Update: they checked tranny fluid. 2016 w/ tow package...One quart low.

Many of you have posted / commented about low tranny fluid in the 2016 models w/ the tow package causing a tranny to shift hard from R to D while cold. I took mine to Ganley Toyota where I bought it and explained the issue. They agreed to check it under warranty and said they found that it was one quart low. I posted a pic of the work order below. Mine does have the tow package, auto tranny, 3.5 liter TRD OffRoad.

I drove it this am cold....not as cold as it's been in the past but still a "cold start". To be quite honest, it seemed to feel a lot better from R to D when cold and also felt like it shifted smoother thru the entire power band 0-60 mph. I def will keep my paperwork in case there are any long-term issues.

Just wanted to share that w/ anyone having similar issues w 2016 models w/ tow package. Shout out to Ganley Toyota (Akron, OH) for doing the right thing and covering it under warranty (Mike Ash in service)....

 

Well done.

 

One quart low is nothing to sneeze at for sure. I'm wondering if the machine that pumps fluid into the tranny at the factory is not calibrated properly?? They are obviously NOT checking that fluid before the truck leaves the factory.

 

That's what I was thinking. If it does cause issues I almost wonder if it's worth expanding the sump on these new AT's. I cannot recall any auto I've worked on or owned that was this sensitive to being a quart low.

 

I've read that it's isolated to 2016 models w 3.5 litre, and tow package. From what I understand the units w tow package require more tranny fluid. Toyota needs to acknowledge it. The dealer said there was no TSB on it as of when I brought it in. I'm happy they took care of it under warranty though...

 

What I wonder is if the trans cooler in the tow package trucks requires additional fluid and they are filling the same regardless of the cooler or not?

Edit: Bmunster beat me to it.

 

Nice... i've got mine on order at Ganley, ordered 10-17-2015 and is being built this week, should get it by the end of March. I've requested they check the ATF and hood glue. thanks for the info.

 

They should be familiar w it after me. Lol good luck w your new Taco!! They're awesome. I get lotsa compliments...

 

Don't forget the U bolts torque and the U joint grease...!! Best time to get them to do it is BEFORE you pay..!!

 

Mine is going in next week, dropping it off Tuesday night so they can duplicate the issues when it's cold. I have a sport with the tow package.
I am taking mine to Livermore, Ca Toyota, the service manager was very nice and told me they have had a couple come in with low fluid. One of them was 3 quarts low!! Ouch.
I bought mine at Capitol Toyota in San Jose, Ca. and had called them first, the service manager was not very nice at all and treated me like I didn't know what I was talking about.
I will post my outcome once I get it back on Wed.

 

I find it hard to believe that it is a quart low because of the extra capacity of the external trans. cooler. I have installed several external coolers and they do not hold that much extra trans. fluid, that would also include the extra lines. My opinion is they have an issue with all of their transmission's, maybe not everyone off the assembly line, but some. Check your level!

 

Wow 3 quarts low. That's crazy. Lemme know what they say. Toyota probably should issue a TSB. 6 speed manual shift for me next time for sure!!!

 

Yeah, really crazy. He told me Toyota Corp even came in to document it. I hope mine isn't that low, we keep our Toyota's for about 10 years. I really don't want any issues down the road.

 

I got an appointment sat morning to get checked. I hope its low and fixes way it drives cause right now the transmission sucks. its indecisive on what gear it wants at low speed. If I hit the throttle almost to floor to say get truck going to merge there is like a 1sec delay before it does a downshift to get moving. Also my ubolts needed a full turn to trq to 55lb and all my zerk fittings took me about 4-6 pumps to purge the grease

 

I made an appointment to have my ATF checked today. I have tow package on my TRD OR 4x4. I told them if it was not low I would pay. He said the cost of checking would be $130 if I paid. They had the truck all day and found that the fluid was full. He split the difference with me and charged me $65. They also checked the torque on the u-bolts and it was at spec 52 foot pounds. Now of course it's possible they didn't check squat. It's also possible they found it low and filled it but didn't say anything to me because it's one big Toyota conspiracy. I doubt the latter but the former is more probable. Of course it's just as possible that my truck is fine and just drives like s***

 

I don't really understand what people mean by hard shifting from R to D. Anyone able to discribe in detail what it feels like? When I shift to from P to D or from R to D the RPMs rev up then drop down, I keep my foot on the brake for a sec or two as it feels like it would l jump forward. Is that what we're talking about here?

 

Mine does the same thing, unless I'm on flat ground I manually shift it.

 

If I wanted to shift I'd have bought the manual

 

When maneuvering my truck around while it's cold it lurches whether it's in F or R. My husband describes it like it has a cam in it... lol

 

We checked mine a few days ago, I work at the dealership so I saw everything. It was not low and trickled out. Mine's a 4 Cyl, no tow package. I think there's something to needing extra fluid for the tranny cooler and not getting it.