I have searched up and down for some diagram of the 2003 V6 dipstick.
I'm not sure how to read the markings.
There are 4 notches in the dipstick, no wording like "HOT" or "COLD"
the notches are 2 about an inch from each other, then about 3 inches down are the other set of 2 notches. let's say we number them from top to bottom, 1-4. would 1 and 3 be the HOT reading and 2 and 4 be the COLD.

 

maybe the owner's manual describes the markings....?

=D

 

this is probably a stupid suggestion but make sure your grabbing the oil dipstick and not the trani dipstick. don't remember ever seeing more than 2 marks on an oil dipstick. post pics if you still have trouble

 

1st reply-manual is useless, nothing about tranny
2nd reply-yes I'm sure it's the tranny dipsick, its red and has a spring latch to keep it in.

I'll get a pic to post.

 

you should have specified which dipstick, oil dipstick or tranny dipstick, I think people thought you meant the dipstick to check the oil...

 

in that case, I would guess the lower 2 markings are HIGH/LOW when hot, and the upper 2 markings are HIGH/LOW when cold.


it's hard to believe the manual doesn't say anything about how to check your tranny fluid

 

http://www.hboss.net/4runner/fluid-check.htm

 

sorry, didn't realize that you were looking at the trani dipstick. in that case, the two lowest marks are the cold level readings. the two upper marks are the hot level readings.

 

sorry about the confusion, I thought I had mentioned that it was the trans we were talking about

But...how could the notches be so close together for HOT and COLD. if the upper set is for cold, they're about an inch apart. same with the other set.
you would have to add maybe a cup to get it back up to the top notch.

 

http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h17.pdf

this shows a dipstick that might be the same.

 

that looks like a normal trani dipstick. yours should be the same way even though it may not be stamped with the words. the reason why it looks like it wouldn't take much to fill it up to the full line from the add line is because that distance represents approx. 1 pint whuch is half a quart. make sure you are checking it when it is warm and that you are adding the right fluid. I can't remember for sure but I don't think yours takes regular dexron3. but, i'm not sure. check with the dealer before you add fluid. It may take the new ws fluid from toyota. but I'm not 100% positive.