Does this transmission look like it was serviced?

on the OPs service invoice it shows they used cleaner/conditioner on the flush, my money is on the did the flush thru the transmission lines that usually how the flush it with a machine and cleaner/conditioner, and just put back the amount that they took out.

 

When I was working as a tech, we were required to use brake cleaner, and a rag to clean up any drips, or spills on a car.. and to check for leaks, i am thinking they sucked it out throught the fill hole, or the cooler lines, but filter.. doesnt look like it.. all the bolts on the cover appear untouched... probably a new mechanic trying to get his flat rate hours up. I had one car i accidentally forgot to do the cabin air filter on.. I flagged it for next service to change the filter then as they were a usual customer. they returned 4 months later, and filter was changed.

 

So any update OP? Did you go back to them? What did they say?

 

I've always gone to the dealer for my transmission flush on my 2nd gen every 50k. At 250k, I DIY a drain and fill, and had a paint measure bucket to collect the used transmission fluid. 4qts as expect came out.

So as long as your transmission was at the correct level from the factory, and you haven't had any leaks, then putting in what comes out works...

It's not ideal, but when the tech gets paid by the number of trucks they finish, saving 30 mins becomes a priority.

 

Yes sir . The AC60 series uses a filter that you can remove , wash and put back . The filter is similar to a window screen in your house

Far too many shortcuts for my liking
1 -These transmissions are famous for coming low from the factory
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...be-low-on-fluid-directly-from-factory.405642/
2 - No removal of the pan first to clean the magnets and wash the filter . I am not taking the risk of flushing crap through your valve body . I dont have 6 extra hours to remove your valve body and free the sticking valves or send you down the road and you develope a problem causing partial apply of a clutch that you cant feel when driving the truck

3- When the flush machine swaps your transmission fluid , the fluid going in is cool . It would be the ideal time to verify the level by removing the overflow bolt . I think Toyota needs to change their procedure to involve enough time for their techs to check for a proper level using the manual method

 

That's what makes me nervous. The fact that some of these were shipped low, and that they're only replacing what came out, without verifying. Perpetuating the cycle.

 

In 2012 I had a rav4 and asked to have all the maintenance done needed at 120k miles. A year later I was renting a room in a town home in downtown Houston. They let me use their garage because my car was broken into the first night. Within a few days there was black sludgey oil on the ground, but my engine was absolutely dry. I took it to the shop and turns out not a thing was done to my rav4 by the shop that charged me a good 1200$ for oil change, trans gasket and flush, coolant flush, brake rebuild and flush, rotors pads, air filter, etc...

My transmission was the source of leaking and very evident it and everything else hadn't been serviced.

 

the only issue would be seems a lot of 3rd gens come from the factory under filled, I don't know if that would become a factor with all 3rd gens as far as being correct amount in the trans. if it isn't properly checked using that Toyota procedure to do it. personally it makes a lot of sense just to replace the amount that you get out and hopefully is was the correct amount in there from the factory.

 

They should be checking fluid levels via scanner tool, when the truck is warmed up, and has driven a few miles they can check the fluid level that way.. suprised toyota doesnt include this in any sort of maintenance menu with the steering wheel controls..... bmw, audi, mercedes, volvo, and a few others do limited items... others you NEED a scanner with appropriate software...

 

unfortunately this seems to happen more times than you would think, my sister has a Ford Explorer and has a local Ford dealer do her maintainence/repair work she pulls in my driveway and the thing is rattling and making all kinds of noise, popped the hood and all fluid levels were below or nonexistent oil,antifreeze,trans.,powersteering fluid didn't even show up on the stick. she flipped out and never went back there, they basically weren't doing the job she paid them to do and could have f**ked up the truck, took advantage of the fact shes a woman and wouldn't know the difference.

 

If I’m going to take the time and do a fluid change doesn’t make sense that you wouldn’t drop the pan clean magnets and filter am I missing something?

 

The service manager said they flush through the lines. Thank you for all of the replies.

 

I get paid 1 hour and am given 12 quarts of trans fluid to do a trans flush. I am not paid enough to drop the pain, clean the magnets, install new filter and reinstall the pan, then clean up all the drippage from that then have to also use the trans flush machine to flush 12Q out and new 12Q in. Customer can have all that done but they have to pay extra for new gasket/filter and extra labor, which they say fuck no to.
While I agree the best way is to drop the pain and install a new filter/ect, I've yet to have a vehicle come back after only flushing the fluid out, that said we will not do it on vehicles over 150K unless we've done it in the past, we have one customer who tows a LOT and he gets it done every 50K-60K and he is over 200K at this point.

 

Its obvious Toyota isnt allowing you enough time to perform the flush correctly . It takes at least 20 minutes to get the transmission into temp mode if you dont have the dealer supplied tools to check the fluid for correct level when its warm . Yes, there is a dealership supplied tool to check the fluid level manually at any temperature
Could you not bring this to your foremans attention in an attempt to change the book time on this ?
I think everyone here would be a little happier knowing their fluid level was manually inspected after a " Dealership " service

 

I guess I not the average customer I would pay the extra $ and do right. I know the dealers flat rate sucks maybe they should give you the options that are available and as the customer you pick what you want

 

I work at Ford and we have a trans temp indicator, Ford's are at 180 degress, so we don't need extra tools.

We power brake to get to the right temp, truck goes on rack, tires off ground and dont rev about 2K, I usually stay around 1.5K rpm.
Edit - To be clear I mean we power brake to get the trans fluid to the correct temp to open the thermostat so we can start the service.

And corperate, not toyota but the corp who owes the dealer, sets the pay times for all regular maintenance and they aren't gonna change shit for us, any more they pay us is less profit.

 

He'll if you ask the SA they can check with the technician and most of us are happy to do more work and get paid more. But then you have to deal with parts not having the gasket or the filter in stock.

Most people here dont count as regular customers, most dealer customers are mechanically dumb and should not be allowed to change the spare tire, yesterday I had a guy who's brakes were beyond metal to metal and didn't want to pay for new rotors.

I had a guy a few months ago, brand new car and he was super pissed that his fog lights weren't working, he had his high beams on so his fogs automatically turn off, I turned off his high beams and magically the fog lamps now work, he's mad since his old other brand truck didnt do that.
I printed out how the lights work from the workshop manual that we use and gave that to him, he left looking sad.

 

MY bad !!!
Thought you worked for Toyota .
At least the Ford trucks still have a transmission dipstick .
Unfortunately Toyota trucks no longer have this fantastic feature
They say checking the transmission fluid level from the overflow bolt is more accurate in comaprison to the dreaded dipstick

 

I work at a dealership, I can 110% tell you that people are legit morons. I can’t tell you how many people get mad when their sirus sat radio doesn’t work indoors, or even explaining to rotate tires...

Me-“It’s $20 for us to rotate tires.”

Customer -“ no! that’s a dealer trick to make money, you don’t need to do that every 5k miles!”

I have given up on people, when they say no, I have them sign the waivers instantly and send them home thinking they won.

 

No worries, I thought I said worked at Ford but didnt, I think the over fill hole is bs but that's what our trucks have. Would be really nice if the Ford dipstick was under the hood instead of a little dipstick on the trans.