i posted this on the Transmission thread but didnt get any responses so far.



Hey all, just bought an 08 ISF last week with 94k on the odometer. after having and driving it a while now i notice the transmission isnt always smoothest and sometimes slightly slips. normally when im going slow right turns with extremely minimal throttle, driving normally, or wide open, if im just putting a little pep in it it seems pretty good. dunno if that means anything. ive been considering getting a fluid and filter change but am worried that it might end up damaging the transmission more. anyone have any inputs or thoughts? never bangs into any gears although when i put it into park and let off the brake it seems like the shift linkage slightly shifts and nudges quickly but isnt a bang going into park at all.its my first sports car and besides this ive fixed all the problems its had (besides a speaker in the back where the plastic head inside the speaker came loose and is rattling around in there) so im hoping i can maybe get some insight into this more. ill probably end up bringing it to my local lexus dealer for all of this because it seems like it could get a little complicated, and im not much of a mechanic, my dad is a wizard with cars but wouldn't want to put something like this on him since its a pretty crucial part of the car.

its my understanding that if any of these problems start to arise its irreversible and already too late.

should edit: only slips when changing gears...never while in a gear revving through. just when shifting or from a dead stop with normal driving throttle.


thanks for anyone with a response, glad to be a part of the lexus family!

 

Have you read through the mother of all ATF threads?

Sounds like you're a prime candidate to get it done. I too am in this boat, not sure why I keep putting it off.

 

I'd start with checking the fluid level. The transmission behaves weirdly when it's low on fluid.

 

thank you guys for your quick responses, i really appreciate it. and i have read through the thread but as i said ive never owned a sports car before and ive seen so much that if you even do just a change and filter change it could end up damaging the transmission.

The used car dealer i bought the car from is picking the car up tomorrow for new front tires + balance and alignment. should get it back on wednesday. opinions on if i should take it to lexus // toyota dealer? or try to find a small transmission shop?

 

Would get a shop you trust to get you a sample to send off for testing, also check the level, could just be a little low, which would mean a top up, which a lot of guys have reported brought the shift feel back to original.

EDIT: Just saw that jat0223 said mostly the same thing, but it's true, there's lots of posts, even from the highly proficient at doing their own wrenching, who find out it is a little low, and behaving strangely. And following up a few days later with added __ ounces to get it back to full, and she's back to silky smooth shifts.

 

okay ill do some searching around and see if i can find a transmission shop that looks good and reputable. thanks so much for everyones responses. as i said i just bought it a week ago so im just trying to baby it and make sure everything is working good.

edit: my dad keeps telling me im looking for things wrong at this point, to get a grasp how i want to treat it lmao i just want it all to be working well, especially the mechanical.

 

I'm totally with you on that. I read and re-read a lot of this forum for years before I was anywhere near, "Hey, the prices are finally low enough I can just buy myself one." Then I spent the first two weeks of ownership in la-la land enjoying everything, then remembered these forums and scared myself stupid with the various known maladies.

SOOOO, ATF is probably a little low, needs a top up, while getting someone to do it, have them pull the 2-oz sample Blackstone needs, send it in. If it's a little wonky, probably go for the intermediate/small flush (~4ish quarts?). Lobux didn't do the pan drop, filter and magnet service until 150k miles (240k km) which I'm more or less only halfway to, AND he said it felt largely like a wasted effort, he received no improved 'feels' as he seems perfectly emotionally detached from such things.

 

yeah im hoping its not too bad, and i think sending it out to blackstone is a pretty cool idea. i mean just to point out the trans is still in good shape and stuff, she just slips every now and again, mostly when pushing the car i notice it. just seems slightly slippy and a little jerky on downshifts. and i always wait for the 2 bars to push slightly and 3 is good to go (for oil temp) so even if i was to do nothing im not worried about it like failing on me tomorrow or anything. just the fact i know its slipping is really picking at my brain. i watched some videos the other night of some ISF pulls on youtube and i was like o man mine doesnt shift so quick and smooth like it seems on video (although the pulls i watched were from the newer models with the revised gauge cluster)