klmaurigi

I have an 04 LS 430 and I am experiencing hard shifting issues. My mechanic said it could be the low voltage on my battery, so I changed it, no improvement. Its especially noticeable when first starting off, its not a smooth transition from 1st to 2nd anymore. Any suggestions?

nmikmik

You probably should give some more information for others (not me) to able to help you. Like how many miles you have on the car, was the transmission ever serviced (especially recently)
I believe there is a TSB for shifting issues, your dealer should be able to tell you if it was taken care for on your car. Search, although not perfect, does help.
GL

klmaurigi

Thanks I will check that out, by the way it has 139000 miles on it and yes the transmission was serviced at 100000 miles. I am used to a smooth take off and it feels hesitant at times and the get up and go when needing to pass is not responding as well either.

Brewmyown

Is the car throwing any codes? Is it running well other than that or is the acceleration sluggish or bogged down? I wouldn't keep throwing parts at it until its diagnosed properly.

klmaurigi

No codes through my local mechanic and yes at times it feels sluggish but the main issue is the shifting, not smooth at times. I have contacted the Lexus dealership 90 miles aways and I will be dropping it off for a check up. I only hope the diagnosis doesn't cost a fortune.

nmikmik

I am not advocating on opening another ATF chain, so please do not post your own preference of servicing transmission. :cool

Without any assumptions, did you mechanic check the condition of the ATF and the level hopefully too?

gjw510

I had this same issuse on and off for a year an couldn't pin it down until the offending shift solenoids finally gave out and threw codes now my car shifts as it should. Just my two cents hope you find the gremlin

gjw510

Note I even had the dealer reset the trans due to the TSB when it first started no luck

spin420

iTrader: (5)

I've been having the same problem, intermittant "hard shifts", especially 1st to 2nd. Plus my check engine light has been going on and off for a couple of weeks or so. I took it to one shop, and the guy said the code came up as a bad solenoid.

Is this an expensive fix? I don't want to keep driving the car like this if it is going to get worse, I would like to fix it asap, but I'm not sure if I can afford to right now.

nmikmik

You ability to afford it, i am guessing, is going to depend on where you take it, if take it anywhere at all. On most of the auto transmissions solenoids is part of the valve body (not sure about these transmission thought) and replacing solenoid is not a big endeavor if you are mechanically inclined. If you feel you can trust a local transmission shop, it's definitely a job they are meant to do. They also should be able to test other solenoids for voltage response and tell you if another one in on the last leg, so you don't have to open it up twice.
GL

gjw510

I had 2 bad solenoids labor was 600 parts 570 plus loaner 150 at lexus of Oakland. My car never threw codes until that day. If you use a outside mech just make sure to get correct parts. I had to wait 3 extra days because dealer ordered wrong parts. Car now rides as it should so if you can fix it do so asap that hard shifting can't be good for your tranny gears.