mrwilldoo

Hello All!

I am currently driving a 2000 RX 300 (I think they are all the standard model AWD 3.0) and as of lately it will drive at higher than normal RPM's. For example after the 2nd/3rd shift, the RPM's NORMALLY will be under 3000, however now after the 2nd/3rd shift it goes as high as 4-5000. This issue is intermittent however.

As of recently I replaced both VVT-i solenoids which was giving me a slight idling issue. I'm thinking the TPS. What do you think?

kalali

This may sound dumb but make sure you did not accidentally disengage the overdrive switch/button. Aside from that, assuming the transmission fluid is clean and full, the symptoms sound like a marginal solenoid. Any codes?

hypervish

Welcome to Club Lexus!

So after it shifts into 3rd, the rpms jump to 4000? Or, as you keep accelerating they eventually reach 4000 rpm and the car doesn't go into overdrive?

As Kalali mentioned, do you have a CEL?

2KHarrier

He's in Minnesota, where the weather is getting colder. Here in Milwaukee, where the temperature has just started to dip, I've noticed that the trans is starting to hang in gear a little longer while the engine warms up, so perhaps with the cooler air temps, he's experiencing similar effects of the weather?

hypervish

That's normal behavior, it's done for emissions reasons (warms up the CAT quicker).

However, that doesn't persist for more than a few minutes (usually 2-3 minutes driving time).

mrwilldoo

Thank you guys for your reply. To answer all questions, no do not have the over drive on. It's weird because it is intermittent. I'll idle around 1000 most of the time and then when I go to drive it will go rev up to 4000-5000 depending on speed of course. But some of the time it will only be at the normal 2000-3000. I scanned it and it indicated a knock sensor, but would a faulty knock sensor cause this? And if so to be intermittent?

2KHarrier

So much for my cold weather diagnosis...

AnthonyMtz

Ahh...the faulty knock sensor lol I had that same problem and man was it a pain in the butt to figure out :/ anyways I just did a little hack and got a wire tap and tapped Into the good knock sensor and wired it to he faulty one no CEL light or high rpm's it now shifts into OD perfectly and I get about 80 mph at 3,100 rpm's their is a guy on here that dose the hack if you are interested just let me know

salimshah

There can be more than one problem.

I would suggest fixed the identified/known and then start diagnosing.

Salim