04 XC70 Transmission Service Required - where to start?

[abscate]

You would have to connect in Stockholm and then onward to Japan, I think

[precopster]

Hitting W won't cause Transmission Service Required. It simply skips 1st gear and starts in 2nd for snowy/icy conditions.

Yes it may last some years with the current symptoms. If I could look into a crystal ball........

Fluid needs to be 3309 compliant. Plenty of companies out there make 3309 compliant fluid. Toyota spec seems to be what the manufacturer (Aisin) intended. So many discussions on what is good and not. My own 2001 V70 T5 has a very good transmission. I drained and filled last week with Chief synthetic JWS-3309 compliant fluid made in Netherlands; it still shifts perfectly. No resets, fluid counter or adaptation required.

When you drain yours from the 24mm plug it will be pretty dark. 3.5 litres will drop out so you simply top up with the same amount then check the dipstick when warmed up.

The best diagnostic is Vida/Dice but is cumbersome when all you want is a quick code read and clear.

[mikeamondo]

Thanks... great info! I'm attaching two pics one to show the fluid color, the other the fluid level. I think it may be overfilled. I had driven the car to a restaurant about 2 miles away, had lunch and driven back. When I got back, I left the engine idle for few minutes and then check the level with the car in park and idling.

Is that the correct procedure? If so, it's over filled, correct? And... would that cause my occasional shifting issue.

I've driven the car at least another 100 miles or so since the initial issue without a repeat....

Thanks!

[mikeamondo]

Took the car for a longer drive... about 30 minutes total, 20 minutes of interstate, some city traffic and side roads. Did the procedure posted elsewhere about park, then thru the gears, 3 seconds each, then idle for 2 minutes... level showed exactly the same as above.

And I think I have a couple minor burns on my hands.

[oragex]

That certainly looks quite overfilled to me. Some fluids may also expand more than the one specified for this box.

[mikeamondo]

So... I got my VIDA DICE to work! Super cool.... anyway, under the Fault Trace Tab, I got this...

ECM-2810 Front heated oxygen sensor (H2OS), bank 1 heating signal missing
ECM-510F Vehicle Speed Signal VSS - signal missing
CEM-1A61 Communication with TCM control module signal missing
CEM-1A62 Communication with ECM control module signal missing
ECM-530B Malfunction indicator lamp MIL communication

The O2 sensor is, I'm assuming, unrelated to the other codes. In looking at the details, I could see it existing in the current cycle... it had also thrown the 02 sensor code a while back which I pulled with the regular obd scanner.
The other codes all were low frequency, happening one time, 21 cycles ago, which would roughly line up time wise with the original issue where it seems sluggish and not shifting right and the throwing of the transmission service required code.

So... thoughts on all this? Is it more likely a computer issue than a transmission failure issue, or is it the other way around. I can now see the codes but I don't really know what they mean. Any further help would be greatly appreciated.... Thanks!

[mikeamondo]

Not sure if it adds anything... the transmission message appeared again this evening, after another episode of weird shifting, coming up a hill, it seemed a bit sluggish but would not kick down into a lower gear.... still climbed the hill at a decent pace, tho. I noticed first the ac had suddenly gone warmish. This was with the outside temp at around 75 degrees, climbing back up the mountain to home... and going up a particularly steep section. Transmission message came on when the ac cooled back off. I haven't checked the codes again yet, but I'm guess it will be similar to the above list. I'll post them tomorrow when I hook the dice back up... in the meantime, any ideas/ thoughts on those codes? Could all this be due to the potentially overfilled transmission fluid?

[precopster]

Which tab were you using for fault trace? "Unselected CSC" provided stored codes. Current codes appear on the right tab whose name I don't recall.

The speed sensor code may be all you need to deal with here. Without a speed reference transmissions can do very strange things. First thing in my list on this one would be to disconnect and reconnect the plug array for the transmission a few times to wipe off any oxidation on the terminals. You'll find it in front of the air filter box down quite low. There are 4 connectors to check.

Failing any results from the above you may need to look into the 2 speed sensors on top of the transmission. Make sure they're secure and clean (removal with an 8 or 10mm bolt will be required).

Sure the fluid is dark/possibly overfilled and old however I don't think it's anything to do with your problems.

[mikeamondo]

Thanks precopster.... again! I'll check this morning with the vida again to see the new codes and double check which tab. Although, I think one or the other showed nothing.... I'll post what I find...

[mikeamondo]

Ok.. just checked the codes again. The correct tab for the current read, I think, is "Initial Status".. at least that's where the important stuff seemed to be. There were several codes, some obviously not related... for example, it continually has a fault related to the defrosting of the mirrors. There were several codes, but looking at the details I can see that certain ones occurred at one or both of the two events we've witnessed.... either 31 cycles or 6 cycles ago.... so ....
CEM-1A61 Comm w/ TCM missing, currently test good, fault occurred at both events
CEM-1A62 Comm w/ ECM sig missing, currently test good, fault occurred at both events
TCM-E000 Control Module Comm, Faulty Comm, Occurred at second event and a few cycles before the 1st event.
These are the only 3 which occurred at or around both events.
At the 1st event, but not the second.....
ECM510F - VSS
ECM - 530B Control Module Comm, Comm fault between ECM and TCM
ECM - 928C - Control Mod. Comm Probl... triggers when, at ignition being switched on, a fault in the steering wheel module or the CAN, control area network. --- NOTE... in addition to the original event, this one also happened 3 cycles before the current test.
ECM-9400 Brake pedal sensor signal missing... problem with brake pedal switch, light switch or CAN.

OTHER CODES... only the H2O Sensor and the aforementioned heated mirror, I believe, both of which seem unrelated.

So... I noted the CAN showing up in alot the descriptions. Am I correct in assuming that the Control Area Network is not so much of a thing, but describes the network of wires which runs between all the various control modules?
And.... what do you all make of these codes? The Vida DICE set up is amazing, by the way.... I used the VMware image of the xp set up and it worked like a dream.