My 2001 RX300 automatic v6 started smoking while driving. I learned that the transmission seal needs replacement. During the smoking drive the gear was slipping but I made it to the station for repairs.

How do I know if the transmission bad enough to be replaced? And can a replacement be found for a 21 years old lexus. The mileage is 168,000. We have been maintaining the car. It normally runs well. We are planning a trip back to Florida about 1200 miles. When does one decide it’s not worth fixing?

I am not mechanical so I use a great mechanic in Florida, just have to get there from Vermont.

Since I started this post, I have been reading others with Transmission issues. Most helpful and the answers are probably similar to mine.

 

Hello,

This is a forum section for a 1993-1997 GS300, here is a section for your RX.

Which seal is it that got blown? CV Axle, Transfer Case or the Main seal?

It will be quite difficult to tell anything without seeing the damage, a picture would be helpful. Low fluid level will cause the transmission to slip badly, and depending on how long you drove the car, may have wrecked it as well, there is only one way to find out. Anything that won't require separating the engine from transmission should be relatively easy to repair, but if you know a guy with a shop, even taking the transmission out is not that big of a problem.

If the transmission did get wrecked, whether to save the car or not will depend on its general condition. If the engine is still solid and the frame doesn't have any rust, it is really worth the effort, especially with the current car market.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

 

I got my Lexus (RX300 first generation) back from the mechanic. He suspected that the SUV had been in the wrong gear when driving after we got off the ferry and headed home. (10 miles). We didn't notice the ride or sounds that would make us think we had accidently put the car in 2nd. We may have turned off the overdrive... Wouldn't think the overdrive would cause the leak.

At any rate he found the axil seal broken on the front passenger side from the "plug" of the trans that he found in the axil. I can't recall the word he used to make this sound more intelligent. He did say he found something in the axle and returned it to the transmission, then repaired the axil seal at trans. Replaced 5 units of fluid using Wolfs Head ATF.. Seems to run fine for now. Wish I was smarter on all this and now that I have read other posts about transmissions and old Lexus. I am thinking of getting out of the old car status. Is there are market for 2001s with 162,551 miles in Vermont, or we will drive it back to FL and decide from there what to do.? The car does have a parasitic leak that we worked around by installing a battery brain that shuts the battery off every time we turn off the engine. No rust on this vehicle. It is a FL car.

cost of repair $513. thanks for your suggestions and comments