Transmission Overheat (?)

Hi all - need some advice please & ty.

Just got home from 12 hour drive after a long day on the lake - so if it doesnt make sense, I'll add more later and can get some pix if needed.

Setup:
-06 Taco TRD Sport w/ factory tow package, Auto Trans
-6" lift, 31" Nito Terra Grapplers
-Towing 4500lb'ish tandem axel boat trailer with brakes
-55.5k miles, I have owned the truck since new
-I have never had any kind of tranny service (hah that sounds funny) outside of whatever the typical jiffy lube 21 point service.



Scenerio:
Day 1 towed boat from Tampa to Atlanta (500miles)
Day 3 towed from ATL to SC(120miles)
Day 9 towed from SC to Tampa (510 miles)
-The most I have ever towed the boat before was about 45mins to an hour away.
-The truck was working hard, spending about 50% of the time in 5th, and 50% of the time the gear about 200rpm below it. wasnt using cruise control.

About 60 miles from home this morning, stopped to refuel and saw oilish splatters all over the boat. Followed it back up the right side of the truck and under the hood. It has splattered most of the right half of the engine including the underside of the hood. Checked the oil and power steering fluid to be normal. Small red puddle in flat spot shows it as ATF. It was dripping a bit underneath, but I could not pinpoint the location or a place to check the ATF level.

After not finding any way to check it and waiting 30 mins for it to cool down, knowing it wasnt the best choice, I tenderly drove the last 60 miles at 45mph/1500ish RPM and made it home without issue.


So question is now what should I do?

Should I go to Toy and see if its covered under power train warranty (which I am guessing is 60k miles)? If so what should I say/not say to get the best chance of service?

I thought the factory tow package had the transmission cooler?

I got smarts and can fix most things if pointed in the right direction.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

If you have the tow package, you should have an extra little radiator behind the grill on the drivers side. I would check that first, then call up Toyota and see if this is covered by the power train warranty.

 

Definately have Toyota look at it under powertrain warrantee.

But first, before you arrive at the dealer - VERIFY that it is under warrantee!! I can forsee them trying to wiggle out of the warrantee claim and try to charge you for diagnosing & repairs.

Before going to the dealer, try and locate the exact location of the leak. The system should not leak regardless of overheating. If the transmission was overheating - there should've been some sort of warning light and/or fail-safe mechanism to prevent the tranny from destroying itself when it overheats.

To me, sounds like you developed a leak in the lines somewhere. I was also thinking 'breather' overflow - but I don't even know where the breathers are located on these trucks.

 

1

That could be you first problem.. Hopefully they did not touch transmission on that truck. Wrong ATF could be a problem
2. Make sure you have factory tow package (check for tranny cooler - tiny radiator in front of main rdiators)
3. You need to figure out where the leak is coming from

 

Whats the mileage on your truck?
I would first call the 1800 number and complaint like a mother******! Talk about how you don't feel like you truck is realiable and how you've only owned toyota's and never had anything like this happen before. Then they will set u up with a customer service rep at your local dealership. They usually take good care of you when you've called the 1800 number because they have to report back to toyota corp on what they did to satisfy you. Best of luck!

 

This might or might not help. I have a '08 Taco, Offroad. 6sp mamual, yow package. I was towing my travel trailer this May up some steep grades and was getting gear oil on the front of my trailer. It's not the first time I've towed up this climb but never a leak. It was the transfer case blowing gear oil out the breather on top. Stopped at a Toy dealer and had it checked. after it cooled down everything was filled p to specks. They thought the TC was over filed at the factory. No problems since. I had trouble on a Chevy truck's rear diff years ago. It did the same thing but was never over filled. Don

 

Thx for the replies - called the dealership & they said power train was still under warranty...Unfortunately after diagnostic they found that the tubes from the tranny to the cooler were rubbing on the lift kit and frayed causing the leak, so it wont be covered under warranty. 263$ to replace them - could have been a lot worse I spose!

 

darn the luck

 

glad to hear it was just the lines. lucky you caught it before it ranout of fluid and then you would have had big troubles

 

Dont have them do it. Do it urself, and this time use steel braded lines to prevent the same stuff from happening.

 

Steel braided lines for the transmission?

The lines are already hard steal lines. If they're routed properly - and away from the whatever they were rubbing againest, he'll be fine.

 

Yea that way they will flex away when rubing on the lift, and they tend to be more durable and less likely to brake. You guys have seen that before?

 

The transmission lines are hardened steal and should have a 'fixed' mounting location. They don't flex and shouldn't flex. In fact, the lines shouldn't be anywhere near where rubbing would occur and I'm not sure why they were rubbing in the first place. Seems kinda odd....

KwanX - did they show you exactly where it was rubbing and causing the leak?? Do you have any pictures?

 

My neighbor owns a 2008 silverado, and had the same problem. His were rubbing upfront between the coil and fender.


Here are the lines that I'm talking about: