Ryan300

When I accelerate I hear a sound similar to whining coming from engine or transmission side of my 2001 AWD RX300 with 86K miles. It's been doing that since I can remember. I thought I ask now since my membership to this most helpful and informative Lexus forum.

Is this normal for an AWD RX300?

thomas1

Doesnt sound completely normal to me...Can you open the hood and accelerate the engine and here the sound increase and decrease...? If so could be the alternator or power steering pump....If none and only when you are moving than possibly the tranny. Have you checked the transmission fluid, is it burnt or brown in color, it should be a bright red....Note do not do a transmission flush. A drain and fill is all we recommend on this and the other lexus site.

hypervish

It sounds normal to me.

Ryan300

The whining sound changes frequency as the gear shifts; in other words, as I step on the gas, the whining noise will become higher pitched as the gear shifts automatically. The same as when the car decelerates and the gears shifts down; the noise frequency will become lower pitched. It reminds me of the big semi-trucks noise when accelerating. Almost sounds like an axle spinning. I thought maybe because it is an AWD. No power issues during acceleration. No burnt trany smell on the ATF.

I'm jsut wondering whether this is nornal for AWD RX 300.

I drained and filled the tranny with AMSOIL ATF a week ago. The drain plugs were not covered too much with sludge and the fluid reddish/brown in color.

bob2200

Reddish/brown is not that good, so keep up regular drains and refills until it gets redder (if your new fluid is red).

hypervish

If your not sure of the transmission fluid's condition, do a blot test. Does the noise go away once the car is fully warmed up?

Emilaman

Blot test?

Ryan300

Negative. The only time I don't hear it is during a full stop.

update: Or at higher speed.

Emilaman

I have the same problem!

walkerman

My 2001 RX makes a "whine" in first gear only. Goes away when it "slides" into second. Sounds like a planetary gear set that has problems. Almost 90k now, got a feeling trans replacement not far off. (Good thing I bought an extended warranty plan). Fluid is clean, goint to pull the pan and look at the screen soon.

Ryan300

1. What is a "planetary gear"?

2. Why is it making that whine noise to some RX300 AWD (only)?

3. What's involved in the repair of a "planetary gear set"?

4. Do you think a clogged screen in the tranny pan is causing this?

hypervish

It's normal, don't worry about it.
The planetary gear set is inside the transmission. It could be a clogged filter...Is your current filter paper or metal?
I wouldn't worry about it much, many other Toyota's/Lexus's make this noise not just the RX300's, it's just the way the car was designed.

Ryan300

I tried to purchase a tranny filter from two local Lexus Dealer parts dept, they both said that my 2001 RX300 has the metal filter. They added that they don't sell many of those for that year since most are cleaned and reused (even by their technicians).

I'm on the first of three drain/fill. On the last drain/fill I will pull the pan and give the metal filter, magnets and pan some cleaning and also replace the gasket.

PJ82ND

Buy an external trans filter which u can hook up easily

Emilaman

please explain what and how to change!!