Originally Posted by jdanielca

Talking about hesitation this past week when I’m in power mode if i hit the gas pedal too much or too fast it seems to stick or hold onto a gear I don’t know which and it doesn’t go down quickly when I let off does it sound familiar ?

Originally Posted by lexusgxman

Thanks for all the replies. For clarification, this car was bought from Lexus Watertown and the first owner was fastidious. Got it in 07 and kept it till 2018 and serviced it at said dealer. When I got it in May 2018 it had 67k on it, so 6,000 miles a year. It's got clear bra everywhere and the records were plentiful. I checked the Lexus owners site myself and the info I saw corresponds with what both Lexus USA and my Toyota dealer told me (Lexus dealer lied and stated said services WERE NOT done): in 2010, the cylinder heads and valves were updated under warranty. In 2015, the entire fuel system (including HPFPs replaced). Now, the car had its oil changed at Lexus for a while but the mechanic who I bought my 1 owner IS300 from specializes in Toyota so I just started going to him for oil changes. I've done a few oil changes myself on the car and always used 0W-40 M1 Full Synthetic as did he, until the last oil change a couple months ago. He only had 0-20 available and I just said go for it. I know Lexus has revised the oil specifications for the car overtime, but I know 0-20 is recommended. Immediately after picking it up it starting bucking and popping through gears. Using the accelerator pedal felt like taming a bull. Now, it's obviously no coincidence, but I'm unsure as to how oil viscosity could affect this. The 1UR-FE (on the LS) uses VVTi-E. I know other VVT systems, including Toyota's more basic one, use pressurized oil to adjust the cams. This car uses electric motors (on the intake camshafts at least, if not all 4) to adjust the cam position and thus shouldn't be affected by this. I'm eager to see if 0-40 makes the issue disappear on the next change. To answer other questions. Why go to a Lexus dealer you don't trust; it's 10 minutes from my house and LUSA wanted me at a Lexus dealer and not Toyota, the next nearest is owned by the same guy and I had problems there when I bought my first Lexus back in 08 there. The nearest after that is well over an hour away. I'm not selling the car because I shouldn't have to. And, I just put $1k worth of tires on it a few weeks ago, control arms less than a year ago, fluid flushes etc. The car idles perfectly and makes no noises and will redline beautifully as well, I'm confident the issue is software related. Interestingly, when the car is in ETC Snow, the issue vanishes. ETC Power and normal mode both beget the issue. I use snow mode when the car is cold to soften up the gearbox+engine and switch it off when warm. Since I've started using it more with the horrid hesitation, the problem disappears instantly. Oh yes, Lexus USA never called me back last week like they promised so I am growing impatient. I literally just want Toyota to do the software update and have LUSA pick up the tab and I'll be happy. Is that so much to ask? Regardless, next car won't be a Lexus.

Originally Posted by mathyewgt

Thank you all for the extremely informative responses in this thread. I have been dealing with the hesitation issues for the past 4 months out of the 7 months total that I've had the car. This is a huge safety issue no doubt about that. That alone should automatically make this a first priority for Lexus and cover the expenses.

So if the valve adjusters/slack adjusters or whatever they're called have been replaced under warranty, should they be a lifetime warranty coverage item regardless of ownership? I am terrified that I'm going to be presented with either purchasing new heads and labor or maybe finding a 2013+ engine (it was a suggestion to look for a '13 or newer) or trade it/sell it for a huge loss.

Today something else is happening that's new. When sitting at a light, the idle drops down to around 400 rpms and sounds like it's going to stall out. I get home and stop in ny driveway and now I can hear it chattering under the hood. I put the shifter into neutral, reverse then park. The chattering goes away and the idle goes back up to around 800-900 rpms. So only in drive does it drop to 400 rpms and makes the absurd noise, and in N, R or P it doesn't do it.

I've always put premium fuel in the car and usually get fuel at the same two or three stations. I also put Lucas fuel injector cleaner in every other fill up. I bought specific Toyota 0W-20 synthetic oil and an oem oil filter for this oil change that I'll be doing to try and fix this "transmission shifting" issue.

I did take it to Lexus of Nashville over a month ago to see if they could figure the problem out and they couldn't duplicate the issue, but I did get the "check engine" light to come on when I took their lead tech for a drive. It was a P2174 for a shift solenoid D malfunction. They also performed an ecu update for the hesitation issue. They didn't charge me anything for their diagnostics, ecu update, the RX350 loaner, or the mechanics time. I was speechless, I've never been treated that way. They said they talk with Corporate for fixes and if Lexus can't fix the car then they can't charge the customer if they don't find the fix. Not a fix, but what exactly fixes it. They won't throw parts at it. I absolutely loved this work ethic and behavior. BUT I am still driving an expensive luxury/ diplomat vehicle that can't even get out of it's own way at the most dangerous times when I'm driving it.

Originally Posted by WoodyTx

I have an 07 LS460 with 166k and had hesitation issues! Went in to dealer, asked for ECU flash, advisor came back and said car has had all flashes done, told me that I needed new heads, 7k plus labor, advised me against it, and sent me in my way! Had my friend check it, found #4 cylinder misfires, took spark plug out of #4 and found that it was broken- came loose from the threaded housing and you could shake it and it would move back and forth! Replaced spark plug, drove it for an hour and no hesitation at all! Went to dealer with it, the did a complimentary 7 spark plug change, picked it up 2 days later, and had a ticking noise, was driving back to dealer the next day and ticking turned to banging, lost power and torque, turned it around and limped home! Dealer has it now, was told that they bore scoped it, valves and cylinders looked good, so “it’s not their fault” they are now going to take it out of the car and actually find out what’s causing this heavy banging under the hood! Head Master Tech says his guess is that it’s a Rod Bearing! We will see! If you read this, you know that they didn’t put an OBD reader on it, if they would have, they would have found the broken spark plug, and the hesitation issue! I know that something happened at that dealership while they did the “complimentary spark plug change”, in my opinion, something was dropped down a spark plug hole, or somebody red lined it while test driving it after the spark plug change! Either way, I’m sick in my stomach! They said they found an engine for 2,500.00 that comes with a 1 year warranty!
so I said how much to build my engine back to spec- their reply “ they don’t yet know what’s wrong with it!” So if that’s the case, why do I need another engine! “As the world turns” will continue after this commercial message!
I sincerely hope that Lexus can turn this ship around, because my first experience with them is not so good for owning this car for less than a year! I love the car, hate the cost of repair! To make matters worse, I bought my son a 2007 GS350 about the same time that I bought my car, and his is now dead!
Good luck to the OP on his dilemma! I hope it all works out well for him!

Originally Posted by jdanielca

how come your cars keep dying ? Is it the type of cars you buy or what’s going on it’s hard to believe in such a coincidence. If it’s not you then you are not paying enough attention and buying beaten up cars.