Currently have 104K on my 2013 GS 350 and have had a transmission flutter/shudder in the TC for a few thousand miles. Occurs at low speed (20-30 mph) when accelerating slowly. Doesn’t seem to be getting worse but is annoying. Anyone have any experience with any additives that helped? Dr. Tranny?

 

Have you had the fluid replaced?

 

Service that lifetime transmission fluid!

 

After further reading I will get a drain/fill done and see if that resolves it!

 

Whatever you do no matter what some shop tells you........ Don't do the Flush Machine!

 

Drain and fill multiple times to get most fluid out.

 

i doubt changing the fluid is going to help it on the long run. it may alleviate the shudder or reduce it slightly when new fluid is in the trans but typically when a trans starts to shudder, slip, surge it's only a matter of time before it needs to be replaced.

 

just had mine replaced for exact same issue. Gets worse over time.

 

Do both of you have AWD cars

 

what's the price of one of these reman trans?

 

The transmission (without replacing the transmission fluid) will outlast the car - whether that is 150k miles or 350k miles. I'll put it another way - the transmission will still be operating nicely long after your car's headliner is sagging down on your head as you drive down the road with the fenders on your car shaking and rattling because they are barely attached due to the bolts having disintegrated because of rust. In other words, you will no longer own the car when the transmission is still working as it should.


If you want to really (REALLY) learn about ATF from a noted expert (John Kelly) you should watch this entire video.

Toyota WS ATF is not like other ATF. It is specifically made (blended) for Toyota-Aisin designed transmissions. (See what the expert has to say about aftermarket ATF - it should give you the hibbie-gibbies!)

At 25:45 in this video the discussion about Toyota's 'Lifetime' WS ATF begins...


If anyone has any doubts about which ATF to use in their Toyota/Lexus transmission, or if the factory-fill Type WS ATF (designed jointly by Toyota and Aisin engineers to be used specifically in Toyota - Aisin transmissions) should be replaced (which is NEVER) - I think the Toyota and Aisin transmission design engineers know a hell of a lot more about their jointly designed transmissions and the 'lifetime' automatic transmission fluid those transmissions are designed to use than anyone posting here.

 

It’s unfortunate that the AWD guys are suffering from this shudder (assuming all that have stated this issue are using OEM fill). It appears to be a lot less of an issue with Gs350 RWD or 450 H

 

Yes, My car is AWD.

 

Just have the pan dropped, magnets cleaned etc. It'll only change a portion of the fluid but it's worth a try. Is it worth getting a rebuild done? Your car is into the 2nd half of it's life mileage wise. If it were mine, chances are it'll get written off before it requires a new tranny!

 

Excellent info BC! Pretty horrifying to think that people use an alternate brand of ATF. And who even knows what fluid one would buy off of Ebay with all the counterfeit products on there. No matter what I'd pay the full retail at a Toyota/Lexus parts department for the correct fluid. Could you imagine buying a car used not knowing if it maybe has some type of universal ATF in it done by a Jiffy Lube type outfit?!