MAXUMIZED

I have a 04' LS430 that is problem free except the shifting while making slow turns in my neighborhood. More precisely, driving 40mph and slowing down normally to make a 90 degree turn, It seems to shift from 2nd to 1st while making 5-10mph turns once I put my foot back on the accelerator form the brake and accelerating to 40 mph again. The car will seem to over rev to get into the next gear ( about 2200rpms.) It just seems like I am in a hurry coming out of turns sometimes if you were to see it happen. If I feather the accelerator pedal it still happens but the revs are somewhat reduced and then it will proceed to shift when the rpms are at around 1800 rather than 2200. Transmission fluid is at normal level and shifts well at other speeds.

Lust4Lexus

you may need the Transmission pattern TSB done.

MAXUMIZED

Thanks for the advise. I will take it in and see what dealer says.

Playdrv4me

I'm now on my second '04 with the same worthless shifting issues. I seriously thought my first '04 had some kind of transmission issue but 20,000 miles later the person who bought it from us is still enjoying the heck out of it. Now on my second '04, I find that I have exactly the same problem.... Slow down to come to an eventual red light, light turns green before coming to a complete stop and it seems like the transmission "isn't done" doing whatever the hell it's doing yet so I put my foot into the accelerator pedal and the damn thing lurches forward with a smack. It is identical behavior to not only the other 2004 I had, but also our previous 2007 Escalade which also had a 6 speed transmission.

I never did the transmission shift pattern TSB to the first one because we ended up getting rid of it, but with the behavior being so similar between three 6 speed vehicles, two of them the identical model of car, I am skeptical whether a computer flash does anything. I am very eager to see your results.

JLAWS

Seems like the 01-03 Ls430 transmission is the smoothest and nearly drama free. Was always wary of the fact that 04-06 has no dip stick to check the fluid.

Playdrv4me

That's because the 2001-2003 is a no frills 5 speed auto, which is a good thing. I don't think I've yet driven a 5 speed vehicle that has had any worrisome transmission behavior or unusual programming.

tcbted

Except for, of course, the frustrating ES330 5spd.
Hunt and peck, and sometimes finds the right gear by fluke or happenstance

Monkeyyy

iTrader: (4)

From what I've been reading, that seems to be a very common problem for 04s. Seems as if the TSB was introduced in 05 because I havent read of any complaints on 05-06 models. Im searching for the right LS430 and now im worried because I dont want to get stuck with any trans issues if I end up buying a LS that has a non transferable warranty. Sorry for the slight thread jack

Playdrv4me

I haven't driven an '05 so if the 2005 and '06 don't have it, then the TSB should, in theory, fix it. The hardware is all the same outside of the very early '04s that were part of the transmission recall. It's a driveability issue more than anything, but an annoying one.

skassamali

I have the same issue with my 05. Car lurches forward on some turns and it just seems like it's not shifting down. RPMs go up to nearly 2.5-3k (which I never ever hit on a regular basis)...so it's definitely not normal. I had the TSB done too. Unplugged the battery too. Had the trans fluid changed.

In addition, sometimes I'll be accelerating and the tranny will get to 4th gear a little too quick...and since I'm still giving it gas, it'll up shift to 3rd and continue accelerating...seamless, but I don't think it's supposed to behave like that.

thinkin

It seems to be all '04-'06. I think it's just the closer ratios in the 6-spd making the 1-2 zone more awkward at very low speeds and the logic is not always perfect.

I too could wish it were flawless, and every once in awhile it takes me off guard too. But for this you get better performance than the '01-'03.