[billsworld]

I have a 2008 Tundra and figured a way to check the transmission level without a scanner. There is a way to access the diagnostics connector below the steering wheel which will give you some display readouts which corresponds to a certain transmission temperature. The transmission temperature can't be too hot or too cold in order to check the level accurately. If you have the towing package, then you will also need to access the thermostatic valve which routes fluid to the transmission oil cooler when it gets to a certain temperature. You basically have to engage a spring loaded button which will open the valve and allow transmission oil to be routed to the cooler. Here is a procedure that I tweaked a little.

View attachment 2007-2008 Tundra Trans Fluid Level Check.pdf

 

[ringbearer]

That is great.

Should be the same for my '08 Sequoia I assume.

My local dealer wants $450 for a trans flush and said there isn't a filter. Is there a serviceable filter?

Thanks

 

[Shane1962]

Re: HOW-TO: Check the Automatic Transmission Fluid Level

Yes, the older model Tundra has the tranny dipstrick.

 

[David Webb]

Has any one actually changed their fluid & used the wire (#4 & # 13) connection in the OBD port ??
I just can't get mine in check mode
I have a print out (Thanks to TS) with directions, say the "D shift indicator on combination meter will come on for 2 seconds" ????
I was expecting the red AT light to flash, comes on for 2 seconds, BUT NOT MINE, mine comes on then goes off
I have a 2005 Tundra DC 4x4

 

[Aging AMT]

Has any one actually changed their fluid & used the wire (#4 & # 13) connection in the OBD port ??
I just can't get mine in check mode
I have a print out (Thanks to TS) with directions, say the "D shift indicator on combination meter will come on for 2 seconds" ????
I was expecting the red AT light to flash, comes on for 2 seconds, BUT NOT MINE, mine comes on then goes off
I have a 2005 Tundra DC 4x4

When you posted this last year, I was still driving my old truck. I just bought a 2006 Tundra a few months ago that was in excellent condition and well maintained, except that the previous owner didn't know if the transmission had ever been serviced or not. So I took care of that last weekend.

On my truck, when I jumpered 4 and 13, I was watching for the D indicator light to come on for two seconds and then go out like the instructions stated. That didn't happen but I did notice a lamp just to the right of the D. It's the A/T Temp light, and it did blink on for two seconds and then go out at the beginning of the temp check mode. It came on steady a few minutes later and I was able to finish the job.

A couple of things to take note of when doing this: Make sure you're counting the contact ports in the OBD2 connector correctly, that is to say, left to right. One thing I noticed is that even if you got confused and counted the contacts upside down, you'd still be connecting the same two contacts as long as you count from left to right. Check out the illustration in the instructions and turn it upside down to see what I mean. It's kind of hard to mess up unless you go right to left or miscount.

The other thing to take note of applies to anyone living in southern states or in the southwest. It doesn't take long for the transmission to reach 115 degrees. That's only a few degrees above body temperature. It may be in the upper 80s or low 90s when you start this job, even in the morning. My A/T Temp light came on in less than five minutes. I had read that it could take as long as 45 minutes. Not in the part of the country where I live, which is north Texas.

 

[cookiemech]

I have a 2005 regular cab "work truck" (Toyota called it that) with only 16K miles that I bought new, but I have never been comfortable with "lifetime" transmission fluid. So I followed the factory service manual procedure as noted above (which involves jumpering terminals in the OBD-II connector) after dropping the pan and replacing the filter. It did not surprise me that the filter and pan (with magnets) was not surgically clean, but in fact had some of the usual gray slime. I replaced the filter and filled the transmission with genuine Toyota Type WS fluid.

Guess the point of my post is that yes, the service manual procedure works just fine if followed precisely. In my case, I think my garage was at about 65°F when I started the heatup, and it took a good half hour to come up to the proper temperature. Think I'll need to move south if I want it to proceed more efficiently! :smile2:

 

[steeve725]

Re: Cant ever get accurate readings

Hi, Everyone.

I can't believe I have had such a hard time with what should be a simple task.

Checking my Automatic trans fluid on my 04 Access cab. Every time I check it, different readings.

I have checked it the exact same way. Run it through all the gears, back into park. The way described here in this thread.

I live 1 miles from work. I drive the same way to and from work, usually between 40-50mph depending on traffic, driving it easy.

I have checked it after i get to work, its always over full. I check it after I drive home, its always, low. I have checked it cold (I used remmy's instructions for checking it cold) and when cold its way over full.

I have checked it after driving and letting the truck sit for 45 minutes, its over full.

