Hi guys,

This is the first winter I own my car (99 GS400 with 80K miles) and when the temperature drops below 40 degrees at night, I've noticed that I have to run my engine for at least 4 minutes in the morning so that all gears would switch without any delay.

Is it normal, or is a problem with tranny?
Thanks.


P.S. I checked the tranny fluid and it looks fresh.

 

that is normal..not a problem.

 

thanks,

I just got this car recently and was worried that it is a lemon.

 

I've got a 98 GS4 with 83k and it does the same thing in this Michigan weather. Has a hard time getting out of first gear.

 

What I've noticed with mine is that it is somewhat sluggish until the car gets to normal operating temp. I usually do not warm up the car for too long in the morning (although I am in CA climate ) but drive "less aggressive" until the car is at normal temp.

 

I'd still change the fluid......

 

A lot of people think the same thing. Like everyone else has said; don't worrry it's normal for a 98 ~ 00 GS400. I'm not sure if the GS430 have the same experiences in cold weather.

 

I can testify that this past month here in Colorado we had some temps that did not get above 10 deg F. And my car would not shift out of first very well. In fact the car felt like an old man, and was unwilling to turn, brake, or accelerate with any smoothness. When the temp changed to 20 deg F I could tell a big difference, things got notably better.

It has everything to do with the temp outside, and how long you warm up your car. I know this because I just had my 90k mile service which included the tranny flush. There is nothing wrong with your tranny, but if you are really worried, pay the $200 and get your fluid changed.

I have always given the car 30 sec to a min to allow all the fluid to move through the engine before moving on cold days, but I think the best way to warm up the car is to drive very gently (below 3k RPM) until the car warms up.

I just think the Lex is grumpy with cold weather.

 

Same issue here on both my 98 and 99. I'm pretty sure it's normal.

 

Its just like engine oil....when its cold it will be thicker, when the fluid reaches nromal temp it will thin out and lubricate things better, thus things will move easier within the tranny.

 

I'm talking out of turn here, but my 92 ES300 has always had a similar symptom. In cold weather, it likes to hang in 2nd gear for a mile or so. I think it is a tranny fluid thing. I wonder if changing to synthetic would make a difference?? I'm a ClubLexus newbie, but not new to Lexus. Had my 92 ES since 1998, my wife had an ES250 for 2 years and she's now riding in a 2000 RX300. Her RX300 sometimes hangs in 2nd gear for a mile or so, just like its little brother.
Matt

 

I think maybe the age of tranny and fluid has to do with it. I'm sure the fluid gets thicker with miles/age. My 93k mile ES does the same thing in weather that my never causes my 32k mile GS to shift slow.

 

yeah same here, i don't warm my car in the morning. i have read a lot of different opinions and some say when engine is running idle hard in the morning that's not good in circulating oil. whatever, i just drive it

in either case, flushing the tranny will help, i did it and could notice quite some difference. but in general, at least for our cars, when it's cold, it shifts a bit late and hard until it's warmed up

 

Like many computer controlled transmissions, Lexus has a temperature sensor so that the trans shifts differently depending on the oil temp. Change it all you want - it's a good idea - but the shift points are determined by the computer.

 

The ECU is designed to hold shifts longer in an effort to increase engine temp as quickly as possible. Conversely, it is also the same reason it won't let you paddle shift down into 2nd due to concerns of high revs on a cold engine.

Eric