3rd Gen Transmission Fluid level Check

At dealer now. Scheduled the 5,000 service online and didn't mention tranny fluid check. Walked in, said it slipped a few times when it was cold and asked them to check it. He said if you wanted it checked, we'll check it. No problem doing it at all. Even said it'll take an hour or more to get it in temp range, and described the correct process. So far so good with this service department.

 

Good to hear. So hard to find a decent one, most now seem to
not give a rip about keeping a client or caring about a vehicle they
just sold you. Good luck with it dude.

 

This place has been very good to work with in the past. I bought my current and past tacoma from them and had all the service done here. I wasn't having any issues really, but felt a small slip a few times when it was cold.

 

follow up on this service. I drove down to state capital Saturday and the transmission is now totally different. I usually do 74mph on cruise and we always have wind.

drive down, tail wind 10-20, 74mph cruise set. didn't need to do sport shift the way down. left in drive mode and transmission shifted down to 5/4 and would promptly shift back to 6 in short order compared to before where it would stay in 4 and maybe shift up to 5th.

drive back, head wind 10-20 mph, cruise set at 74mph. left in drive mode, would shift down to 4/5 a lot (hills/head wind) but depending on incline/head wind would stay in 4th (didn't happen a lot) or kick up to 5th and stay (happened about 50%). otherwise it would shift back to 6th when it could.

overall big improvement on mileage, was getting about 19.x mph with tailwind and about 17.x into a head wind. this was about 2-4 mph increase in mpg compared to before.

side now, the lag shift from P to D is now a lot more pronounced.

 

I called to try to get the service department to schedule me for checking the trans level. I was told they would need the truck for AT LEAST 6 hours. I told them I'd need a loaner or something, I cannot wait that long. Nor do I really have the time, unless I take a day off of work. They seem to be most unhelpful. I tried with another dealer, all they were willing to do was hook it up to the computer which told them the level was OK...no physical check. I'm going to have to call Toyota, this is getting ridiculous. I'm not going to drive it 100 miles to a dealer that is willing to do it while I wait. Wish I could just do it myself.

 

Do it yourself..!! You and ONLY you own this thing.. Look after it YOURSELF.. F Toyota and their shit..!!

 

That was one of my initial concerns as well and why I took it in
and document it. They lied about actually checking it, but I have the
paperwork saying they did and it was "fine" just in case something
comes up later.

 

Currently waiting at dealer #2 for my trans check to be completed. Specified for them NOT TO USE THE TECHSTREAM. Left the truck overnight, hoping for some results. Also having the LCA TSB completed for the wind howling. Reported the steering wheel gas pedal vibrations at 2k RPM, but not expecting anything to be done about that, just having them document the issue.

 

Dealer couldn't reproduce my issue, so now I'm in the situation where I will pay ~$150 to have my level checked, if they find it low, they will pickup the bill, if not, on me.

 

why would you pay? ALL fluid levels are to be checked as part
of their 5k checkup.

 

They said I wouldn't pay if they checked by techstream, to open the "sealed system" they charge. But I agree..

 

Sealed....with a bolt used for checking the level? Friggin dealers!

I figured as much, still bullshit as there is no way to correctly check the fluid
with techstream, it only looks for error codes. They did the same to me.

 

That sucks. I didn't have time to get it checked Saturday at the 5k checkup but the dealer told me they know about it and if I want to leave the truck they would check it.

 

lol so 2 weeks ago i took mine in to get check. it was 1 qrt low from the factory so toyota filled it and sent me on my way. a couple days after i noticed something wet on the ground under my truck so i put a piece of cardboard under to confirm. within 2 hours i had a 6inch wet circle of trans fluid on the board. i took it in and it had leaked 2qrts in 5days. the tech that did the inital fill over tightened the drain plug causing the rubber seal gromet to break.... so ive since been refilled (again) and got a free wash and a couple little free toyota things.

great!

 

So two hours into waiting for my tranny to cool I go out to the service garage to grab my headphones out of the truck. Engine is running, it's in line for the fucking car wash, not cooling like they said it was. Since they wasted too much of my time I took the truck back and said I'd take it to another dealer. Service manager doesn't know what to do about page 38 of the warranty and maintenance manual, they think that for some reason the transmission fluid isn't included when it says "ALL FLUIDS to be checked and adjusted".

So far I've had bad experiences with Earnhardt Toyota and Auto Nation Toyota Tempe in Arizona. Has anyone had good luck with a dealer out here to get their tranny fluid checked via drain plug?

 

If you want something done right... well, you know how that saying goes.

 

what in the fuk!?!?

Maybe they were trying to cool it with a bath?

 

I have a 2016 Limited 2X with tow package and 4400 miles. I first brought my truck in to the dealer after experiencing problems with delayed shifting from P to Drive or P to Reverse. Also, when cool or sitting for some time, the transmission appeared to slip from 1st to 2nd. First time to the dealer they checked the fluid via diagnostic inspection only and found no issue. In fact, they told me that the truck was driving and shifting correctly (for a "work truck"). Later, when I got fed up and contacted Toyota Corp, they agreed to physically check the fluid in the trans and found it to be 1.25 Quarts low. I will report back if the problems I have had persist, but for now at least we know that the diagnostic check does not beat out a physical check of the fluid levels. Maybe trucks with the tow package are not inputted properly into the diagnostic computer to check for the appropriate fluid level. In other words, it could be diagnostic programming that is providing a false check of fluid levels. Just a thought.

 

I'm not tripping on this like everyone else on here, I feel the truck drives great. But, I had the 5000 mile service today, I asked them to check the transmission fluid..... And they said it was 3/4 qt low.

I'm more upset that they didn't vacuum my floor mats.

 

Posted this in the GearCruncher thread too, but it was moved to Tech Talk....


Ok everyone, Aside from the annoyance and potential damage resulting from the transmission fluid being low on your brand new truck, did filling the trans to the proper levels actually resolve any issues you were having?

Mine was 3/4 quart low, but topping it off at less than 500 miles did nothing for the delayed engagement between Reverse and Drive.
Lots of noise about low trans fluid, but not a lot of information about whether it is the cause of one of the major issues...the delay.