Bocatrip

Hi guys, Does anyone have any info or experience with regards to replacing on an 01 LS430 the transmission gear selector seal that goes into the transmission on the passenger side. It is above and very close to the top of the transmission pan on the passenger side. At first I thought the trans pan was leaking but later shown it was coming from the selector seal. I was originally told by my independent mechanic that the trans had to be removed, but after calling my local Lexus dealership, was told that only the pan needs to be dropped and the cost (through Lexus) is $475 plus tax. Right now the bushing is only seeping trans fluid on to the transmission pan. . It has not gotten bad enough to start dripping on the ground. Anyone familiar with this job and what is involved? Thanks all.

bradland

My '99 400 has the same issue. I decided it wasn't leaking bad enough to worry about yet. As you know there's not much room up there to work and the bushing goes into the trans laterally. I would listen to Lexus on this one, as I'm sure they have done it several times, but $475 to drop a pan and replace a sub $10 part seems VERY high. I'm guessing on the price of the bushing....

Bocatrip

Thanks very much Bradland for you imput. I just got off the phone with a second Lexus dealership and was told the same thing. Cost.. Under $500 and the trans does not have to be removed. He also told me ( not sure if he is correct) there is also a seal on the other side of the transmission for the selector shift. I have not heard that one before. I even called a transmission shop (Aamco) which of course I trust the least... and they told me the transmission does not have to be removed but sometimes the selector shaft gets worn and the valve body needs to be removed. The last scenario from a "transmission shop" I rely on the least as per their reputations. What troubles me unfortunately, is that my indy whom I have trusted for the last 1 1/2 years to do all my work and supposedly as Lexus service manager years ago, tells me the trans needs to be dropped. I did ask him this many times with the same answer. If it turns out that he was wrong or worse..(misleading me) it will be a major let down as I need to trust people to have an allegiance with them. For me my loyalty will last for years. But if I'm misled, it's over.

Gronemus

How long has it been since he was a Lexus service manager? They may simply not know because they never had to do one. A Google search for this issue turns up nothing and I've not seen anyone else complain about this issue but I've only been on this form for 13 months. If they have done good work for you up until now I don't why they would try to mislead you at this point.

How much did your indie want to do the job???

Bocatrip

He never indicated any need to do the job at all. I believe this guy is as honest as they come. It's me that is over the top with any issue.

Johnhav430

Doesn't seem like anyone here had the issue, but I had my output shaft seal replaced. Indie said since you say you bought this car used and there's no dipstick ('06), it really wouldn't make sense to drain/fill the fluid without addressing it....I think the part was < $20 but unfortunately the labor was like $200. Again, I could find nobody else on this forum nor any thread about it, but on the Tundra forum all day long there were threads about the need to replace this seal. I really wish we had a dipstick on our '06's, but in reality, seems that all Toyotas don't have them anymore. It just makes the procedure and the tools needed so much more than the other way....also I think it makes the tranny something that would likely be totally neglected on all leased vehicles and many others. My car was in Lexus for the multipoint and they didn't even come across this seal weeping, they went after bigger jobs like $1,600 for LCA's and $1,800 for timing belt/water pump...this is why I believe indies are better than dealers, not just cheaper, but better...

YODAONE

Anyone providing advice on necessary steps for replacement of this particular seal has a Lexus shop manual for A650-E transmission??

How many miles on vehicle?

Also interested in the shaft wear in earlier post

rkw77080

Here you go...

Refer to the attached "AutoTrans01.pdf" below, the steps involved are:
1. Remove control shaft lever
2. Remove park/neutral position switch
11. Remove oil pan
15. Remove valve body
18. Remove parking lock rod and pawl
19. Remove manual valve lever shaft

Here's a suggestion...
Go to your Lexus dealership and ask to see a replacement oil seal. I believe they are designed to be pressed in from the outside (i.e. there is not a lip that will require the oil seal to be pressed in place from the inside of the transmission). If you can press in the oil seal from the outside of the transmission, this job has become 100 times easier. Simply "dig" (and destroy) the old oil seal out, and press in a new one. Here are the locations of the 2 oil seals. Good luck and let us know what you find out.

bradland

Interesting...?
My 2000 Service Manual doesn't include either of those sections. The AutoTrans section is only 23 pages long.

2013FSport

iTrader: (2)

If you drop the rear cross member and let the trans settle you have more room.

Go to Snap-on or Mac tools they make a seal puller that goes right in there and there is no need to drop the pan and valve body. You will have to be creative about getting it back in. But its not that difficult.

Note: before you yank the seal, wiggle the shaft. If it moves a lot in an orbital fashion the case or shaft may be worn and seal replacement may not stop the leak.

YODAONE

There is a transmission repair manual separate from the primary shop manual.

Good information...

Does poster have other transmission .Pdf document sets?

Bocatrip

lets just go to the worst scenario....If the shaft does have play and is worn, what is then necessary to do the complete repair? What is involved in replacing the shaft?

Bocatrip

Sorry to bring up an old thread.............however, has anyone on this forum had their gear selector bushings replaced on their transmission? If so, did you have Lexus or an Indy do the repair? My bushings are now leaking excessively, and I'm contemplating between giving it to Lexus or my Indy as there is a fair amount of transmission work required. I'm hearing that $500 is about the cost at the dealership with replacing both bushings on passenger and driver's side. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

bradland

911LE

I would use Google and find a highly recommended transmission so in your area. You don't need a Lexus or Toyota specialist if it's just straight trans work. They are usually much cheaper and have literally worked on thousands more transmissions than a Lexus/Toyota specialist. The specialists usually just quote "book time" but there are perfectly viable "shortcuts" to accomplish the goal. Case in point: a Lexus specialist quoted me $1800 to swap a transmission (18 hours at $100/hr). A local 4.9 star rated trans shop quoted $550 (swap, ws fluid, and a cooler flush). The "book" says the engine and transmission need to be removed together and then separated but that is not the case.