3rd Gen Transmission Fluid level Check

Took my truck in today. (AutoNation Toyota - Tempe, AZ) They were perfectly happy to check the fluid levels, didn't care or even try to reproduce any issues before doing so. They just had to let it sit awhile to cool down first and pointed some fans at it to help speed that process up. (I have no idea if that actually works or not) I left about 3.5 hours after I arrived.

End result was they did find it low and filled it to spec. No charge, of course. They didn't specify exactly how low it was. I still have fairly low mileage - happy to get this addressed early on!

 

Good dealer... fans even (they were thinking of YOU)...cool it quicker..

Great service .... give them the thumbs up..

 

This is the dealership experience we all expect and deserve!

 

.
My V-6 with Auto is flawless at .. 2.5 days and 150 miles.

The transmission in my 2007 Tundra went completely out at 500 miles though.
.

 

I purchased from Autonation in SoCal, and have visited them and one other for this fuckedup transmission.
Both only did diagnostics port readings and sent me on my way.
I checked it myself and was a full Qt. low, checked the diff while at it and found it low too. WTF
Forget the cost and my own time...
Autonation in SoCal (at least the ones I visited) are $hit.

 

I'm so glad I found this forum. I've been having the exact same issues as everyone in this thread (and then some). I've been getting blown off by the dealership from day one. I took it in at 300 miles and they told me it was the break in period and this stuff would sort itself out. I've never bought a new truck before, and I thought they were bullshitting me, but I went along with it--because why would they want to let a problem go unfixed when its under warranty?? (naive I know).

My truck has the following issues:

• hood buffeting
  
• clunky shifts and delayed engagement
• hunting (this may not be the right word) for gears. It seems to be always shifting to a higher gear and wont hold gears long enough. (ie Give it gas and it down shifts to 3rd then immediately back up to 4th then 5th then 6.) Sometimes it stays in a gear for a really long time @3500 RPM--which is almost preferably to the constantly shifting/up shifting because at least I have power.
  
• occasionally, as I come to stops on inclines, the truck slams forward. I think it usually happens when its cold, but its so sporadic that I cant say for sure. I thought I got rear-ended the first time it happened. It can be pretty bad when it happens.
  
• Brake pedal pulsating. It's mostly at low speeds but something is actuating and causing the brake pedal to pulsate.
• vibration that feels like I am running over a rumble strip as I come to a stop
• howling when I lift off the gas at highway speeds (i already fixed that low speed howl from the control arms with duct tape)

I am regretting my purchase of this truck. I opened a ticket at corporate and took it back in for service before I found this forum/thread. I guess I feel better knowing its not just me/my truck.

But the service rep was incredibly dismissive of all of my issues and I could tell he wasn't planning on putting the time in to check things out properly. It was obvious from my interaction with him that he thought I was being ridiculous. He called me a day later (yesterday) and said something along the lines of "the tech couldn't reproduce X issues, so that's not a problem" and did that for everything down the list. Literally that's how he decided to present his findings. He tried some BS about my tires prematurely feathering and that would be causing my issues

I was livid. I told him he needs to manually check the ATF and have the tech actually get under the truck to investigate the other issues. Dont just drive it around for 10 minutes and dismiss everything. I told him I wasn't picking it up until its fixed.

I'm printing out the PDI checklist and instructions about how to fix it and am driving them up there today to talk to the service manager (again).

Side note: Has anyone had success getting these issues addressed at a northern Virginia dealership?? I'm just about done dealing with the dealership I am going to, and the other one I called blew me off on the phone--which doesn't bode well for their service.

 

See my long winded post on the other thread. IMO the low fluid issue is not causing the shifting issues. Most of what people are feeling after fluid adjustment are just "placebo" effects and the combination of it beginning to warm up I believe.

Its just a bad matchup with this engine/tranny mapping combo.

 

Would it be worth it just to skip the dealer and assume my truck is low on ATF and add 3/4 qt myself?

 

i added 3/4 quart then followed the procedure to check the level. A few tablespoons of fluid came out during the check so mine was just under 3/4 low. I would suggest you do the same. It's worth 30 minutes of your time - less time than it takes to drive to a dealer and wait for a few hours while watching the Clinton News Network in the waiting room.

 

Does anyone know if they've fixed the problem at the factories with later production? My Access Cab TRD Off Road with tow package was made 3/16 at Texas plant. Just over 1K miles. I'm not really experiencing anything other than the 5th/6th gear hunt. Anyone here who has found their fluid low have one made this recently? Thanks.

 

I don't think anyone has an answer for this, however as I just ordered my Taco 4x4 I would like to know if anyone has any updates as well...

 

Driving my new truck today - it is becoming obvious I'm having issues. Step on the gas and it goes normal for about 2 seconds then up-shifts. RPMs and power drops to nothing. Have to step on it to get to a lower gear to get power. But it has to constantly be in a revving state to get or maintain power.

I don't know if I should take it back to the dealer and ask them to double check the fluid level again? The experienced tech stated he checked it, he knew about the problem and verified I was at proper level. He stated that he followed the temp process, and the markings would show that he removed the plugs to do the check. He said he had them set so he could tell if anyone else tampered with them. Is that some kind of between lines warning I will lose my warranty if I check the level myself?

What I don't understand, is if I turn ECT on, it seems to drive normal without all the shifting and loss of power. So does that mean it's not transmission fluid and more of a computer problem?

 

IMO Yes, The shifting issues due to low fluid have just been speculations. After the research I have done with Mine and my fathers it seems to be mostly computer related. They will probably release some type of TSB soon and then update our trucks. The bad part is we will probably lose fuel economy.

 

That'd be ok. I didn't buy it for the fuel economy anyway. ...not that there's anything wrong with that. I got an off road long bed so I can bring my boys camping and whatever else we can do for fun in this thing. This morning I noticed with ECT on, it still shutters a very little when shifting gears, and the infamous 65 - 70 range still shifts up too soon and bogs down.

 

At this point, if you have the tow package, I think that would still be better than doing nothing at all. But why not call around and find a dealer willing to work with you? At least get this documented. You're not only doing yourself a favor but also other 2016 owners.

 

Just called my dealership, RICE Toyota in Greensboro, NC.... dropping it off tomorrow afternoon for them to do a transmission fluid level check on Wednesday! Thanks for all the info guys! Now I hope it was a bit low, causing a vibration....

 

Are you leaving your truck overnight ?

 

yes, putting me into a stock something for a day... $25 for the rental will be the only charge

 

Just dropped my truck off at Crown Toyota for the tranny fluid check. At first they had a service tech ride with me to verify the issues. Of course it wasn't as bad with the truck warmed up, but he did notice a slight delay, but thought it may be normal operation. After some discussion with his foreman, they said they've heard issues about the low tranny fluid and agreed to have mine checked just to be on the safe side so it's with them for a few hours. I'll report once I get my truck back.

 

Awesome! Hope it fixes the issue!