My GS460, same transmission does the same thing when I first drive in the morning when it's cold only the first one or two gear changes, always goes away though and shifts smooth once the car warms up. I'm at 163k and i think the car will easily pass 200k, I wouldn't worry about the engine or transmissions with these cars.

 

Glad you mentioned ECO mode. I was very surprised to find on my '13 that car drives best when set to this. Normal mode is not quite as smooth and I only use sport for passing and spirited spurts. Very happy with ECO mode driveability and I never would have guessed it to be that way.

 

I also experience this shifting phenomenon first thing in the morning...and it's only once per day.

But I've never actually used Eco Mode...I'll have to check that out.

 

Mine used to have this shift flare from 2nd to 3rd, and 4th to 5th when I bought the car at 87k miles. All shift flares went away after I drained and refilled (3 times) the transmission fluid, and also dropping the transmission pan and replacing the transmission filter. Car is now 130k miles and still no shift flare. A real full fluid replacement (make sure it's done by connecting to a machine and running more than 10 quarts of new fluid through, Not a drain and fill which only takes 3 quarts) from the dealer would take care of this problem, even better if done earlier, before all the metal shavings from break-in wear down the all the friction rings (clutch packs), and band (the one in control of 2nd gear) in the transmission.

If vehicle mileage is relatively high, Don't get a fluid flush, new fluid may cause shift slip because the worn away friction rings are now operating in new clean fluid and have less friction than operating in the old dirty thicker fluid with break-in metal shavings floating around. That's why most people don't recommend flushing transmission fluids.

 

Are you sure that service was a proper full system fluid replacement, or a simple drain and fill, because simple drain and fill only takes out 3 quarts, total is 10 quarts.

The debris are very fine metal shavings from the 3 magnets on the bottom of my transmission pan. I have pictures in my post when I did the drain and fills.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...-bollocks.html

 

My 2011 Ls460 AWD does the same thing. Only once after a cold start. Maybe twice,but rarely. I know, one does not expect this in a "flagship" model. I am a little finicky, but this issue still bugs me every morning when I pullout of the garage,or after the car has sitting after a long day at work. Only 21k right now. Otherwise, no issues.

 

My 2009 with 82k does this too. Anyone have a definitive answer on whether the trans flush cures this?

 

The major thrust is fuel economy. CAFE standards are no joke. Sadly, little brother is not going to even offer a V8! Maybe in time, but...
By having especially super tall highway gears, it helps many escape the Gas Guzzler tax and saves untold from being subject to it. Marketing being marketing, they have turned who has the most forward gears into a competition.

 

manufacturers they try to squeeze out every little mpg, hence the more gears

 

So after getting the fluid replaced on my 2007 that I bought from my boss the slipping has gotten worse. I read the thread about this happening after old fluid is changed which makes it actually worse after the fact :/ So it's mainly 4th gear where it slips really bad and the engine revs so as a work around I use the manual shift and simply go to 5th as fast I can. I called the best transmission shop in my town and they quoted me $700 to drop in a transmission which I would get from car-part or ebay I guess. They said it would probably cost more to rebuild the old one. Just curious how many users have had used transmissions installed without major issues.

 

Have you had the Transmission ECM re-flashed? If not, this is your next step. I paid a hundred bucks or so to have both my engine ecm and my transmission ECM updated.

 

I have not noticed the 2-3 shift flare anymore ever since I did a transmission drain-and-fill almost two months ago at 97K miles. It was probably the first drain-and-fill in the car's lifetime and I plan to do it again at the next oil change because the tranny shifted incredibly smooth for the first 800-1000 miles afterwards, then shift quality went back to normal smooth, just without the 2-3 flare.

Right after the drain-and-fill the shift quality rivaled the old LS 4- and 5-speed transmissions. It just really enhanced the overall sensation of smoothness of the LS .

 

Everyone says its only once... I get it multiple times even after a 170km run... just gets petrified when its about to go from 2nd to 3rd....

 

everyone is experiencing almost the same thing.. my car jerks when reducing speed between gear 1& 2. wht could be the problem has anyone experieced it and how did u solve the problem. im a woman and was told to replace the computer box which i did but still the problem is there please please anybody jst help

 

Well for me I used Techstream software to force the transmission to relearn. Also there is a learning procedure. Find the attached files.