Should I or shouldn't I, ask to have auto trans fluid level checked

Good morning, I was reading a list of areas of interest to look into on 3rd Gen Tacomas. I took delivery of mine on Saturday and have driven about 100miles. It drives great and no shifting issues that I can detect. One of the areas listed on the thread mentioned that some Tacomas were delivered low on trans fluid. I know that since manufacturers have removed the time honored trans dipstick tubes/sticks checking level is not a quick and easy thing. I don't want to start out being a pain in the neck to my dealer service dept, but.
Mine is a 2017 Limited 4WD. Any thoughts?

 

I have considered this as well, 2017 Off Road with a build of 3/17. I have experienced a few clunky downshifts into first when cold which I'm not too worried about but otherwise none of the other issues associated with low fluid. I even went as far as to pick up some fluid from the dealer to top off with if needed but I have yet to actually perform the fluid check. I probably will soon, I have the time and the tools and I figure it'll be a good learning experience in case I have to do anything similar later on down the road.

As for asking the dealer, I personally wouldn't simply because the process seems easy enough. However if you were to develop any real signs of low fluid (i.e. shift flare, slippage, or frequent hard shifts) I would not hesitate to have them check it properly, meaning probably leaving the vehicle overnight. Those issues would represent a very low condition and you should not feel about about asking.

But I suppose it does not hurt to ask either way! As long as your polite and cool about it I doubt you'll ruffle any feathers in the service department!

 

Get them to check it if you can, so it can be documented. Then, even if they say its good, check it yourself...it's the only way to know, 100%.
My $.02...

 

Welcome to Tacomaworld! Please don't think, just because you read it on TW, that you have that same issue. In the real world, it's called a hypochondriac. People read it, think they got it. Toyota did ship a few underfilled. That does not mean yours is underfilled. If you have no symptoms, just enjoy driving it and not give it a second thought. Why? Because a thousand things COULD be wrong with your truck from the factory like
They forgot to glue the windshield in
They underfilled the coolant
They put in dirty gasoline
Somebody dropped a rag in your intake
They nicked a wire in your harness
Wrong steel spec for frame
tire has an internal bubble

So you see, all those things COULD be wrong but, chances are, everything is fine.

 

Thanks all, I probably will just be hyper-conscious about how it shifts. So far, just fine. I first ran into this idiotic situation of no dipstick/tube on my daughter's 03GrandAm. I would gladly pay a premium to have the ability to easily check the level. It was tough to check her's without access to a vehicle lift to elevate evenly. Now with bad knees and trifocals I will just monitor.

 

It doesn't hurt to have it checked. Mine was 1qt low right off the showroom floor. BUT it took 2 attempts for the service dept. to actually check it and provide proof. They kept saying it was normal...

 

I believe most of the fluid was within the recommended range, but shifting issues were all over. The issues I believe are/were due to shifting patterns. A flash update did wonders for mine. Mine hesitated or felt like it was slipping. Cruise control got stuck on higher RPM, and it was rough shifting, hesitated a lot. Since then it drives much better. I would like a bit more boost, but when I bought it and would back up then go to drive I sometimes would have to wait up to 8 seconds. Not safe and felt like a transmission going out.

 

I have the 2.7 and read all the woes about low transmission fluid here on Tacoma World. I had a appointment to get mine checked during my 1st oil change, (and they even had me a loaner.) I called 2 days before my appointment and told them to scratch that off the list. Never done the A/C drain mod either and can sleep good at night also.

 

Did the 3rd gen 2.7 lose the dipstick too? My 2nd gen 2.7 still has one, and the 4.0s did not.

#savethedipsticks #dipsticks matter

 

Yes, no dipstick on the transmission.

 

i've checked many new 16's and 17's, and the worst i've seen was about 3/4 quart low.

my 16 was about a half quart low, i only checked it because when inching through a parking lot or drive-thru, it felt as if it would drop out of gear. as it turns out, that is a normal feeling with this trans.
harsh 2-1 shift is fairly common in this, i hope they release another software patch to correct it, otherwise last years update ("revision 1") was pretty good. there is no guarantee that your truck has this newer calibration in it, as not all 17's got updated immediately.
i have updated quite a few early 17's. later build dates all are good.
chances are, you're probably fine and everything is up to date, but if you worry that much, have them check it for peace of mind. the service manager will easily be able to get it covered under warranty.

FYI: this auto trans has about a 500-700 mile "learning period", more if you are driving a majority of the time on the highway.. so give it time and it will figure itself out more and more. (the new 8 speed in highlander/sienna/camry takes well over 1000 miles!)

 

You should totally get it checked. It is very easy for them to perform, and there is no downside to making them do it. I had mine checked the day I picked it up and it was a quart or so low as well.

Sorry, but I don't want to drive around in my trucking wondering if my fluids are at the correct levels.

 

Well that stinks.

Hopefully my '13 will last longer than either my ability to drive or my need for a truck.

 

I read somewhere the other day some cars they don't put oil dipsticks in anymore. Now that is a fright!

I probably would not of bought this Tacoma if I had known it did not have a transmission dipstick.

 

Lol then you probably wouldn't be buying ANY new vehicle! Most have done away with the dipsticks in order to make it a sealed closed loop system, not for cost reasons. Much more reliable and durable.

 

Thanks for all the input. No arguments over improved reliability and longevity in just about all vehicles. Still having grown up with monitoring my fluid levels regularly it will continue to be frustrating to not be able to easily check the trans fluid myself. Having began my years at a professional shop in 73 ending in 2000 I got to witness the transformation from points/condenser to electronic ignition to distributorless ignition. From carburetors to throttlebody injection then port injection. PCV valves were one of the biggest reasons that engines began to regularly go 100,000 miles before needing overhaul or rebuilt. We are probably fortunate that they don't "buildum like they used to".