converter management and throttle limits on stock ECU.

 

Sticky this

 

Have used this setup on the FJ for about ten years. Note to self; always zip tie the funnel to hood. It really sucks when it falls over while grabbing another quart

 

Do you have to pin the thermostat on '21+ tacomas?

What are the part numbers for the two drain plug seals/washers and the 24mm fill plug?

I ordered the fill plug gaskets from two different dealerships and each time they give me an o-ring so small you can't even fit it over a ball point pen, yet they insist its the correct part.

 

Just did this on my 21 OR. Fill plug (24 mm) had a rubber gasket no need to replace. Check plug used a replaceable aluminum washer part #

$7 35178-30010

35178-30010 from the dealership

 

Thank you.

Did you pin your thermostat open?

 

I did, 1/16” drill bit like mentioned by the OP

 

@rowsdower Could you add to the tutorial that 2020+ does not need to jump the OBD-II port. You can put the truck in temp check mode just by going through the gear sequence. I just did an atf check on my 2023 SR 4x4 and found it be 8 ounces short.

 

Nice detail

 

What’s the verdict on using an obd tool to check temp instead of jumping the port?

Planning on doing this later today.

 

Haven't figured out which way you're gonna proceed ? Thats why your feverishly reading my fluid swap thread and assuming Im stupid. Lol

 

Lol, what? I had already done my drain/fill/check before even reading your halfwit thread. Regardless, if you can comprehend anything on this forum, I was going to do the fluid check at the appropriate temps and not just dump fluid in nillywilly and say it's all good.

 

I just tried this method - I have a 2020 Tacoma - and it worked great. Sure beats squeezing under the dash and looking for the correct OBD ports. Thank you.

 

Thank you, Brian! 2021 here -This really helped supplement @mattleg 's written instructions for 2020+. Despite not working for me initially - due to summer temps* here in the southern plains, ironically it was not all that hot for here, upper 80's, but lovely high humidity.
Drove the truck to run errands late afternoon. About 7:30 started doing the drain and fill smoothly thanks to @Soft Taco great video series, Team Oil Drop, of DIY work (btw, Car Care Nut has repeatedly stressed no need to drop the pan in his videos, and does explain why) . If you raise the the front only part of the truck as high as hydraulic jack can go, you will drain another qt vs flat. My total drain was 3.5qts
*Back to the temps - Fluid refill done, now getting into the truck's Temp check mode - immediately, the flashing D came up - knowing I was doing the steps correctly, it confirmed the truck was just too damn hot still. 10pm - same sh*t!
Okay, not wanting to go to bed thinking about it, I waited until 1:15 am (72f ambient?). The D disappeared - Eureka! (Make sure you have A/C, overhead lights, headlights, & radio off, etc) But, in mere seconds, the solid D showed up.... This middle aged man (or more!) was then flying around that truck to get back under (the burning fuse of the too hot dreaded flashing D threat - what a cliffhanger! ).
Only 1/4 qt came out (I refilled initially w/ 4 qts of Valvoline Max Life ATF, following Soft Taco's plus .5 qt advice), but sure glad it did!
So, as many have reported here, turns out I was just shy of .5 qt low from the factory (24,700 miles - I drive very, very dusty gravel/dirt roads often - Side note: I can tell you w/ fact that my power steering "chamber" is way more susceptible to incoming dirt than the transmission. I had to more than double TOD's video w/ 6 step drain & frill - and I'm still not where Soft Taco ended up!). Out going ATF fluid looked fantastic, very red, but obviously not at prime level. I do notice now, very subtley, smoother shift transitions - not a surprise.

I underscore other's occasional advice about lifting front of truck high when draining begins (going back to level of course for fill and temp check level testing) and just know that in the dead of summer and/or dead of winter, temp check mode can have some hurdles. As I've read here and there, can take 4 hours or more to cool the fluid back to a working level for functioning temp check mode. Yes, a $can Gauge would be handy.

Again thanks to the helpful posts and videos.

P.S. @brian2sun I see you are basser... I'm a drummist.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNqYpEpmUng

 

So my dump and pump 3.5 quarts sounds about right.