orlonda

My 99 rx 300 is slow to shift when its cold.When the car warms up it shifts fine.My question is this normal or should i be concerned?

Lexmex

It's normal, partially an emission reason and also to help warm up the fluids particularly of course the ATF fluid.

Believe me, it's one of the few irritations I have with this fine vehicle along with the turning radius.

plmeeker

it is normal, but RX300s have transmission problems in general. does it make a winning noise in the morning? if it does go and have it checked as soon as possable. you can do more damage if u keep driving it..

Iluvlexus

See this thread for more info.


Comments on this transmission fact pattern?
Stemmer
03-11-12 04:39 PM

bufferdan

Normal and my understanding is the whine is normal too because things are spinning pretty fast in 1st gear before it finally allows the shift to 2nd (only does it when it starts getting really cold). Mine has been whining since i got it when temps get down in the 20's. Goes away after a min or two of driving. Have done a few drain and refills, 195k on it but still shifts nice.

orlonda

I dont hear a whining noise. I had problems with it goin into od and noticed i had an exhaust leak so i took it to the muffler shop and the front o2 sensor had broke loose so they welded it back on and now theres no cel and shifts fine into overdrive. Im happy about that because they told me it was most likely knock sensor but i havnt had any problems since they welded the o2 sensor on. It was getting to be a pain not goin into overdrive i had to keep shuting the car off and restarting it that why they though it was knock sensor.Anyway im one happy gal a 30 dollar fix. Im glad to know the cold shift is normal and not another problem. It wont hurt to drive it under 3000 rpm until it shifts is it?

orlonda

I have also checked my transmissiin fluid and its pink and dont smell burnt. Should i take it and have it flused or just leave it alone. I there matinence i need to do for transmission. I recently bought the car it has 170000 miles on it and seems to run good. It has a vibration when i accelerate ? Any suggestions what that could be?

Lexmex

If you are not sure of the maintenance history when the last transmission fluid changeout was, I'd drain and refill it.

When does the vibration occur at, what mph?

mckellyb

Yeah, it's annoying, and odd, but "normal". Higher revs aid in warming the catalytic converter after a cold start, so you'll notice it more in the winter.

I know it's better for the environment, but it annoys me, anyway.

Unless you live someplace truly cold, it shouldn't do this for very long...maybe five minutes of drive time.

lexus114

Yeah this is a real pain in the *** on the first gen RX. My 05 does this ( not near as bad ) and it`s from 3rd to 4th. So much easier to deal with.

jbl-1985

It is...but a small price to pay IMO. Luckily, we don't live someplace where it requires you to get to highway speed right outside your driveway. Now that would be a problem!

lexus114

I hear ya, where I work is a pretty major (busy) two lane highway. So after work I need to get movin, plus there are steep hills to pull as well.