RX 300 won't shift from 2nd to third when cold
 

I am taking our 99' RX 300 in next week to the Lexus dealership. The transmission won't shift from 2nd to 3rd when it is cold. Works fine fully warmed up. Check engine light is on. Dealership thinks that the light is probably due to the trans issue. Also, when accelerating briskly the "Trac"
light comes on." The trans fluid has been replaced and screen cleaned twice
in the last year. Has been well cared for.

I have heard some owners say that they have needed a new transmission in these by a 100,000 miles.

Anyone have experience with this?

Well, since there is a CEL, there is a code, so we can go over that one. It might just be a sensor or hopefully just a bad reading that can be reset.

However, when you say warmed up, how long are you talking about...normally I can't get out of first for a few minutes.

Mex, geez how cold's it get down there! Mine doesn't go into that cold transmission warmup mode unless below ~50F, or less. :)

thats a normal emissions thing. It warms up the cat convertor faster to lower emissions. Nothing to worry about.

Oh, it has been getting into the 50s when I leave for work at about 7, when I come home about 6 to 7, sometimes later...even throughout the day. The high altitude here, averaging about 7,500 feet also keeps things cool.

People sometimes joke how hot it must get down here, but that is really in the northern states. Central Mexico can sometimes look like North Carolina, Wisconsin, Florida and California on the coasts. However, it is a rare thing if it ever hits 100 F up here.

We even get snow on our beautiful mountains, sleeping woman mountain on the left and El Popo, the active volcano on the right as seen from my apartment.

Try the search button and you will find more than what you might have cared for.

Transmission problems have cropped up but keep in mind there are millions of RX's sold.

Check engine light needs to be looked into. I personally would not enter into any sales agreement, till the light issue is resolved.

Make sure all indicators light up when you turn the ignition to on.

If the trac lights up, under sharp accellaration, make sure it is due to tire slippage (check quality of tires and tire pressure).

Salim

Come to think of it. I can remember not too far back, when my RX was a little bit more stock that the vehicle was fully warmed up, 60 to 70 degree weather that it did give me a some issues in the lower gears, a little long to change. This was actually how I found out better about the effect of the EFI fuse and hot it resets everything in the RX300. I can recall that some time ago we had someone I believe here or who emailed me in reference to a 19 second 0 to 60 acceleration and that pulling the EFI fuse did work in that case. What I hope you don't have is something related to a clutch or torque converter problem.

I thought I might show one more picture of the two mountains, Iztaccíhuatl (sleeping woman) and Popocatépetl (El Popo)above during sunrise. Notice El Popo is belching a little.

There is an interesting story about these mountains, that you can read about here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popocat%C3%A9petl

I have driven up to the point between the two mountains, but is currently closed to volcanic alert with Popo. Popo's ash can and has reached Mexico City where I live. I once got a P0171 CEL driving through the stuff. :sad: