toy4two

any idea what caused it? Wrong ATF fluid?

badams

My wife has a 1999 RX300 AWD and the transmission started slipping at around 90k miles.

Took it to the dealer who said there was a "electronic component" inside of the tranny that was going bad and the transmission would need to be replaced.

My wife ripped off the service reps head and crapped down his neck, saying "How could a $30k car need a new transmission after only a few years and not even a 100k miles on it?" ...oh yeah, we don't have a warranty, bought this RX from a used car lot.

I guess she scared them because they bought us a new transmission (or a rebuilt one any way), we had to pay for the installation which was around $900.00

The car has been fine since then, but just recently she started to notice that in the morning it hasn't been shifting to the higher gears (I believe this only happens in the morning when it is cold). I think it is the fact the transmission is cold and the fluids aren't moving around yet. Once the car is warm everything is fine. We have an appointment to have the dealer look at it. I am thinking of asking them what fluid (ATF) they have been using? Sounds like the Toyota Synthetic ATF is the way to go? Has anyone had problems with the Syntheic? Can you request that the dealer use this instead of another type?

Thanks,
badams

ederny

Warmup is programmed to not shift up until the engine is warmed to limit polution. You typically notice this when the engine is below 30 deg F. This is the typical morning start-up here in Boston for the last 4 months!

tomv

Are you talking about the noise in the front when running over washboard type roads?
If so, was it a recall or a TSB?

DJ SprinklesNJO

yea thats the noise im talking about, whats a TSB.

tomv

It's a Technical Service Bulletin.

It basically mean that if you take your car into the dealer and complain of the problem, they'll fix it for free, but they are only covered during the warranty period.

If the problem was covered by a recall, I imagine they wold fix it even after warranty.

ChasRX

Arg! I just had my 90k service done at the dealership (have 98k miles on my 1999 Rx) My 5 year 100k warranty expired 5-29-06 ( right after my 90k service)

I have noticed three times that my transmission seems to be slipping (my tach goes up but I am not gaining speed.)

I was hesitant to get the 90k service because my RX was running so well...now I am afraid that the dealership did something unintentional, and my transmission is going to die (out of warranty, of course.)

Is there anything that they could have done wrong?

badams

Same thing happened to my 1999 RX300, I had to replace the tranny, good thing is my wife REALLY REALLY REALLY complained and they gave us a new tranny, we just had to pay for the installation, which was still alot, but just the tranny would have been like $2500, I think we paid $900 for the labor. Good luck, but sad to say it is probably a transmission going bad.

We didn't have a warranty either, we had bought our car from a used car dealer.

Actually our RX300 was a major lemon (as far as Lexus goes), we traded it in on a 2002 LX470 and we are much happier now.

We also have a 1996 ES300 with over 205,000 miles on it and it has been a very solid car.

badams