How to Check Automatic Transmission Fluid Level 2016+ Toyota Tacoma (Without Scan Tool)

https://youtu.be/mNeEe4Mq88w

Didn't see too many vids posted on this so I figured I'd make one.

 

Thanks for this!

 

Does it tell you eventually (without you doing anything) when it's low, automatically?

 

This is the cheapest way to do it for sure, but for $40 you can find out excatly what your tranmision temp is down to tenth of a degree. Its will also give you real time temps on and stats on about 1000 sensors on the truck. All you need is this $20 obd2 tool and a $10 app called OBD fusion on the iphone or torque on andriod. then a $10 in app purchase for the toyota PIDs and your done. This set up will not just give you real time temps on everthing, but also diagnose error codes. Pretty cheap for $40

 

No. You need to manually check the fluid level at the correct temperature. The procedure in the video is just to tell you when the fluid is at the correct temperature to check.

 

Ahh I see, I was gonna say can't you just look under the hood to check your fluid, but that makes sense! Thanks for posting. Why wouldn't you check when it's cold, then check again when the engine has been running for a while, I thought the reservoir has level markers for cold/hot min/max, but I have yet to look under the hood for that stuff just yet, so I may be wrong, been too busy modding everything possible outside the engine bay. Thanks for response brother!

 

In order to check the fluid level you need to get the fluid up to temp following the steps in the video. Then on the drain pan of the transmission there's a check plug that you need to remove. Fluid should trickle out from the check plug when the fluid level is correct.

 

Thanks dude, shows how much I know about that haha...

 

I guess I am overlooking a lot; like where is this panel located (under the dash or under the hood). If under the hood, where (firewall, engine, front of engine). What is this module called? What gauge wire is used? Where do you read the fluid's level (what tool).

 

You would be better off getting the written instructions from the repair manual, it's posted on one of the other threads about checking the transmission fluid. The video only covers the initial steps to get the temp detection set, the jumper on the OBD connector (DLC3 in manual) needs to be removed right after you verify it is in temp detection mode. The OBD connector is just under the drivers side dash to the right of the hood release, easy to get to. Can use a paper clip to make the jumper.

There is also a good step by step written instruction in this thread.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-automatic-transmission-fluid-level-check-diy.547455/

 

What a bunch of crap...all they had to do was incorporate a freaking dip stick. Or put a fluid level sensor in it. Toyota totally missed the boat on this one.

 

Toyota screwed up twice: Using a very inferior quality fluid (WS auto fluid), and not including a dip stick.