Did you check the fluid level with the engine running? Previously to the transmission service at 120k what is the service history? Lucas tranny additive can actually stop slipping if you don't get anywhere with the filter change dump in two bottles.

 

 

All service work should be in the history. When I bought my Lexus I went to the dealer and they printed me off the service history everything was there right down to details like lubing door hinges.

 

Yes, you can find the lexus service online w/o visiting the dealer. It is on their website somewhere, just enter the VIN.

I would add some B12 or Seafoam and run for a week. Then drain/fill with TIV, 3309, or Castrol Transmax HM with Lubegard Red. Hopefully the solvent would clean the valve body and solenoids. The Lubegard has similar additives like Lucas - which is a good product - but has the added benefit of an ester oil base which conditions seals, also cleans (is component of AutoRX), and helps heat transfer. So I prefer it overall.

I am doubting your filter could be a problem; if it were cavitating it would be from a bad aftermarket filter (too restrictive - has happened), but you said this was dealer and it worked for 40k mi, or from low fluid (you checked it). Nothing else really to clog it unless catastrophic failure throws enough parts to do so. And unfortunately, that does happen with these transmissions.

If that above doesn't help, I would investigate a solenoid issue - by revving you increase the line pressure and could overcome a sticking one. I don't know the inner control patterns of this unit enough to diagnose. A next step would be a line pressure test, which is cheap to do - just need a test gauge and then read the pressure at idle and at stall speed (for the torque converter) in each gear. If you have a gauge or want to get one, I would do that before the treatment and then a week later.

When I need to do a line pressure test once, I just used my compression tester and a 6' hose extension I bought at harbor freight, and correct NPT adapter to the pressure test port. It was a little messy because the compression tester was not fluid-tight, but it worked just fine.

 

 

Update: Changed the trans filter this weekend, and the cold start whine went away, woohoo!

My theory is that the event with reverse not engaging may have caused a bunch of premature clutch wear. The magnets were full of metallic sludge stuck to them and the bottom of the pan was silvery looking fluid that I wiped out. I'm guessing a bunch of that went into the filter and was restricting it. Pitcure of the filter below that came out, that doesn't look stock does it? I didn't see any Toyota part numbers on it. Not that it matters, appears I dodged a bullet for now. In my mind the 1-2 shift seems a little soft, the trans is probably fixing to check out but I have prolonged its life perhaps by swapping in a clean filter so the pump is probably alright. The bands and clutches, who knows!

 

That's good news. That is not a Toyota part don't know if Filtran is a good brand or not, could be. Those filters are not like the old screen versions that almost never clogged up. BTW some sludge and clutch material on the magnets is inevitable I've seen Ford's with insane amounts of metal, sorta like this but worse.

 

Yes, some silvery sludge is not unexpected if it has been a long time between changes and the fluid is worn out. But, it's not fatal.

Aftermarket filters have damaged a lot of transmissions.

 

Plans have been delayed for a new car so I am still driving the ES. The trans whine started to come back in the mornings and weird shifting cold, didn't go into reverse a couple random times. Figured I'd change the filter again. Just since August there was a lot of metal collected on the pan magnets, I would think. I'm surprised the trans is hanging on, dying a nice slow death which gives me time. Most of the time it shifts just fine and no codes at all. I'll keep nursing her along. Need to close another deal or two to get a new car...

 

Hey,
How the cars transmission doing? Mines having similar issue where it has hard shifts when cold, but warm its fine. No issues with gears not engaging tho.

 

It was doing alright up until I traded her in last week! The cold whine hadn't come back yet and it was shifting just fine. I had a remote starter on the car, so I could generally avoid any odd issues driving away stone cold, and the weather was warming up so all seemed to be well. Having to change the trans fluid so often and having a lot of metallic shavings on the magnets, clearly something was up but it hadn't become a major problem yet. Never got any lights/codes for the trans.

 

Well, thats good to hear. Congrats on new car btw. What did you end up getting?

 

Curious what transmission fluid you chose to use?

 

Toyota T-IV