rekaca

if anyone on here could offer me any wisdom it'd be greatly appreciated. my aunt and uncle live in florida and are possibly going to finance a vehicle for me (payment plan). it is a 1994 lexus es 300 v6 with 109000 miles on it. supposedly when they bought the car it was shifting into overdrive just fine and then after 2 days of having it, it just stopped shifting into overdrive. the drive up, to ohio, my understanding is that it did not shift into overdrive at all. when i picked up the car from my uncle, i drove it until it was almost empty and put half a tank of 93 octane in it. i ran that and then disconnected the battery for 10 minutes because a forum somewhere said to try that to reset some sensor. no luck. however, that evening, it kicked into overdrive and stayed there until i got home. my brother drove it that same night after inspecting it (needs a few other things i found out hahaha) and to my knowledge it did not shift into overdrive. today, i was on the highway going 65mph and it was kicking into and back out of overdrive. it's like it couldn't make up it's mind. so after about 10 minutes of that nonsense, i hit the overdrive off button. NOW, my fiance just drove it and said when he turned the lights on, it went into overdrive. he thought it was a fluke so he did it again and again and again. i guess each time he turned the lights on, it went into overdrive. when he shut them off, it went out, etc. this sounds like a cluster**** of electronic problems to me. i made an appointment to take it to a local transmission specialist on thursday to see if he can diagnose it but just want to know if anyone has any input. PLEASE HELP ME!!

*transmission fluid and filter were changed upon arrival to ohio. the filter and fluid are correct type and amount. it's levels are good.
*as of 5:25pm EST i am finding out my uncle replaced the guage cluster as well which just made me even more nervous.

again, anyone... please help i know nothing about Lexus'. i've owned 1993/1994 Mazda Proteges since i started driving.

DRACO A5OG

Hi Rekaca,

Hmmm, if the only hard component that was installed recently was the cluster, it may be hooked up loose somewhere in the back of the cluster causing a short or sorts on one of the sensors on the transmission.

Strange, did not know the cluster had any effect on the trans sensors. Have your " trans expert" check all the sensor connectors by removing and reconnecting them, there are about 5-6 sensors from memory. If your finance is handy, ask him to remove the cluster and do the same to the connectors. Sometimes mechanics being human tend not to seat the connectors in all the way. One must hear or feel a "CLICK" to insure proper contact. Sometimes when they guerilla it in, it pushes one of the contact out causing a "non-continuity/short" which could be part of the wiring loom that is connected to the trans sensor.

You must explain to the trans expert about the cluster replacement so he can be aware of components that were added right before the symptoms. In order for him to check all the connections, he will need to remove the battery, the accelarator assembly ( out of the way ) and air filter housing to gain access to all sensors. I would also mention the recent fluid change, Are you certain they used proper ATF? Must be Dextron 4, my local Toyota/Lexus Dealer recommends CASTROL DEXTRON IV ATF. Autozone sells them for $5.85 per quart.

When you wrote the ATF was changed, did they also change the Differential fluid as well? Remember changing once will only remove 60-65% of the old fluid, you may concider doing it again to get 90% new. The torque convertor holds old fluid and gets diluted after a 2nd or even a 3rd change after 1000 miles each.

Hope this helps,

mdbrown

Sounds like an electrical issue. You'll need a wiring diagram to trace. A good start would be to do what Draco recommended... check all electricall connections for the transmission, take them apart and inspect them for corrosion, fill them with dielectric grease and reconnect.

DRACO A5OG

Oh yeah Welcome to the Board!

Here is a link to the Shop Manual for 94-96 Camry/ES300 ( except the body, 99.9% identical )

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums...howtopic=26449


If your Beau is able to tackle it, he will find the cluster assembly and trans sensors locations.