love_lexus

Should Lexus provides big $$$ award to the people whom can figure out what the cause of flare or how to reproduce it?

coleco

If someone asked me to describe my engine "flare" I would point to ESDragon's post from yesterday at 12:16. That is EXACTLY what I experience. I may have had the cold flare thing a few minutes into the morning drive once or twice but what he described i have frequently on the interstate and essentially when slowing down from higher speeds. I don't know if that is a flare-it sounds like it is not what is primarily the issue on these posts. However, it feels very abnormal. I have not had that with other cars. If someone would tell me what it is and that there is no cure for that disease, i would keep my mouth shut and love the car even more. What is that cruising, or deceleration flarish thing??
Coleco

ESDragon

Wanderer99, everything you mention is exactly what is happening to my car. It seems my flare happens more often when "hot" than "cold". Most of them are between 2k - 3k rpm spikes. But I did experience 3 big spikes and they are extremely scary. Ever since this started happening, I have been driving like an old lady. Usually stay on the far right (slow) lane while 4 cyclinder civics and corollas zoom by me.

ESDragon

Coleco, if you are not experiencing spikes during your normal acceleration and deceleration on the highway, you might be talking about the hesitation between gear shifts. Sometimes when you accelerate to a certain speed and you let go of the gas pedal, the car doesn't slow down right away. Instead it kind of just stuck there for a good 3 - 5 seconds before it slows down.

onsknht

Catching up on these posts, it appears ESDragon is getting the "kickdown flare" I've tried to describe in the past... Unfortunately in my experience it is a really random event and may be difficult to capture on tape. I would however suggest that you try to find some low-traffic road that is secluded (no kids, etc) and has a low speed limit like 35MPH... Drive the posted limit or about 5MPH above for a mile or two and maintain the same speed the entire time (35 to 45MPH seemed to be the magic speed as the car will shift into 5 maybe 6 and maintain low engine RPM = low fluid pressure in the transmission) When you're ready with the camera ---->>> Put your foot into it!!!

It appeared to me the "settled low trans fluid pressure" that is suddenly "high sided" caused the kickdown flare... Either the sudden fluid demand drains the solonoid or the fluid gets pressurized for the upper (5th and 6th gear) circuits and shorts the lower circuits (1st thru 4th gear) --->>> Basically putting your foot into it may be causing the computer the react too quickly, this is an "electronic" action that the "mechanical" (fluid) action cannot keep up with. At highway speeds 50MPH+ I think the engine revolutions and subsequent transmission revolutions allow the trans fluid to "overpressurize" fill all shift cicuits so the kickdown flare does not occur.

The above is just a suggestion based on my limited experience trying to duplicate this type of flare... The only thing I saw consistently with this one was the fact I was settled into a speed of about 35-45MPH and wanted to get away from someone or go around someone who pulled out in front of me... Usually a knee jerk reaction to accellerate after I had been 'mellow cruising" for a few miles.

dunnojack

maybe toyota has made a very sturdy & durable, but slipping, transmission. perhaps there will be no damage in 8 years.

ES350Bob

It seems damage would occur with this, it is as though you stopped the car, placed it in neutral, revved the RPM up to 2,000 and then shifted into drive with engine at that RPM. Similar happens when the RPM spikes above otherwise normal when a gear is to engage at a much lower RPM.

Then there is the engine heaving forward on it's mounts when this happens, that cannot be good over a course of time with this happening frequently over miles, months etc.

And lastly, also related, is the safety issue associated at times when you really need a gear to get you going, not stay in place at one speed or should say, not rob you of forward momentum when a gear is slipping you need most not to be slipping at a time when pulling into or across traffic.

GumboChief

Have you ever been caught turning across an intersection, with traffic coming your way? If so, that would be pretty scary

ESDragon

I share this flaring issue with my uncle and he said he has similar transmission slips with his 2001 Infiniti Q45. He had to bring in the dealership a few times until they actually duplicate the problem. At the end, infiniti actually did a software update and his car was running fine ever since. I tend to believe it could be software related since it seems the computer is confuse when to shift. But my dealership did tell me that I have the latest and greatest tranny and all updates.

garsarno

It ocurred to me that the flaring is probably a software issue because: (a) it's a 6 speed automatic (b) must be small for FWD and the number of moving parts is intricate in it versus say a GM four speed transaxle. My UL has not flared since transmission replacement (and I have tried to make it shift bad when cold). My only problem is the cold engine tick / knock that needs a good 1/2 hour of steady driving to go away. Only got worse after the free initial oil change. Will be making time this week for a review with the Lexus service writer.

ES350Bob

garsarno,

It seems that if it were a software issue, your 2nd transmission would behave as the first and it too would also slip.

I think it is simply that there are large number of defective transmissions.

ESDragon

I am pretty much fed with this flaring issue. My dealership can't duplicate the flaring so they are not doing anything about it. I contacted Lexus Corp last week and the specialist is not responding to any of my calls. I was up all night thinking why I (and the rest of us) have to suffer with this faulty design. I don't care if they can't duplicate the problem. The problem is there and I am not going to let them brush me away with that excuse. I made another service appointment with ANOTHER lexus dealership. It seems just my taking my phone number, they know exactly what kind of car I have. I am going to call the customer relation manager at my dealership and will tell him how unhappy I am with my new vehicle. No more Mr. Nice Guy! I tried recording the flare and it is just too difficult since I don't know when it is going to happen. And Lexus could easily say that I did it purposely even if I was able to record a flare. So the battle continues.......

ES350Bob

Making the appointment with another dealer might work or at least if not it goes as another attempt for down the road Lemon Law.

I decided it was not worth the length of time going through a 2nd time in my case and will instead just report both my vehicles by their VIN to NHTSA so there is at least an official record of them and since others have already reported their's to that federal agency, maybe they will do more to investigate this.

2007es350

ESDragon,

Sorry to hear about all your transmission woes and the inability to duplicate the problem.

I know it doesn't help your situation, but at least threads like these on ClubLexus can help other potential ES350 buyers avoid the same pain by avoiding the purchase of the ES350. Also, those ES350 owners with defective transmissions that are lucky enough to get the Lexus Corp buyback option can choose to avoid a replacement ES350 and just opt for a cash refund.

garsarno

Friends of ours bought the BMW 530 AWD instead of the ES350. Doing my part.