99 rx300 cold shifting problem
#16
To my recollection, our 99 RX300 has always done this (OD lock out thing until the engine warms up). I assume it is normal and further assume that it was Toyota's weird way to get a cold engine's temps up quickly to normal operating temps so as to reduce cold engine emissions. Cold engines emit more pollutants all things considered. If the tranny stays in 3rd gear the engine will rev higher and heat up quicker. What do you think about that theory?
#17
Lexus Test Driver
#19
Lexus Test Driver
#20
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Shifting to overdrive
Mine is the opposite. 1999 rx300 shifts to overdrive when cold and will not when it warms up. Any ideas? I also have a check engine code for running lean.
#21
Moderator
Please have the problem of running lean (Fix root cause of CEL) and most likely your limp mode will go away.
Salim
#22
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Agreed!
May I ask what applied in your instance? I'm curious!
#23
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I've found the car to frequent the check engine light around fuel changes. Mine apparently doesn't like going low and will punish me for it. It is also more apt to go on and stay on for longer periods should I be using a cheaper grade fuel & let the level go low in the tank at the same time.
Once the light stuck so I used injector cleaner and premium and just like the manual says, 3 starts and shutdowns and it's right, it eventually goes off.
#25
Driver School Candidate
I'll wade in on this topic as my RX300 has begun to exhibit the same behaviour. It won't shift out of 2nd until the engine warms up a bit. I have to drive about a kilometre at 80 k/h and just above 3000 rpm. before it will shift down. Raising the rpm or lowering the rpm doesn't bring on the shift. This is definitely not normal. I changed the fluid and cleaned the filter this summer in anticipation of the problem. I made no difference. I have 280,000k on the car.
I've been reading a Volkswagen forum where changing a temp sensor in the tranny corrected the problem. (See the link) It seems to be a much more common problem with VW (Ya think).
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...2lexus%20forum (scroll to the bottom of the page. read, "Sonicraze, 2nd last post.)
So, does my RX300 have a similar sensor. I could always go back in and change it. Not a difficult job.
I've been reading a Volkswagen forum where changing a temp sensor in the tranny corrected the problem. (See the link) It seems to be a much more common problem with VW (Ya think).
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...2lexus%20forum (scroll to the bottom of the page. read, "Sonicraze, 2nd last post.)
So, does my RX300 have a similar sensor. I could always go back in and change it. Not a difficult job.
#27
This is a feature to prevent knuckleheads to destroy the engine by trying to push heavy (read: cold) engine oil through the moving parts by revving the crap out of the cold engine. Use common sense.
#28
Moderator
Now if after reaching the optimum temp, you are locked out of a gear then there is a problem that needs fixing.
Salim
#29
Moderator
The engine temp and trans temp are two different things. They both warm quicker when you drive. I (and the user manual) recommends against idlling to warm up.
You may need couple of more drains and fill ... a good portion remains inside and some one did a study that after 13 drains or fills the majority of the fluid will be fresh and around 19 times high 90s (like 98%) would be fresh.
Do you park your vehicle outside and how cold does it these nights. Try driving slow (engine rpm below 3k) till the coolant temp reaches normal (near 1/2 way point).
Can you share the rpms when the shifts are happening.
Any CEL codes?
Salim
You may need couple of more drains and fill ... a good portion remains inside and some one did a study that after 13 drains or fills the majority of the fluid will be fresh and around 19 times high 90s (like 98%) would be fresh.
Do you park your vehicle outside and how cold does it these nights. Try driving slow (engine rpm below 3k) till the coolant temp reaches normal (near 1/2 way point).
Can you share the rpms when the shifts are happening.
Any CEL codes?
Salim
#30
Driver School Candidate
2003 Highlander V6 AWD 284K miles. Original Owner. Mine has done the cold weather no-OD thing since new. I can even tell what the outside temp is by how far the car goes until it starts to shift normally. First stop sign is exactly 1.0 mile from my driveway. If it starts to shift before the sign it is 30 deg. (F) or higher. If 1/4 mile past then 20's, if 1/2 mile then single digits. The record was 2.3 miles from home. It was 18 below zero that day. Brrrrrrr!
Haya....
Haya....