LS430inDE.

SO....the latest info in our experience is, purchased a JDM tranny for $1,674 from jdmenginedirect.com. Be careful. Their name is JDM ENGINES DIRECT, but their website is NOT the plural of engine! Bad mistake on their webmaster!

The tranny had 55k miles on it, but I wasn't told from exactly what year/model it was from. I had it shipped to a well known mechanic/friend of the family who lives and hour away from us, after he said he would replace it, no problem, for $1,000! What a deal in my opinion!

I bought a case of WS from local Lexus dealer for $150, and a transmission filter from local auto parts store for $18. Lexus wanted over $115 for the transmission filter!

Anyway, with all that delivered, and about 8 days later, my mechanic said it was done!

We picked it up today, and there's a slight odor of burning fluid (maybe trans or oil or penetrating fluid etc) that seemed to linger on the ride home. There's a very very slight hint of shudder in 6 gear and when climbing up a hill and before it shifts out of 6 to 5. That's the only issue that I have. Will that shudder become worse or disappear over time? Who knows. Is the trans fluid filled to the exact/proper level? Not sure. I did say to the mechanic the fill process/instructions are very lengthy and detailed and he acknowledged. During the swap he said it might have to go to the dealer for them to "flash" info into the ecu or cpu or whatever the brains of the car are. That turned out not needing to be done. He did return 2 full quarts of WS fluid along with a TCU (transmission control unit?) to us. I'm not sure if the TCU he returned to us is our original or he reused our original TCU and installed it onto the JDM tranny.

I want to drive it for a couple weeks then attempt to perform a drain and fill, so that I can be assured the level is exactly spot on. However, not sure I want to f- with something that's operating 98% fine right now, not to mention I don't have the tools or space or time to properly check the WS fluid level! Perhaps we SELL the ES in several months, etc? It does have 105k on the odo. Wifey did NOT like that idea, and she doesn't like the idea of having a car payment.

What do we think......with a very slight hint of shudder in 6th gear when going up an incline and barely pushing the pedal? Is it the trans trying to come out of overdrive? Can we say this is acting this way because the trans might be OVERfilled or could it be UNDERfilled, or should I just leave well enough alone? I'm thinking to give it some time to learn our driving habits?

Finally, I did an engine oil change when we brought the ES home, just so I could put it on ramps and view the underside for leaks or to view the work done, harnesses, nuts/bolts/etc....and thank God I don't see any drips anywhere. The engine/trans mating surface looks dry. It looks better than what I thought it would be......although I still slightly smelled what I think is trans fluid burning, when I was leaning over the engine filling it with 0W-20 synthetic motor oil.

Thoughts?

matelot

you too ? and you searched and this is how you ended up here ? LOL

matelot

what's with this particularity ?

LS430inDE.

SO....now the latest......wife said car wasn't shifting correctly in the afternoon. She was driving it intermittently since 9am. She said it wasn't shifting correctly and revving really high before shifting, and general shifting issues. I said pull over to the next available shopping center...and while she was, engine threw a code P2714 PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENIOD. Ironically, that's the same code the FIRST transmission gave, before the transmission went bad. Our mechanic REUSED the old Lexus transmission computer so that we wouldn't need to get the used tranny computer 'reflashed'.

Is it possible the original TRANS COMPUTER is faulty, which made the first/original tranny went bad?

I'm about to take it to a highly rated trans specialty shop. Do you think a trans shop would be better at diagnosing and fixing this issue than the dealer?

Looking for suggestions.

LS430inDE.

I usually think the dealer is the #1 place to take a vehicle for accurate diagnosis (even though it may cost 3x more than an indy repair shop). What's consensus on taking the ES350 to a transmission specialty shop versus the dealer? I guess it couldn't hurt to get a second opinion, with a nominal $100 or $200 diagnostic code and their estimate for repair?

Turk54

Since the dealer I believe will only replace transmissions with new ones, Im sure they have customers with transmission issues serious enough to warrant possible replacements or rebuilds after diagnosis. What I found is that here they actually refer you to a reputable Transmission specialist in the area (I got mine installed at AAMCO .. excellent job and service from the local shop/franchisee).