• Taking transmission level when hot (driving 11 miles to work @ 65 degrees 5/30/17) fluid is a little above the hot full line on the dipstick. (Over full)
• Taking transmission level when hot (driving 11 miles home @ 51 degrees 5/30/17) fluid is a little below the hot low line on the dipstick. (Low)
• (6/5/17) Taking transmission level check when cold, fluid halfway between cold high marks and hot low mark on dipstick (over full) followed Remmy's instructions completely "A true "cold" reading is done by starting the cold engine, let idle for 1-2 minutes, foot on brake, and run the gear selector through all the gears (R, N, D, 2, 1, 2, D, N, R) and then back to Park"
  
• Taking transmission level when hot (driving 11 miles to work @ 77 degrees 6/14/17) fluid is a above the hot line on the dipstick. (Over full)
• (6/14/17) Waited 45 minutes after driving the 11 miles
  re-checked transmission fluid. Fluid was about 1/8 above full mark on dipstick (over full)
• (6/15/17) Taking transmission level check when cold, fluid right below hot low mark on dipstick (way over full)
  
• (6/15/17). taking transmission level when hot (driving 11 miles home @ 68 degrees fluid is a little below the hot low line on the dipstick. (Low)

I have attached pictures.

What am I doing wrong?

When driving the vehicle the 11 miles to work or home at temperatures above 65 the dipstick is hot, so I believe it's completely up to operating temp.

For the most part the truck shifts pretty smooth. Some times, it has harder shifts.

The truck has 175k, bought it in Jan. Changed the trans fluid. The fluid doesn't smell burnt and is clean. The truck does have an trans cooler on it.

Thanks for any input.

 

[MtnClimber]

Re: Cant ever get accurate readings

I have checked it the exact same way. Run it through all the gears, back into park.
[/COLOR]

Not trying to be hard nosed, but you didn't say so I have to ask. After running through all the gears and placing the transmission in park, are you leaving the engine idling while you take the measurement on the dipstick?

 

[steeve725]

Re: Cant ever get accurate readings

Not trying to be hard nosed, but you didn't say so I have to ask. After running through all the gears and placing the transmission in park, are you leaving the engine idling while you take the measurement on the dipstick?

Yes. Truck engine is always running when I check the fluid and when I run it through the gears and back into park the engine is idling.

I forgot to add that to my post.

 

[MtnClimber]

i'm not super experienced in this area, but from the evidence presented I would think the transmission is slightly overfilled. Will be interesting to hear what others think.

Personally I put more weight on the cold measurement. After changing the fluid I try to get the level right between the cold marks before driving it. When hot, there are varying degrees of expansion depending on the actual fluid temperature. Generally the level does fall near the hot marks on my Subaru, but some amount of variability in the hot measurements is to be expected.

Also might have something to do with differences in the levelness of the parking areas at home and at work.

 

[steeve725]

Also might have something to do with differences in the levelness of the parking areas at home and at work.

Yea, that came into my mind. I got my 4 ft level out and checked my garage floor (that's were I park) and the floor in very close to level, enough so that I don't think it would make that big of difference. At work were I park, I haven't checked with a level, but it looks pretty level.

 

[steeve725]

To check the ATF level properly, the fluid must be distributed throughout the system. Therefore, going out in the morning and checking the level on a cold sunk engine will generally give you a false high reading.

Note that this measurement does not correspond to a true "cold" reading on the dipstick. Why? Because all you are measuring is the ATF in the pan. A dipstick that measures down in the "cold" range on a cold sunk engine will definitely be low on ATF.

A true "cold" reading is done by starting the cold engine, let idle for 1-2 minutes, foot on brake, and run the gear selector through all the gears (R, N, D, 2, 1, 2, D, N, R) and then back to Park. This procedure gets the ATF dispersed properly throughout the entire transmission assembly. It should read in the cold range.

A "hot" reading is taken the same way, but after the vehicle has been driven sufficiently such that the ATF is at operating temperature (135F-155F). The fluid moves up from the "Cold" range into the "Hot" range due to heat expansion.

Wait 45 minutes or so to check your ATF level after a long stretch of high-speed highway miles, stop-and-go traffic, and/or towing.

HTH. :tu:

Since I can't seem to get much feedback, maybe I'll just do a cold check again using Remmy's instructions above and suck some Trans fluid out using my mityvac until I get it within the cold range.

 

[2003bajatundra4x4ac]

Yea, that came into my mind. I got my 4 ft level out and checked my garage floor (that's were I park) and the floor in very close to level, enough so that I don't think it would make that big of difference. At work were I park, I haven't checked with a level, but it looks pretty level.

are we talking 1/4" in 4' or what? concrete finishers are held to no more than 1/4" in 10' on my Military Projects. i'm refering to highs/lows, not slope. 1/4" per foot is 2% which is just enough to keep water from ponding on a sidewalk.

 

[envycycles]

Hello guys, so today I decided to change the fluid out on my 2005 Tundra 2WD XSP. I had a small leak coming from the tranny to drive seal so I got that also.
So I purchased 4qts of WS fluid after reading some forum threads. When I drained it I got about 1.5 qts out when I drained and I when putting the fluid in I put the drain plug back in and left the overflow open and poured 3.5qts in, never got any fluid out threw the overflow but had read that 3.5 is exact amount so I put everything back and brought it back up to temp and then removed the overflow but still nothing came out.

Now I am reading thru this thread and Im confused with the PDFs. I see that it says 1.5qts.

Can someone please explain as I dont want to have this thing over serviced and damage it.

 

[dougg]

you can drain and fill according to the manual. drain is on the bottom and fill is on the side of the tranny. I don't want to do this. can the pan be replaced with one with a dipstick?