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

I couldnt agree more . This low fluid issue has gone viral
I was watching a you tube video earlier this morning .
This guy explains what can happen as a result of low transmission fluid fairly well . Going to add this to the first post

 

Well, now the dealer is saying that it is not, in fact, the transmission, but the Crankshaft Position Sensor/harness. Today is Day 4 they've had the vehicle.

They said they ordered the part, and got the wrong one this morning, so they are supposed to get the "right" one tomorrow morning.

Fishy?

Oh, and I did ask that they double check the fluid level, just to see.

 

Sub'd

 

Dropped mine off again today and explained symptoms to the same tech. Got a call and received the same routine of how the transmission operates as "normal"and they couldn't duplicate the problems. They checked the fluid again and I asked for the temp reading when they checked it. They checked it around 110 degrees and i mentioned it had a thermostat for the transmission cooler which they were aware of. Their going to keep it over night to have the tech manager look at it tomorrow. At this point I might take it to a third party to confirm the level. If I fill it if it's low, then it won't void the warranty. This sucks

 

Took mine in yesterday and the service manager has done quite a few of these so he took it without question and found that the fluid level wasn't that low but it wasn't correct. I think it was about 1/4 quart low so it could've been worse. If you are in Charleston, SC Fred Anderson Toyota is the way to go. They were very easy to work with and knew the problem well. VIN starts with a 5, DCTRDOR 4x4

 

@gearcruncher. After having mine corrected at the dealer and then doing it myself with the posted procedures I feel pretty good that the issues we are all experiencing are not fluid level related. IMO Toyota did not do due diligence matching this transmission to our engines. My dad is noticing the same things I am with his non tow 4banger with the same trans. At some point they may can make this better by remapping the engine and tranny with ECU updates but I fear we are all just stick with poor design on Toyotas part with our trucks.

 

When you "did it yourself"... was it low or what..??

Need more info...(corrected at the dealer???). if it was low... did they add fluid..?? Did you then add more...? Did you disconnect battery for 30 minutes...?? after that..??

What is it doing and when...?? Confused..????

 

We have almost 100 votes proving the fluid is low and after a correct fill , those members have " not " complained about additional transmission issues .
What are you trying to say ? What are you and your dad noticing regarding the mapping ?
Post up your findings so we can hack them out . This is a forum where we have the ability of posting our concerns in hopes that through many of the members here , we can find a rectification

 

When i get home and can use my laptop I will post my synopsis with me and my father's conclusions.

 

Sounds good .
Please post up what you and pops can contribute .
I am open to suggestions or scenarios and I am sure everyone else reading these posts are willing to lend an ear

 

Found to be (1) quart low. I voted.

Thanks for all your help in dealing with this issue.

Frank

 

My Dad and I bought both trucks at the end of January.
Mine 4by2 TRD OR With Tow 3.5L Auto 6 Speed
Dads 4Banger with 6 Speed Auto

I immediately noticed the following oddities with the Transmission.
Delay from Reverse to Forward
At times (Usually when cold) it would slip out of gear completely and then re engage and surge forward
Heavy Metallic clunk and sudden surge when down shifting to 1st gear (again usually when cold)

I started reading the forums discovering I was not the only one. Once I read up on all the details I made a service appointment and opened a case with Corporate.

2/26/2016 Truck was brought in and explained all of the issues to the Service manager whom himself had just bought a 2016 TRD Sport.
He was noticing the same issues with his.
At the end of the day (They kept it all day so it could cool to the correct temperature to check) The found mine to be 1QT low and they filled it according the the published procedures here. (Yes Im anal and had the service manager assign his master tech)

They also cleared the adaptive learn (I asked them to)

Drove the truck and I admit it did seem to drive better (I really think now it was placebo effect)

Within the few days I noticed the same symptoms listed above so I downloaded the check procedures posted here, bought a quart of fluid and performed the check at my buddys shop. He has an temp gun and a lift to make things easier. Pinned thermo according to the guide and sure enough all the fluid levels checked out correctly. (THis is after Toyota had already added 1QT)

At this point I was pretty livid and called back to corporate and within a few days was called back by a second level tech. He started on and on about the atkinson motor bla bla bla and said the truck is suppose to drive like it does. He tried to advise me to use the ECT button and that it would feel "more like Im used to" but that this would be at the expense of lesser fuel economy...

I explained to him that THIS was one of the main reasons I bought this new model!!

After arguing with him a bit more he advised me to take the truck back to the dealer so they could open Tech Cases etc.

During this time I found out about the issues with my Radio rebooting over and over when its raining so I added this to the list of issues for them to look at.

Meanwhile, Im thinking this issues is limited to V6 Models with Tow so I have no need to warn my Father.

Fast forward a few days and Im at my dads eating, He says to me you know the transmission in my new truck performs much worse then my 2014 did. I started asking him to explain his issues while Im drawing an invisible link from my issues to his while Im listening. He says sometimes it jumps out of gear and he literally cant use cruise control anymore since it downshifts so frequently. I then go out to his cold truck and notice the same issue with the delay from reverse to drive. Drive it around the block and stop and hear the same old metallic clunk and surge. At this point Im like this is exactly what mine does dad and I begin to tell him about the research I have conducted between the forums and my own experiences.

I have him take his truck to my buddy's shop and we check his trans fluid level per the same document posted here. We had to wait a few hours from temp to drop so we shot some skeet etc while we were there. His truck turned out to be fine on fluid. We removed his neg batt cable for about 45 minutes and after a few hours he went home.

I ask him a few days later and he says no change in how the transmission feels.

At this point Im all but convinced its just a bad tranny for a truck and that Toyota did not do enough R & D when matching it up with our trucks.

My dad like me is still kinda upset at the issue but realize Toyota make may it right eventually.

The Service manager at my Dealership still has the same issues as well. He believes Toyota will release some kind of fix at some point but he thinks when they do it will decrease the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

Here are both of my service tickets as well as Tech Cases.

 

I have no choice but to ask ?
Was your fathers transmission fluid level checked with the engine running ?
This is a common mistake made by the dealer technicians as well as the do it at home guys.

Toyota also came out with a flash to combat shifting complaints with the 2nd gen .
With this said , I also see a software update in the near future for the 3rd gen /
When the software is released , keep an eye on fuel consumption

 

We followed this to a T on both trucks

Speaking of the 2nd gen. The service manager mentioned this to me and advised me that some people hated the loss of fuel economy after this "fix" and demanded it be put back to how it was before the fix...

 

Supposedly my level is fine. Dealership said the checked it during 5k checkup today. Not sure I trust that though, since I was in & out of there in just over an hour.

 

Just a heads up .
Made some changes to the first post .
If you havnt read it in a while , check it out .
Its getting to be a long read SORRY GUYS !!!
Still no TSB

 

Is there any chance you have a reputable transmission shop where you live ?
I would like to hear what a third party professional has to say about your conclusions

 

PM sent!

 

.75q low.