Transmission Temp Mode

Hi Everyone!
So happy to have found this forum. I searched the forums but was not able to find an answer to my question, so I'm hoping y'all can help me out.
I just completed a transmission drain and fill on my 2015 Tacoma. This is the first time I've done it myself. I have a paper clip in #4 and #13 on the OBD and followed the instructions for getting into temp mode (shifting from P to N and then P to N 6 times). When I do this, the temp check light comes on and stays on right away. Isn't it supposed to flash a couple of times and then after the truck idles for approximately 10ish minutes the light will come on and stay on indicating it is at optimal temp to check? Have I done something wrong?
Thanks so much for any help y'all can provide.

 

If the truck was idling for a while after the flush/fill, its possible that the trans fluid warmed up past the range for that check. Happens if you take a while trying to get it into the trans temp check mode.

Maybe wait a few hours and try the procedure again?

 

^^ This.. you probably heated the tranny up just by running. Let it cool down or better yet do it first thing in the morning.

 

Hey SUMOTNK & spitdog!
Thanks so much for your quick replies. Great thoughts. The truck was only idling for a minute or two, but perhaps it was too warm at that point. I'll let her sit overnight and give er a go in the morning.
Thanks again!

 

One other question
I got just a tad over 3 quarts out when I drained the transmission, is that about the volume I should expect to get?

 

Yes, the pan holds right at 3 qts. +/- Overfill a little so you can see the trickle before you plug it when at proper temp.

 

Thank you!!

 

...and idling for 2-3 minutes will absolutely not get you anywhere near "at temp." A way easier way is with a $15 IR gun. You need one anyway... The tranny pan will only be a few degrees cooler than the fluid. Figure 3 to 5F max. The tranny temp range is huge. Double check but I want to say it is like 99 to 115F.

 

The instructions state to "overfill" the transmission just a bit so some will drain out of the overfill drain when it is up to temp. As stated above, I drained just a bit over 3 quarts. I refilled with just about 3.5 quarts. Did I overfill too much? And if so, does that cause any issues getting into temp mode?

 

No , you will be fine. When it gets to the proper temp. Just pull the check plug while it’s running and let if flow out until there is just a trickle, and plug it quickly.

 

I was able to get my truck into temp check mode this morning. The truck has been idling for 20 minutes and the light has not come on yet. How long does it generally take to get the transmission fluid up to temp?

 

I am golden now! It took over 30 min to get to temp, but it is kind of a chilly morning here.

I want to thank you all so much for helping a dumb girl get this all figured out!

 

It’s really an ambient temp thing. If it sat all night and your temp went down in the 40’s it could take that long. If your sure your in temp check mode, it should be about there. I have waited that long before when doing it in the morning in the spring.

 

Thank you so much!!!

 

You did fine and accomplished what many struggle with. Not only did you save a little money but you now know it was done correctly. Even professional mechanics fail with the Tacoma. Next time is even easier.

 

This is a procedure best done in the spring or fall. I think I once tried doing it in July and the window of opportunity for checking the level was literally a minute..

But respect for actually using temp check mode which is the proper way instead of an IR gun.

 

I've always wanted to do the truck maintenance myself, but just didn't know how and I've always been worried about screwing something up, but with youtube and sites like this one, there is really no excuse for not be able to learn how to do it yourself. And the cost savings can be significant. My truck just hit 60,000 miles so there are a few maintenance things I knew I needed to start chipping away at. I called a couple of shops about cost for a transmission drain and fill. The last shop quoted me $461.00. Granted, they said they do it twice (drain fill, drive the truck for a bit and then repeat the drain and fill), but that cost seemed crazy to me after watching a few youtube videos on how to do it. The cost of everything for me to do it myself -- ATF, bottle pump, crush washers, 0-rings, etc was just over $80 bucks so pretty hard to justify paying a shop nearly $400 in labor to do the job.

 

One more thing - how important is it to torque the drain, overflow, and fill bolts to exact specs? I don't own a torque wrench (I know I need to get one), but I just snugged them all up without overtightening. Is that ok?

 

Snugging them up is the best approach. Many post on here about people torquing pan bolts and stripping the threads for what ever reason. My approach is like yours, I use a box wrench and a new crush washer. If your paying attention as your applying pressure to the wrench, you can actually feel a crush washer crimp. People who slap a torque wrench on any bolt are programmed to listen and feel the click of the torque wrench thus ignoring the crush washer feel. Torque values changes between a dry bolt and wet, everyone deals with wet but they’re probably torquing to dry numbers.

 

If you put the truck in R or D (vs. P) with the parking brake on, the trans temp will rise a lot faster.