My transmission is officially dead. Lexus tech diagnosed. When the trans gets up to temp it stops shifting. I'm pretty upset I cant afford an new transmission. I'm gonna have to find a used one and have it installed. Which I really cant afford either but that's the way it goes.

I'm just gonna say that you should never flush your transmission. Its simply not worth the risk unless your trans is already fxcked. A drain and fill is probably the only thing you should do.

 

The place that flushed your transmission bears some responsibility. Your transmission worked perfectly fine before they flushed it, now it is dead after they did it, they could have screwed up. They should have at least told you it was not a good idea with a car with your mileage. You may want to contact a lawyer or Lexus Corporate before shelling out the money for a new transmission yourself. It is odd your transmission is dead when it was shifting fine after you unhooked the battery, sounds like more of a software issues. Sorry to hear about that, good luck.

Since flushes can be so catastrophic to transmissions in too many cases shops should just stop doing them, offering them, and even recommending them but since they normally charge much more for them then a drain and fill they will likely keep doing them.

 

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Sorry to hear the bad news from Lexus tech. However, the Lexus tech's conclusion of a dead transmission doesn't make a lot of logical sense. If the transmission shifts normally until its temperature reaches certain level, I'd think that there might not be enough transmission fluid to keep the gears cool enough. Before you replace the transmission, it may be worth finding someone to do 3 drains and refills of the transmission fluid with genuine Toyota WS transmission fluid (need about 12 qts of transmission fluid) and fill the transmission fluid to the factory spec level to see what happens. It is a much smaller cost than replacing the transmission. From what you have described, I don't have too much confidence in the Toyota service center that did your transmission flush. I doubt if they indeed used genuine Toyota WS transmission fluid. Wrong type of transmission fluid also causes the transmission to behave abnormally. On the other hand, it could well be that after you do the drain and refill, your transmission still wont' function properly and you then would lose about $120 for the 12 qts of genuine Toyota ATF WS transmission fluid, plus the labor cost.
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Yeah, I'm with yyymmm31, being as it was fine after a 'reboot', I don't buy that it's a total loss.

The level is wrong. If you were local to me, I'd throw four jackstands, the large floor jack, my homemade fluid exchange pump, some tools, a laptop with Techstream, and 15 bottles of proper fluid in the trunk and come put it the way it should be. The only payment required is good brew (well, on top of the trans oil cost).

There is a remote chance something's since been burned by running it low (and I figure it's low, not high, the level, that is), but I don't know how many miles you drove it before it started acting up.

Did this Lexus "tech" check the fluid level properly?

 

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Yes, I'd ask the same question if the Lexus tech literally checked the transmission fluid level before giving the death sentence to the transmission. The 8-speed AA80E automatic transmission unit in our LS460 has proved to be one of the most durable and reliable automatic transmissions and wouldn't usually give up easily. 140K miles for a AA80E transmission is still young age.
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I appreciate it but the transmission is messed up. The Lexus tech checked everything. And said most likely a oil passage is blocked or the solenoids are sticking when it get hot.

I took the car to Lexus after the Toyota thing. Toyata didn't do anything wrong other than flush the transmission when they should have told me not to.

I spoke with a Transmission shop here and they said the same thing. Flushing a transmission is neve a good idea the shop that I spoke to has 25yrs and said they dont even have a flushing machine.

Dont get your trans flushed the old mechanics take is true about flushing transmissions. I will count myself as testament to the fact.

 

 

Lexus quoted 9k. For a reman trans. Lol.

I'm going to take the car to a local transmission shop that is extremely reputable here is ATL. They said worse case 4k for a rebuild. The tech I spoke with said that the trans may not be completely wrecked. I drove home from work today and it shifted fine. That said when I picked the car up from Lexus at lunch today it was stuck in 3rd.

 

I would take it to another place if you can still drive it. I would do my best to reset all the lights so that it seems normal when you get there and just ask them to do at least 1 drain and fill without mentioning all your problems. Pretty sure these places love telling you your tranny is done and it's going to cost 3K Plus. I've been there and I wish I shopped around a little bit before jumping into getting a rebuild done. If you're already at the point of planning on replacing it you're probably not going to make it any worse driving on it a little bit. I've also heard about people replacing just the solenoid which is a lot cheaper. I haven't heard anybody say there were lots of metal shavings in the transmission fluid. So maybe your gears are fine. I would be raging at the Toyota dealership right now. They should fix it for you. I'd get the case filed at your local small claims court if they're not willing to play ball.

 

I'm going to a transmission shop so they can look at the trans. It drove fine just now from coming home but that's doesn't mean anything.

Also Toyota really didn't do anything wrong, Lexus didn't find anything particularly wrong either. The transmission shop will give me a final diagnosis after they test since they have the specific equipment to do so.

 

It does not sound like your transmission is done for or it even needs a 4K rebuild if at times it is driving and shifting fine, sounds like fluid level or software issues. I would ask/look around for someone who will thoroughly check the transmission and try to fix it, not just replace it. Don't give Lexus/Toyota anymore business with them sourcing the transmission for you(unless the shop will get it and install it very cheap), they are the ones that ruined your transmission and don't seem to feel they bear any responsibility. I would still try to get the place that ruined it to pay for it if it is ruined, look to small claims court, call Lexus Corporate. You should not be responsible or fully responsible for this. They should have at least warned you or told you they won't do a flush on the car with that mileage but even with that mileage it is odd a solid transmission was ruined from a flush. Was it having any issues before you brought it in to get it flushed.

 

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I still think that my recommendation in Posting 18 is worth trying.
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he doesnt seem to think hes been F'ed over so let him pay the money.. he doesnt wanna stand up for himself who are we to argue.

 

Why are you always so negative to everyone - try be more supportive.