Yesterday, I took my car to sac raceway and had 2 runs. 1st run, I did a quick burn out. On green, I WOT and my tires could not grip. I let off and retry and still could not grip. Finally after 3 tries, I gain back traction. I did horrible and my 1/4 time was 18.6 @ 94 mph. On the second attempt, I did a longer burn out. I was in Sport F Manual Mode. Went from 1---2----3 and held it on 3rd to warm up the tires. This run, I did 12.8 @ 113 mph. I left and drove home.

Here is where it I feel something could be wrong:

The next morning, I start my car and started driving it. I noticed that temperature outside was COLD and in the high 30s. I felt some jerking but it only Jerks when I accelerate making left and right turns. It continued doing this and I thought it was my tires in which it could be (On Bridgestone S0-4 pole with stock 255 35 19) When I got back home, I parked it. Just recently, I started my F and temperature is in the low 60s. I took it for a test drive and notices the cold transmission flare. Right at the moment, I give it some gas....not WOT. It went through all the gears 1-->5.....right on 5th gear, it would not accelerate any higher and would not shift. I came to a stop and the transmission downshift back to 1. I look at my oil temp gauge and it now shows 2 bars. I slowly drive it back home and everything seems back to normal again. I even did some WOT runs and everything shifted fine. No rough shifts from P---R---N---D---M....or in the reverse order.

Could this be a "COLD" start up and drive effect or is there something wrong with my transmission? So far, no codes and it's leaving me wondering what to do?

*Could it also be my elsd? I do notice now that when I do a u turn, I feel more jerk. Kinda like one of the back wheels won't spin?
NOTE: Transmission fluid level has been checked by Lexus of Sacramento and it checked out fine.

 

Here you go just in case . And it's in norcal also http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pts/5290043031.html

 

The symptoms all sound like a low fluid level. Especially the jerking when cold. If the fluid level was set correctly, then you may have a more serious gearbox problem. This list has very little experience with a bad gearbox, but the one member who did was also in Sacramento when it failed.

 

Or signs of both REAR Hubs going out...

Mine are on the to do list reaching 115K miles...


~ Joe Z

 

*UPDATE*

First off, thanks to all of the above posts. I will keep the tranny in mind and will probably check the rear wheel hubs. I'm leaning towards tranny or maybe even the rear differential. It's strange. When I make sharp or slightly faster left turns, I really feel the car jerking? It feels like one of the rear wheels spins and then stops, and then spins, and then stops. When accelerating in a straight line, the car feels normal.

So now, I notice a noise. It sounds like a supercharger and It comes in every gear and only in high rpms. The whine/noise starts close to 3.8k rpm. When. I put it in neutral and Rev it, I can still hear the whine. What could the culprit be?

 

Gearbox oil pump. All automatics are completely dependent on the oil pump. If it whines like an old hydraulic power steering pump on its last legs, it's the gearbox for sure. Again, this noise is initially associated with low fluid level.

 

^^thanks lobux. In your recommendation, should I replace the tranny or have the oil pump replaced? Also, as far as an update, I think I might had blown my differential. It shuds when making left turns.

 

Fix the diff first. Joe might be right about rear hubs too. Fix what is broken for sure, then decide about the gearbox.

 

Idoke1
Good luck with sourcing the problem, what are your thoughts on Lexus of Sacramento? I'm still trying to feel them out..
I'm also in Sacramento, is your ISF black?

 

After a couple of runs, I'm pretty sure it's definitely a differential issue. I'll go get it checked out and see what it really is.

 

To be honest, I usually do most the mechanical work. I only took it to them for the fuel gasket recall and to have them check the transmission fluid level. I can't really say they are good but they aren't bad as well. I drive a matador red mica ISF.