Hello!

I am running into an interesting problem with my 2011 Lexus ES350.

Whenever I accelerate the car (and as of recently…whenever it is coasting without any acceleration)
the car vibrates violently. The more acceleration? The more vibration.

things I have tested are

uphill: shakes
downhill: shakes
All gears: shakes
turning left and right while coasting: shakes
Sport mode *manual shifting*: shakes

THE ONLY TIME the car QUITS SHAKING? Is whenever it is in park or neutral.

recently. I was driving at 55mph up a hill (accelerating) and the vehicle was shaking quite bad. I then shifted the car into neutral and all shaking stopped immediately.
I revved the engine while in neutral. Nothing

to me.
this issue is either
1. CV Axle
2. I have read transmission fluid can cause this issue. The vehicle has 195,000 miles and has never had a change.
3. engine mount. (This is the most unlikely to me)

any pointers out there? Thank you so much

 

4. Torque converter shudder.

 

Hey there! Did you ever find out the issue? My 09 is doing this as well and I’ve done the same diagnosis as you have.

I don’t want to play the parts game and my father (who is not a mechanic but has worked on his own cars all his life properly and successfully) is convinced it’s the transmission, which is the most expensive fix. - I appreciate your time in advance!

 

You changed the transmission fluid?

 

Bingo

 

that I have not done yet. I have a service record from the previous owner who had it done at a Lexus dealership when the car was at 59K miles. The car currently has 138,050. - Would the fluid be low/bad in that time frame? I don’t have any leaks outside of the front CV Axle boots with the smallest sign of grease(parts have been ordered already to fix that).

 

Change the transmission fluid. All fluids wear out. It should shift better afterward. Even doing a cold drain and fill which replaces about 2 - 2.25 quarts of the approximately 7.5 quarts will make a difference you can feel.

This is pasted from another thread on this forum:

​​​​​​See post 5 in this link as it steers you to posts on how to perform a cold drain and fill on this transmission. I agree with tolian21 that you should not touch the filter at this time. Just do a cold drain and fill and maybe repeat it in a few weeks. The total fluid volume is about 7.4 quarts and a cold drain and fill replaces between 2 and 2.25 quarts. That is enough to refresh the fluid and improve longevity and shift quality.
​​​​​​https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...er-change.html
Also see this thread
​​​​​​https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...ans-fluid.html

 

I will start there. I really appreciate your help and advice!
Thank you.