Reverse slow engage on cold starts

Hi guys, new 2020 4runner owner here, I've had some other Toyotas before but finally got this awesome truck!

I have a small issue, maybe it's normal, I'm not sure. After cold starts in the mornings and waiting a few minutes for the car to warm up there is a big delay after I put it in reverse for it to engage to back out of my garage, I'm talking about 3-5 seconds. During the first few seconds if I give it a bit of gas it doesn't do anything until it finally engages and reverses normally. This only happens in the mornings after sitting overnight. After 15 minutes of driving everything seems normal for the rest of the day. This is very weird, but only happens in the mornings when I go to work. Sometimes right after driving off and am at a stop light I feel a thump, like as if it is disengaging or downshifting after I have stopped, but again after 15 minutes of driving it never happens for the rest of the day.

Here is what was done to the truck prior to me purchasing from the dealer (not from toyota dealer). I found a code P2716 in the history and current when I scanned it with my scan tool. I told the dealer about it and they fixed it by replacing a solenoid inside the transmission I was told. I'm no mechanic, but I think it is possible that the fluid level may be off after they replaced the solenoid, that's why once it warms up everything runs like normal. Unfortunately there is no dipstick to easily check the transmission fluid. What do you guys think? Should I bring it back to them to check the fluid level? It's under warranty.

Have you guys ever had this happen?

Thanks!
Gerardo

 

I'd take it back its under warranty.

Maybe they were lazy asses and just cleared the code.

It could be low on fluid I believe you need to drop the pan to change. If you really wanted to check you could but need a scan gauge or something that can read trans temps.

 

Thank you for your reply! Yes I'm thinking about taking it back for them to check it out. I did a scan on it again after driving the car for a week and I found no more codes. Hoping it's just a simple low fluid! So I'm assuming this is not normal then?

Thanks!
Gerardo

 

That doesn’t sound normal. Low transmission fluid level may be a contributing factor. Since it’s still under warranty, I would insist on corrective action.

The only sluggish engagement I have experienced is getting into 4wd after a cold soak.

 

Awesome, thanks guys! I have an XTool D8 scantool, it probably reads trans temps I can check it out later today. What kind of temps should I be looking for?

 

Can follow this minus the replacing fluid etc to check the level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej_6BZpK3gg

 

Good video, not into the tattoo thing though, but that’s irrelevant.

 

Awesome thanks, I'll take a look at it!

 

Not normal. I would see if the dealer you took it to can have a toyota service do the work on such a new vehicle. Or frankly, consider taking it to toyota yourself if it’s under the powertrain warranty, and send your dealer the bill if toyota finds somebody screwed it up.

I find it odd they would have replaced a solenoid or whatever. These transmissions are fairly bulletproof, so that’s just odd. If they truly did because it somehow truly failed, then they might have filled it incorrectly.

You do not remove the drainpan to check trans fluid level! But dont do anything yourself…it sounds like this is on the dealer! Do it yourself only if you are prepared to own the problem.

 

Yes thank you for the reply! I dropped it off at the dealer yesterday afternoon so they can figure it out today. I'll post an update on what they tell me. Thanks!

 

Hey guys, I got my car back the next day after I dropped it off, the guy at the dealer actually did notice the delay to engage and they found that the fluid was indeed a little low. I've been driving it for 2 days and I'm happy to report that everything feels normal now! Seems like all it needed was some more fluid. Thanks for all your help guys I really appreciate it!

 

Hi guys, I hope everyone is doing well. just wanted to post an update on my thread. I ended up getting my transmission replaced under warranty this past week.

Everything was fine until the end of May the transmission started acting up again, similar symptoms as before. I took it to a Toyota dealer, they didn't find any codes, did a fluid flush and reset the memory so it can re-learn my driving. It felt a little better afterwards but it still felt slow to engage during cold starts. I contacted the dealer again and they told me to keep driving it to go through the re-learning process and if it didn't improve or got worse after a month bring it back. It felt okay so I took it on a trip to Utah that I had planned for a few months, about 5.5k miles later I was back from Utah and a month had passed. I took it to the Toyota dealer again and they did find many Solenoid codes this time and found metal shavings in the fluid! So I had to go through the process of trying to get it replaced under warranty, which they did eventually approve and got one ordered and the Toyota dealer did the labor. I got it back a few days ago, everything feels perfect so far and hoping I don't have any issues from now on!

I don't think the dealer I bought my 4runner from did any actual Solenoid repair or their tech wasn't too familiar with it, whatever they did barely lasted 6 months before I got symptoms again. So I guess my lesson learned here is don't let third party dealers do any big repairs on your car, they are very shady! The Toyota dealer that did the work actually has very high ratings and they treated me very well during the whole process.

 

Excellent news! Thanks for updating the thread!