wanderer99

I accelerate pretty slowly. My car usually changes gears around 2500rpm and that's pretty 'average' acceleration on my part. I'm able to replicate this 100% by starting car, driving slowly at under ~25km\h for the first few hundred feet, stopping (at the Stop sign!), then pulling out on the main road and accelerating away. That's when it will slip\flare. This morning it flared at 2700rpm and went to 3200rpm before engaging 4th gear.

Some information about cold weather too: we've recently had -6c in my area here in BC and I found that if the car is 'hot' then parked for 15 mins that the 3-4 flare happens again as well.

ES350Bob

Here is a somewhat radical thought.

This trans issue has been going on for nearly a year, will be a in a couple of months.

Why not think in terms of demanding Lexus review all it's models to see if there is not a transmission they have access to that is already proven, even if it's 5 a speed, that easily drops into our ES350 if there is such a thing.

I don't think too many of us bought an ES350 just so we could have a 6 speed transmission, or at least I didn't just so I had a 6 speed, and if it's this new designed 6 speed that is holding it up, why not go find us all a proven 5 speed?

ES350Bob

Don't know, I'd be in the land of the lost on that question. My guess is that even if torque converter is additional work it is the transmission itself at fault and converter may be part of the lumped description for our cars of transaxle.

I know who would know: Dave, King, JJ and if not could find out real fast and Phoenix.

If Phoenix gets here first be sure you have eaten at least an hour before reading his response in case he supplies graphics including the gory deer strike photos

Macklin

Yup, my situation exactly. I can go a couple hundred feet to a main road on my way to the interstate or I can go the back roads which is the route I take. Less traffic and fewer stop lights. First shift into fourth is a very easy one as I'm speeding at that point.

But I also noticed fewer occurrences since I started letting the car warm up until the fast idle reduced to 1000 rpms.

twister

You gotta be kidding me After all that, not even an honorable mentioning of possible buyback?!?!?

Macklin

You got that right! His first tranny was god awful, and now it sounds like his second is not much better. Unbelievable.

Exactly why I am watching and waiting...

garsarno

With ten ES350 cars for sale on ebay motors, all buybacks from Lexus, someone is getting a buyback....... Like to know how this is done....

2007es350

I'm still in the process of my buyback. I'll let you know when it is complete.

wanderer99

Hey Twister - it seems to be a Canadian thing only at this point. I don't know of any US member here who has been rejected for a buyback on the second trans failure.

ES350Bob

I remember Rboyle had posted on his 2nd where he was going to video it to prove it, not sure what came of it though.

twister

Don't want to repeat dozens of my previous posts but it all depends on integrity of your dealership. After my 2nd tranny in ES350 developed a flare, there were no questions asked. I test drove GS for 2 days, made up my mind, waited about 4 days for Lexus Corporate to get all the paperwork, and drove away happy with my GS350. I said it before, and will repeat it again: ES350 flare was both a curse and a blessing. Driving a loaner for 1 month out of 4 months of ES350 ownership was a curse, and now getting into GS350 is a blessing.

onsknht

A few thoughts reading the responses...

The shift slip/flare can be timid or it can be HUGE, it all depends on how you accellerate the car on the initial shift from 3rd to 4th.

Watch my videos... I did a little one and a big one.

It's still unknown whether big flares or little flares will affect overall longevity, maybe one pukes at 50,000 the other at 70,000, only time will tell. FWIW - - If mine only "typically" did it a little bit and I could get it to do a big one even once (1000rpm or more per the TSB), I'd say I qualify.

Try it and see for yourself.

Next, on the replacement TORQUE CONVERTER... I said it before, there's more than likely assembly material (shavings, grindings, tooling sprigs, whatever) inside the transmission causing this problem... The torque converter relies on fluid from the transmission to operate, so the fluid is interchanged and everything is contaminated... Or possible the new fangled "slimline" torque converter has some teething issues, maybe the vanes are shattering and causing debris? Who knows??? What is known, the only way to fix it is a replacement.

Finally, my apologies for any confusion about transmission and transaxle, we should have been using the term transaxle all along, in fact it's easier to type! In essense there's is a transmission and a differential attached to drive axle shafts, but they're combined in one unit, with the exception of the axle shafts... So the replacement just replaces everything because it's a single unit... They probably reuse drive axle shafts, CVTs etc... Hopefully they don't stress the CVT boots into early failure during the job?

In any event... If you elect to get this done, I'd get the biggest warranty you can get thrown into the deal.

Wanderer, sounds like they're going to owe you a new car.

ES350Bob

Ons,

I think I speak for many in saying this. You owe no apology, we are thankful for your skills in recording the transmission flare, both versions, so that all can get a glimpse of what is seen and heard at least inside the car when it happens, and thanks for your other contributions.

dunnojack

you got a gs replacement at no extra cost??!

ESsearch

Thanks onsknht for passing this info along. I have about 2,500 miles on my UL and have only experienced three very small and random flares. I have tried many times replicate it and cannot induce a flare. Regardless, I feel it needs to be addressed and I have been waiting for a real fix to come out and I hope this is it.

As I used to work as a mechanic, I would like to share a couple of other thoughts on previous statements:

- Replacing a transaxle will require disconecting (but not replacing) the half shafts. Any competent mechanic will not damage the CV joints in the process. The transaxle is dropped out from the bottom of the car while on a lift.
- This TSB in terms of procedure and amount of labor involved will be the same as previous transaxle replacements.
- The torque coverter sits on the transaxle mainshaft, between the actual "gearbox" and the engine. It is, mechanically speaking, a very simple device and not very likely to be something that fails. However, it might be redesigned to acheive certain new characteristics. Once the transaxle is out, the torque converter would take about ten minutes to swap out.
- Getting a transaxle from another model is not likely. They are designed to mate to a specific engine and with gearing for a specific type of car. All kinds of external assemblies mount to the outside of the transaxle (starter, motor mounts, electrical components, etc). For example, the GS transaxle might mate to the engine but likely has totally different gearing reflecting the sporty nature of that car and may even have the output connections for the halfshafts in a slighter different position to match the chassis.
- I very definitely factored in the 6 speed as part of my purchasing decision. Additional gears allow for closer spacing between gear ratios which add to the smoothness, performance, and fuel economy of the vehicle (assuming the tranny is working properly ). That is why the LS now has an 8 speed tranny.

Again, I hope this is a real fix and the issue can be put behind us. I would hate to see garsarno's eBay count to get much higher! Even worse would be to have this issue start effecting the reputation and resale value of the ES.

Pete