RA030724

iTrader: (1)

Does anyone know if a new transmission firmware update has been released this year for the 2004 RX-330? This would be for the hesitation/shifting problem. I have had two near hits over the last year when the car hesitated (got confused) when I hit the gas to accelerate quickly into traffic. Or is Lexus just ignoring this since they now have the 2005 and soon 2006 models out and we are old history?
Oliver

Lil4X

A firmware update was issued in the summer of '03 that updated the shift algorithm on early production '04 RX 330's. Since then, I'm not aware of any updates. There have been many discussions of this issue on the RX forums with answers ranging from pulling the ECM fuse to switching to Premium fuel. For a review of these posts, click "Advanced Search" above, and enter "shifting problem" into the query and limit the search to the RX forums. Good Luck!

RA030724

iTrader: (1)

Thanks. I have been following all those. Fuel does help, as does pulling the fuse. But, I don't think I should have to be resetting an ECU every month on a $40K+ car. Never had to on all my other Toyotas since 1980. Surely, this isn't going to be an ongoing problem with the RX. I was hoping I has missed a post regarding this. I try to avoid situations needing "instant" power, but unfortunately in traffic you never know. The only other vehicle I had this worry with over all my driving years was a 1960 Chevy Corvair! Hit the gas and pray.
Oliver

rxdriver

TC005-03, was the original firmware update TSIB from August 11, 2003.

It was re-issued with the same number on May 20, 2005 with yet another version of the firmware.

This latest version of the firmware includes a lot of software from the 2005 model year, including updated OBD II codes. If you have this update done on a 2004, then you'll have to let dealers know in the future that it's using 2005 OBD II codes. (There will be a big sticker inside the hood, but it doesn't hurt to point it out anyway.)

Also, if you have a 2004 with laser cruise, a couple of the parts of the brake system need to be replaced in order to be compatible with the 2005 software. These parts are covered under warranty as part of the TSIB work.

There is no serial number range for this TSIB. The dealer will perform the work based on the symptoms displayed and the version of the existing software as determined by the computer diagnostic tool the dealers have.

looknow12

The 400h has the right firmware

Instant power at most any speed!

RA030724

iTrader: (1)

rxdriver, did you have this done to yours? If so was there an improvement? This was what I was looking for as I already had the latest version up until the May 20th release.
Thanks.
Oliver

rxdriver

No, I haven't had it done. I've been pretty satisfied with the old update; my biggest complaint was with the trans hunting for a gear between 20 and 30 mph in heavy traffic, and that fixed it.

lexuslover

oliver, did you ask the dealer about the transmission cooler lines? that was the fix that did it for me. the resets didn't do much, maybe a slight improvement, but still jumpy.

i was shocked when the cooler lines did the trick - i had complained about it so many times before that day and nothing was doing the job. i haven't the slightest idea what the mechanical terms are, but all i know is that that was the final thing they did and since then, it drives nicely, even in heavy traffic.

rxdriver

Replacing the trans cooler lines (TC002-04) fixed the "thump" noise that the trans made when shifting. It shouldn't change the shift behavior, though.

lexuslover

i never had the thump though, only jerky shifting at low speeds.