03 Lexus ES300 with 98k miles and having an issue where transmission hesitate at random times when accelerating from full stop. Had transmission drained and filled, transmission filter was changed, and no error codes. Just checked transmission fluid and everything looks normal. Took it to a local shop and they couldn't find any issue with the car. Can anyone help?

 

Hello,

It is a normal situation for that generation, it was one of the first entry into Drive-by-Wire system for Toyota, so pretty much all of those cars up to a facelift in 2004 have some lag to them, you can learn more about it and ways to fix it here.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

 

Some do experience lag in certain driving situations, particularly stop and go. Usually not ALL the time. You say it's random so that fits possibly.

Was it doing this BEFORE the service, or afterwards? (not clear)
Was the fluid level checked with the car RUNNING?

 

Try draining and refilling the transmission fluid with fresh Lexus fluid. It helped mine.

 

Yeah, I would verify what fluid was used, good point.

When I ran some LV fluids (Maxlife, Mag 1 LV) in it, the lag was present. In the last 100k miles, I've used only T-IV* and it has been flawless.

*T-IV was the factory fill and is also known as 3309 (from Mobil, who developed it), and "TLS" by Idemitsu. "JWS3309" is the factory technical specification from Mobil. Mobil actually makes the Toyota or Lexus branded "T-IV."

 

Hey Oro, So, are you suggesting a drain and refill with "T-IV" if the transmission has Maxlife in it (which has been the suggested fluid to use in this forum)? Will that help or will the transmission need a full exchange? IE Maxlife out "T-IV" in.
koreywill

 

Not exactly. If It had a clean fill of Maxlife I would just drain/fill it on the normal schedule (say, drain/fill the pan every 25k) with T-IV and not Maxlife. It's a different additive package and it's a lower viscosity fluid than the transmission was originally designed for. MaxLife is more equivalent to Dexron VI or Toyota WS fluid than T-IV. It won't cause active harm, but IME it is not as smooth. I Believe I did a thorough flush/fill with Maxlife about 100k miles ago. It ran OK but would do the delayed/confused shift if stuck in idling/creeping traffic. Over time I have drained/filled it with T-IV (3309, T-IV (they are 100% the same from Mobil refining), one time with Idemitsu TLS). That's been done every 25k miles for years and it shifts great now with no issues whatsoever, ever - noticeably better than it did 100k miles ago. I have also kept a bit of Lubegard additive in it, 1 oz/qt. So I put in 9oz of a bottle when I did the full flush, then 3 to 4 ozs each time I do a drain fill. I do not do this to add any friction modifiers (it has some), but rather I do it to keep some ester oil in the mix to condition seals and keep solenoid bores, etc. clean. Put some of the Lubegard in the PS reservoir, too.

And of course all the mounts need to be solid - especially the dog bone up top but also the L/R mounts (near the CV joints, so technically fr/rear given transverse orientation), to keep from having hard shifts and periodic weirdness.

I have three other personal/family cars I maintain with T-IV as the original fluid - all with Aisin AW33/AW50 transmissions, 2004-2007. IME, T-IV is better in them than a LV (low visc.) fluid like Toyota WS, Maxlife, etc. Other family members have noted the difference, even w/o me asking, or prompting what maintenance I had done (so a true blind test). I do not think MaxLife is bad fluid, it's just not ideal for these pre-LV fluid designed Aisin transmissions.

 

I drained and refilled my tranny fluid about 30k miles ago. I’m going to do it again this year when I do the timing belt and water pump.

 

Autozone had the Idemitsu TLS on clearance for $2/qt this past month - if any are still on shelves. Other sources are the Toyota dealership; I got 10qts for about $52 after tax after chatting them up. Summit racing also has 6 packs of 3309 for $30 and sometimes less, and fair delivery price.

You can pump out most of the pan volume from the top fill tube (I think about ~3.3 qts this way vs. close to four if you drain) if you have a hand or powered pump, I've done it that way the last few times so as to save lifting and crawling around. I need to do the AW33 in one of my parent's cars this week, actually - it's been just over 30k (now at 132k). I did it at 66k, with MaxLife, no real change (as expected). I did it next at 99k w/T-IV and it was a big improvement. Curious to see how it reacts this time. I am going to drive it tomorrow and maybe tow a trailer/motorcycle. That will let me establish a feel for it (I do not drive this car often at all) before the drain/fill with T-IV.

 

Just checked all the Auto Zones in my area and TLS is not available. Must have sold out completely at that price. I'll keep looking for a good price on the TLS by Idemitsu and the JWS 3309. I've only got 10k on my most recent drain and refill (powered pump) so I'll probably wait until 15k or so.
Just to be sure, Oro, are you talking about the Lubegard Synthetic ATF 10 oz in the Red bottle?
As always, thanks for your help. Much appreciated.

 

Yes. And again, I use it for the ester base of the oil, not for the additive package. When I get it on sale (it's pricey otherwise), I will often also toss in a quart or two of the Lubegard ATF itself instead of some of the T-IV. When I did a flush on the XC70 this summer, I put 3 of the 9 to 10qts total new volume in as Lubegard ATF and not T-IV. The synthetic ester oil base of has different properties than conventional oil and "normal" synthetics. It lubricates and works the same, but a) it conditions rubber seals and revitalizes old ones, b) it's highly polar and congregates at metal surfaces. It will thus work under and lift varnish, contaminants, and also make a more thermoconductive layer with the metal (system sheds heat better; cooler running). This is all basic chemistry and no hocus-pocus, and it works as advertised.

The biggest benefit in these cars IMO is actually running the Lubegard PSF in the PS system more so than in the AT; it helps with the problematic hoses and high-heat problems.

 

Hey Oro: I remember somebody once said, "Trust. But verify." Thanks for the help and the clarity.

 

It is widely attributed to Ronald Reagan but moreso his (administration's) ballistic missile strategy. Funny thing, I have a pic of Reagan and I talking about shuttle launches. I'm going to try to find that pic and digitize it; my mom and I were actually talking about it a few days ago.. (really).

 

Yep! Regan. Trust but verify are good words to live by when doing repairs. "Trust but verify that drain plug is in before pouring oil in, trust but verify that all tool are out of the engine bay before slamming hood, trust but verify that filler caps are on before starting engine, and on and on. Also applies to a whole lot of other stuff in life. Simple but true: Trust, but verify.