Trans fluid overheating warning

[johnjrp Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close johnjrp]

I have a 2010 Prado Kakadu
When I have it in central div lock with H4 and use manuel transmission after a short period of time driving I get a warning saying my transmission fluid is overheating and I need to stop the car. This happens after a very short period of time when say driving up a steep incline
Any advice welcomed

[Guest Close Guest]

Were you driving on bitumen or loose surface?

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Probably should have gone up in low range. I have never driven up a hill in HL. If I don't think I can make it in H then I will make it easy for the driveline and go up in low.

[leethal1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close leethal1]

Torque converter slipping while under load generates massive amounts of heat. I agree, use low range.

[LargeInAPrado Member Find all posts View Profile Close LargeInAPrado]

was a common problem and Toyota have a fix... they plug in their computer and change the light activation by a few degrees so the light wont come on so easily. Mine used to do it first time crossing moreton fully laden was a bit of a shock

In practical terms the light actually does come on at pretty low temps on the earlier 150's and really you don't have to work it too hard for it to happen. run a scan guage with trans temp and youll see .

[LargeInAPrado Member Find all posts View Profile Close LargeInAPrado]

a few pages for you to read

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...+warning+light

[MacroP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MacroP]

After towing a two tonne centre console boat last weekend in the Pilbara with a headwind, and getting my new ultra gauge Bluetooth unit working (with tranny temps), I now realise how easy it is to get the ATF up to very unreasonable temps. Even when towing slowly on flat ground @ 95kmh on the highway. After a bit of testing on way....in top gear and no TC lockup saw the ATF oil pan at 110° and the TC outlet temp @ 130°. 4th gear with lockup saw it drop to 95° for both after a while. Still a little too high in my book. After a bit if soft sand driving, I saw similar temps. I've never triggered the ATF over temp alarm anytime is the past but I must have been so close. I love Toyota's fix, as mentioned earlier, is to raise the alarm set point. Great work there....NOT.

I'd highly recommend, as many have on here, is to get a scangauge or the newer Ultraguage to monitor these temps. My obvious next step is to get a nice big transmission cooler, once again as mentioned many times here, and flush the fluid (again) ASAP. I guess I had to (stupidly) see these ridiculously high temps for myself before I would do anything about it. Lesson learned. Luckily, via Pradopoint and one particular member, this is an easy and realitivly cheap fix.

[johnjrp Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close johnjrp]

On sand

[MacroP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MacroP]

I've been up and down the beach a hundred times between Preston beach and Bunbury and never triggered it but when I had my old auto Hilux surf it would trigger the alarm within minutes when pushing the car hard through the soft sand (even when running at 12 pound). I quickly put a trans Cooler on it and it solved the issue instantly and that car spent most of its life on the beach.

Yesterday I ordered the Davies Craig cooler and the custom bracket to suit the 150 diesel. Both from fleabay. Was under 200 bucks in parts and looks to be an easy install. Plenty of info here on PP.

[Arien Member Find all posts View Profile Close Arien]

just curious if this happens on Diesel only or on both diesel and petrol...

also as per OP, he has a kakadu and i think i read somewhere that the kakadu already has an oil cooler...if that;s the case, then that factory oil cooler must be insufficient...

[MacroP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MacroP]

just curious if this happens on Diesel only or on both diesel and petrol...

also as per OP, he has a kakadu and i think i read somewhere that the kakadu already has an oil cooler...if that;s the case, then that factory oil cooler must be insufficient...

The V6 petrol comes with a factory trans cooler and not the diesel unfortunately regardless of vehicle spec. My (diesel) Kakadu certainly doesn't. The service manual confirms this - 1GR only. The V6 cooler looks pretty small too looking at the manual. Less than half the size than the Davies Craig unit everyone is installing.