LeX2K

Dealers generally are very poor for diagnosing they have a narrow set of guidelines and throw parts at a given problem.

Turk54

Yes I agree 100% .. what I meant to say earlier was that if you get a referral from the dealer, let the transmission specialist start off by diagnosing the
problem. In my case that's what happened but I had to source the replacement transmission and believe I was shocked at the prices we have to pay here in Canada for
anything auto related ..

john2101

I heard reflashing with dealer software and hardware was needed after any major transmission work, especially replacing one.
Hopefully that's your only issue. Solenoids might be bad too. Or, the transmission might be worn out and bad as well.

You got warranty on parts and labors?

rmak

This is exactly why I advised to take it to an independent transmission shop for a rebuild.

Now, if you are using the old TCU it is possible that the code is still in the memory, as well as the shift learned behavior.

Get the TCU flashed before doing anything else.

703

I don't think your mechanic have access to TIS and Techstream and has done all the necessary procedures.

E.g.PERFORM A ROAD TEST SO THE TCM CAN ADJUST

Note

Strictly obey all speed limits and traffic laws when performing the following activities.

1. Warm up the engine.
   
2. Turn off the ignition.
   
3. Connect GTS to DLC3.
   
4. Turn on the power (IG).
   
5. Turn on GTS.
   
6. Enter the following menus: Powertrain / ECT / Data List / Throttle Position from EFI.
   
7. From a stationary position, accelerate to the maximum speed possible by opening the accelerator pedal 15% or less. While driving, maintain a constant angle of the accelerator pedal.
   
   Tech Tips
   
   "Throttle Position from EFI": no more than 15%
   
8. Repeat the previous step until the jolt when shifting into gear disappears.
   
9. From a stationary state, accelerate to the maximum possible speed with the accelerator pedal angle corresponding to the opening degree of 25-35%. While driving, maintain a constant angle of the accelerator pedal.
   
   Tech Tips
   
   "Throttle Position from EFI": 25-35%
   
10. Repeat the previous step until the jolt when shifting into gear disappears.
    
    
    

PERFORM A MEMORY RESET

Note

Memory reset can only be performed using GTS.

Tech Tips

When controlling the automatic transmission and engine, the TCM (ECT) stores vehicle condition parameters in memory.

Therefore, when replacing the automatic transmission assembly, valve body assembly, SL3 shift solenoid valve, SL4 shift solenoid valve, or TCM, a memory reset must be performed so that the TCM can store the new data in memory.

1. The following describes how to perform a reset.
   
   1. Turn off the ignition.
      
   2. Connect GTS to DLC3.
      
   3. Turn on the power (IG).
      
   4. Turn on GTS.
      
   5. Enter the following menus: "Powertrain / ECT / Utility / Reset Memory". Then click "Next".
      
      Note
      
      After resetting the memory, be sure to perform the previously described "Perform a road test so that the TCM can make adjustments."
      

Mikes01pet

so my granny went last July, no warning, I paid $5640 for a tranny from japan which i was told only had 26000 miles on it. Guarnteed for 1 yr, but the mechanic said he would back me up if needed,?. Mine didn't give ant indication, I was on the highway also and all of a sudden it wouldn't go. Love my 2013 with 169000 miles on it so I paid for the repair.

Tootsall

[QUOTE=Mikes01pet;11717315]so my granny went last July, no warning,

Tootsall

Did you ever find out where your granny went? Hope she’s OK. 🤣

LS430inDE.

We have a 30 day warranty. The donor car had less than 60k miles on it. My mechanic reused the original Lexus TCM, so that there wouldn't be a need (cost) for reflashing the new to us TCM. (He gave me the donor car's TCM.) The car is throwing the same code P2714! I asked our mechanic what are the chances the TCU is actually what's bad, and it's damaging the transmission!? He is very reluctant to point to the TCU and claims they never go bad. I agree, they're typically very reliable, but of course it COULD be bad, right? It's electronics. ANY/ALL electronics can just go bad because of a component failure! Is it possible the TCU is the culprit of my misery? Also, I visited an independent transmission shop and told them the story. They didn't want any part of attempting to diagnose nor repair it!