Weird transmission

I will agree with you that one of us does not know how to read.

I have the tow package and I heard and felt the clunk and hard shifting. So for me at 1100 miles at the beginning of May, I said enough was enough.

I had the dealer check it out because I have experienced low ATF before on my Jeep CJ7 and was confident of my diagnosis ability. My dealer never said "we will charge you to check" and they said "let us give it a spin around the block". Within minutes they knew what to do, fill the transmission with fluid.

I had the flash done one week ago on 10/27 when I had my 5000 mile service to reprogram the ECU. Toyota has replaced the mechanical system with a drive by wire system to control the throttle and shift points. The transmission is never touched. I understand what happens during the service.

You seem to want to justify the cost of an unnecessary service that can be diagnosed through a simple test drive by an expert individual without performing the service. Mechanics drive cars before servicing all the time to see what is wrong. No reason to just start the check without recreating the problem first.

We both are giving our experiences and opinions. You can justify your opinion and I can mine. We don't have to agree.

 

The A750 was a million mile transmission, and that's behind a V8!. The verdict is in, the AC60 is a joke, I wonder how long til Toyota moves to the A760 in the Tacoma V6.

 

The OP never claimed he had a clunk in his transmission, just that he was in for an oil service and also asked for the TSB and check his fluid level. Fluid level check is NOT part of TSB, manual method is time consuming but accurate. but was balking at being charged to check it. He was asking for more work and if outside Toyota care requirement on how to inspect may be subject to charge if no problem is found.

Mine was done before I drove it off the lot because I wanted to ensure the method was observed by me personally. Truck was not being driven without a possibility of low fluid, exhibited no symptoms and after it was satisfactorily completed, I took delivery of it with 4 miles on the odometer. After 10k miles I have no shifting issues. TSB was completed at 5k miles to correct the R-D engagement which I knew would not be due to improper level.

 

I had mine checked twice(at least that's what stealer said) and both times I paid zero dollars and zero cents! Don't pay anything just complain about shifting problems and they'll look dipper and check level.

 

If you feel there is an issue, try to find another dealership or call Toyota corporate and tell them how this one is treating you. The low fluid is a well known issue, I will even say that I called corporate when dealing with a totally unrelated issue and the person on the phone asked if I could have my auto transmission fluid level checked while I was having the other issue fixed. I informed them I had a manual transmission and that I was aware of the issue they were talking about though.

I don't agree that it is guaranteed to fail before the warranty runs out. The fluid is there to lubricate and reduce heat on the components. A little low and you start reducing life of the components. By how much is the risk you take....

 

Most, if not all of them that "check it for free" simply hook it up
to the computer, see no errors and label it as "ok". The Computer
can't check the level though.

 

Oh look dear, another one of these threads. I'd better close the shutters.


Btw, when I check my transmission, I found this under my truck.


Not sure what it means.

 

Yep, that's the difference. Visually checking the level by the manual method is a lot more labor intensive and most shops will not want to do it unless there's either a bonafide symptom that likely indicates low fluid such as the transmission clunking, slipping or burning smell. That additional labor would be covered under warranty to investigate or just top off the fluid. If there is no symptom and the owner just wants the TSB performed the shop will want to ensure the additional labor to check that way is compensated by the owner.

As far as what the OP wrote in his initial post, he wanted the level checked but didn't indicate what symptoms were present to make the request.

 

Can you explain to me what you mean by transmission clunking

 

If the transmission makes an audible noise when transitioning between gears thats more than just the revs going up or down or if you have your foot on the brake and you get a loud "clunk" when you put it in gear either forward or reverse from a standstill.

When mine shifts I almost can't tell it shifted unless I'm watching the rpm gauge and see revs go up or down.

 

Got it. Thanks

 

Won't be surprised if both times it was done that way. Even though they requested truck to be with them for all day for trans to cool down to check it properly. First check - was normal level, second check - was overfilled

 

They did it to me when I brought it in, I came back said all good, got the ok
and asked how it was checked - techstream. I said, does techstream use
some kind of xray technology that allows you to see inside the transmission?

lol, dude just stood there blank and had no idea what to say.

 

Hahaha!

 

they are a treat! My main concern was that they, the dealer, put down
on the paper work that it was checked properly and "ok". So it's on them
if something should happen in the future. I feel no issues and have no worries,
just going to enjoy the hell out of the truck. Not a single regret in trading in
my 2011 on this one - I love it.

 

Yup, same here, as long as it was documented-fine, but I still wasn't happy. I liked my 16 Tacoma too.... except how it shifted

 

Well let's put it this way. If the transmission fluid is full then customer pays $225 if the transmission is low then dealer pays for the fluid that he was cheated out of and pays the customer $225 for time loss and lost use of the truck. Now doesn't that sound fair? I'll bet the dealer doesn't bite on that one.

 

Wow another transmission thread. I hope for more of them due to the fact it lets people bitch in more than one thread about the same thing.

 

Thank you for your replies. Interesting that when you pay between $30,000 and $40,000 for a vehicle and bring it in for your first service there is an extra charge for checking a fluid level. And yes the $230 quote is accurate. I would think they should be kissing our feet in thanks for the purchase.

For the record I didn't have the fluid checked, they flashed the transmission chip and it is somewhat better though still not of the same solid feel as my previous 2006 Tundra. If I use the ECT thing it's more solid but with a further erosion of the mileage. My cynical guess is that they optimized the transmission for mileage, not performance--to get those pesky EPA mileage numbers up and that their reprogramming of the transmission lowers the mileage but makes it feel more solid. Still think they could do better both from the service satisfaction standpoint as well as the actual functioning of the transmission.

I'm an old guy and overall am pleased with the vehicle but the transmission is a continuing question mark.

 

My mileage went up about 1.5 mpg after the reflash. I average a little over 20 mpg per tank.