Transmission 2016-2023- 6 SPEED AUTOMATICS COULD BE LOW ON FLUID DIRECTLY FROM FACTORY

And I totally agree !

 

Why does the rear diff need replacement?

 

I have a 2014 OR. Should I have mine checked? Sometimes It's a little rough at first, but it's usually smooth.

 

I checked my transmission fluid a few weeks ago and found it to be a little over 3/4 qt low. Since then, I've been wondering what if I pinned my transmission fluid cooler thermostat open and checked it again.

Today, I added what was left in the quart, which was about 6 ounces and then checked the transmission. As soon as it got to temperature, I pulled the plug and let it run out until it was down to a trickle. I recovered about the same amount as I had added - 6 ounces. So, my experiment showed that it doesn't matter if the thermostat is pinned or not. This makes sense since the official Toyota service procedures do not mention pinning the thermostat.

 

I'm a dumb non mechanic that does minor work on my vehicles. My assumption is that the thermostat is going to open at some point and fill empty lines or whatever so that the only time you'd need to pin it is on the first fill since the thermostat wouldn't naturally be open at this time. I could be way wrong.

 

Curious if anyone here has had their fluid level checked in Washington state or the Northwest area. I called my Dealer today in Bellevue WA to schedule my truck to have the transmission level checked. Told the service person over the phone that is has been experiencing some sporadic shifts. Also mentioned that I have found a lot of people admitting there's were low. He seemed to think it was strange and that he has not heard of this. Just hoping that they will check it with few questions asked and not charge me.

 

Appointment scheduled for Thursday, case number with Toyota, and 2016 thread of the year nomination.

 

Read my post (#435 this thread) about how not to get charged.

 

I got a call from Toyota corporate today.. So much for them following up within 2 business days. The guy said that he believes that the dealer checked the fluid wrong and that the truck wasn't actually low on transmission fluid. He's going to follow up with them and then call me back in a couple of days. He said that he hasn't heard of this issue and that the shifting is normal. The shifting does seem better after the fluid was added and the memory was reset. It's hard to say which thing fixed it.

In addition, if they "checked it wrong" yet still added 3/4qt of fluid, either they lied about adding any, I really was low, or now I'm 3/4qt too full, which is probably worse than being low.

The guy on the phone said they wouldn't offer me an extended warranty at this time. We'll see what he says if/when he calls me back.

 

2x2 Tow package built in Baja...auto trd.

After reading the TW news letter that went out the other day I followed the guidance in this thread. I had a tech stream done last month during my first service with no issues. At that time the dealership was not interested in checking the fluid.

Yesterday I called the Corp number and they connected me with the dealership and the dealership was onboard to have me come down and get it checked.

So I get to the dealership and get the run around and after hemming and hawing they have a lead guy go on a test drive. My main point was it intermittently has a rough shift into first when stopping when it's cold. So the test drive was primarily on the freeway in higher gears.

I get the whole speach on gear hunting and and I told him that was not my issue....it was the rough downshift I get intermittently.I'm fine with gear hunting cause that's a normal characteristic that I've accepted.

He agrees to the fluid check...but it took some effort on my part to get them to commit...even after they agreed on the call earlier in the morning.

So now that I know the fluid is normal I can just drive it till the wheels fall off and be content. Peace of mind.

The dealership did not ask me for a 10/10 rating when I left. Could be because my last words when they told me eveything was normal was, "good to know it's just a shitty transmission". I couldn't resist.

 

I'd have somebody else check it for your own peace of mind , I go Saturday to have mine Check

 

I went by a Toyota dealership (not the one where I bought my Tacoma) yesterday just to see if they had any cool accessories (they did). While there, I asked to see if they had the overflow drain gaskets and filler hole O-rings in stock? The parts guy checked and said they'd have to order them. I said, "That's odd because the pre-delivery inspection calls for checking the ATF level and that involves at least removing the overflow drain bolt. Per the service instructions, the gasket should be replaced."
Either the technicians are reusing the crush washers or they haven't been checking *any* of the new vehicle trans fluid levels.

PS: I checked and mine was low. =(
I put in a full quart before the fluid found it's way to the pan and came out the overflow tube in a hurry! LOL
I poured the extra back into the empty bottle. It'd taken approx. 3/4 quart to fill it to specs.

 

That's exactly the same amount mine needed also.

 

Half-quart low. Dealership was AWESOME - never argued with me at all. AutoNation Toyota of Austin - can't say enough good things about them.

 

I have the part number for the overflow drain gasket (

$7 35178-30010

35178-30010), but would you happen to have the part number for the o-ring?

 

I am just getting done at the dealership, I haven't got to drive yet but this is what they found .

It was 9/10 of a quart low. So they double checked it again. And there was an, software update for some kind of delay in the shift pattern
My truck was made in Mexico.

 

I traded in my 2013 for a 16. So far I love the truck its awesome. I am about to check the transmission fluid level. Do you have to pin the thermostat open? Wouldn't it open when it got to the proper temp?

 

It may not make a difference. Yet it couldn't hurt, either.
I don't know the specs on the system, but I strongly suspect the inspection temperature is way lower than what it'd take to get the thermostat to open on it's own.
Pinning it was easy. I pushed the button in maybe 1/8" with a slender metal rod (old tent stake in my tool box!) and stuck a big paper clip with in the little hole on the side to hold it.

 

What exactly is meant by the transmission "slipping"? I have felt a condition when going up steep inclines where it almost feels like no matter how McGee I depress the gas, I don't feel or hear an increase in rpm or speed. Is that what is meant by slipping?

 

Just wanted to give the guys/gals a heads up. I went to the dealership yesterday to have the tranny checked. This is what they found.

It was 9/10 of a quart low. So they double checked a second time. And there was a software update for some kind of delay in the shift pattern
FYI.
My truck was made in Mexico and has the tow package(external tranny cooler).
And driving it was a night and day difference afterwards.

They told me about the shift update but they said mine had already been done. It's like getting a whole Nother truck. It feels really good. The dealer was, Summit Toyota in Akron Ohio . They also said although a TSB was not made yet on the transmission issue being low on fluid, they where told to look for the problem in the last corporate meeting.
Just a heads up.