1998 gs400
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: TX
1998 gs400
Hello ClubLexus Folks,
New member here with a question. I have a 1998 GS400 with 167K miles and just changed my tranny fluid with Type IV. Well, after changing it, I started experiencing intermittent problems with the tranny going into 1st and Reverse gear. If I rev up the engine to about 1.2K rpms, it will go into 1st and reverse when the engine is cold. It appears to act better when the tranny heats up after driving it a little. I can work on cars but am not a mechanic and definitely could not rebuild a tranny or engine so my ability is limited.
I would appreciate any input from the experts here. Hopefully, it something I can drop the pan and fix.....
Thanks in advance
New member here with a question. I have a 1998 GS400 with 167K miles and just changed my tranny fluid with Type IV. Well, after changing it, I started experiencing intermittent problems with the tranny going into 1st and Reverse gear. If I rev up the engine to about 1.2K rpms, it will go into 1st and reverse when the engine is cold. It appears to act better when the tranny heats up after driving it a little. I can work on cars but am not a mechanic and definitely could not rebuild a tranny or engine so my ability is limited.
I would appreciate any input from the experts here. Hopefully, it something I can drop the pan and fix.....
Thanks in advance
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: TX
Drain and Fill
I did a drain and fill. About 1 week after the drain and fill, the symptoms started. So I did another drain and fill again this past Saturday and the symptoms didnt change. What is wierd is it shifts good 2nd thru 5th. But when coming to a stop....it will slip out of 1st into neutral until I rev the engine a bit and then it will "hard" shift into 1st.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: New York
Definitely address this, also see if you can have any codes pulled from your tranny's computer.. Was it toyota brand type IV fluid also? I don't think its a fluid related issue may be a shift solenoid on its way out..
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From: TX
Refill
I actually refilled with 1.75 quarts. When I was refilling, it became more difficult (the fluid in the funnel seemed to slow way down and would not injest into the tranny). So, I stopped and checked the dipstick which showed full at the "hot" level WITHOUT the engine running. I thought I put in too much ( I usually measure what I take out but didnt this time). I ran it for 2 weeks like that without a problem until the last few days of the 2 week period. Do you think it may be a fluid issue?
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Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: New York
Interesting, does the light on the dash go to neutral or does the light stay on D and switch to neutral then.
Cause when I flushed my tranny, I replaced the safety neutral switch solenoid because it was leaking, after I closed it back up and got into the car the whole assembly shifted and instead of being in drive the car was in neutral therefore I had to re adjust it back to normal.
Cause when I flushed my tranny, I replaced the safety neutral switch solenoid because it was leaking, after I closed it back up and got into the car the whole assembly shifted and instead of being in drive the car was in neutral therefore I had to re adjust it back to normal.
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From: seattle,wa
I actually refilled with 1.75 quarts. When I was refilling, it became more difficult (the fluid in the funnel seemed to slow way down and would not injest into the tranny). So, I stopped and checked the dipstick which showed full at the "hot" level WITHOUT the engine running. I thought I put in too much ( I usually measure what I take out but didnt this time). I ran it for 2 weeks like that without a problem until the last few days of the 2 week period. Do you think it may be a fluid issue?
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Driver School Candidate
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From: TX
Update
Just did another drain and refill and put in a little over 2 quarts this time.
At first start, the symptoms remained with the car going in and out of reverse and 1st gear while sitting in the garage. The drive lights did not change at all (i.e. if I put the shifter in reverse and then it shifted out of reverse back into neutral, the shift light stayed on "R".)
However, after taking it for a 10 minute drive, the symptoms disappeared and the car appears normal now. I will check again later today. Is this tranny that susceptible to fluid levels where a 1/4 to 1/2 a quart matters?
At first start, the symptoms remained with the car going in and out of reverse and 1st gear while sitting in the garage. The drive lights did not change at all (i.e. if I put the shifter in reverse and then it shifted out of reverse back into neutral, the shift light stayed on "R".)
However, after taking it for a 10 minute drive, the symptoms disappeared and the car appears normal now. I will check again later today. Is this tranny that susceptible to fluid levels where a 1/4 to 1/2 a quart matters?
Everything mentioned above is on point. If you only did a drain/refill this didn't do anything to the tranny. The only direction that this points to is that the fluid level isn't correct. These cars are VERY VERY tempermental if the fluid is a little high or a little low. It must be within (at the MOST) 1/4 quart over or below...preferably below. Above you start blowing seals and get erratic shifting and below you get erratic shifting as well and excess slippage. It sounds to me like it is simply the level.
Rule of thumb: whatever you drain the old fluid into, measure it and put that exact amount of new fluid back in the tranny. GL!
Rule of thumb: whatever you drain the old fluid into, measure it and put that exact amount of new fluid back in the tranny. GL!
Just did another drain and refill and put in a little over 2 quarts this time.
At first start, the symptoms remained with the car going in and out of reverse and 1st gear while sitting in the garage. The drive lights did not change at all (i.e. if I put the shifter in reverse and then it shifted out of reverse back into neutral, the shift light stayed on "R".)
However, after taking it for a 10 minute drive, the symptoms disappeared and the car appears normal now. I will check again later today. Is this tranny that susceptible to fluid levels where a 1/4 to 1/2 a quart matters?
At first start, the symptoms remained with the car going in and out of reverse and 1st gear while sitting in the garage. The drive lights did not change at all (i.e. if I put the shifter in reverse and then it shifted out of reverse back into neutral, the shift light stayed on "R".)
However, after taking it for a 10 minute drive, the symptoms disappeared and the car appears normal now. I will check again later today. Is this tranny that susceptible to fluid levels where a 1/4 to 1/2 a quart matters?
Next oil change, I did another drain/fill on the tranny and used 2.5 qts instead. Problem hasn't resurfaced since
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