Reverse Gear Sometimes Hesitate
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: California
Reverse Gear Sometimes Hesitate
My 2001 RX300 AWD sometimes has this problem:
When I move the gears from Park to Reverse, sometimes my RX300 gears not working right and make the are jerky for a second. I never have this problem every time I reverse the gear to drive away from my home's garage. I suspect that it is because my home's garage is flat while outside parking lot may be not. None of my other cars have this problem in any parking lot.
Is it because my RX300 is a AWD? Is it normal for a AWD?
When I move the gears from Park to Reverse, sometimes my RX300 gears not working right and make the are jerky for a second. I never have this problem every time I reverse the gear to drive away from my home's garage. I suspect that it is because my home's garage is flat while outside parking lot may be not. None of my other cars have this problem in any parking lot.
Is it because my RX300 is a AWD? Is it normal for a AWD?
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 58
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From: California
No check engine light on. Code Reader record nothing. My RX300-AWD's front and rear axials may not synchronize. It never happends in my garage (flat surface), but sometimes happen in public road. This never happens if the car is not in reverse gear.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,723
Likes: 114
From: NJ
It sounds normal to me.
What you are feeling is the parking pawl disengaging. If parked on a hill, or slight incline there will be more pressure on the pawl.
Try using the parking brake before setting the car into park and lifting your foot off of the brake.
What you are feeling is the parking pawl disengaging. If parked on a hill, or slight incline there will be more pressure on the pawl.
Try using the parking brake before setting the car into park and lifting your foot off of the brake.
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 310
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From: NJ
I think it depends on the extent of the "jerking" action. If you are on an incline facing down, put the car in reverse, wait a moment or two, gently apply gas and the car jerks before engaging reverse, then I would say it is not normal. The parking brake routine may reduce the load on the gear thus reduce the jerk. For comparison, you can take any new car with automatic transmission and no matter how or where you engage reverse, from P or D, flat or incline and you never get any jerkiness during engagement. Given the (poor) reputation of the RX transmissions, my suggestion is do the parking brake routine but also wait a little longer after moving the lever to R to allow the transmission gear(s) to engage and move the car before applying gas.
Putting a car in reverse and applying gas quickly used to be a way to test automatic transmissions during used car purchase.
Putting a car in reverse and applying gas quickly used to be a way to test automatic transmissions during used car purchase.
Last edited by kalali; Jul 3, 2012 at 04:55 AM.
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Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Do a transmission fluid drain and fill and also drop the pan (lots of 10mm bolts), check the condition of the magnets on the bottom of the pan, remove them and clean them out using brake parts cleaner. Depending on the mileage a very light black residue is generally OK as long as you don't feel anything between your fingers. If you see/feel any metal shavings then that's a sign of excessive component wear and may explain the symptoms you're experiencing. Under most normal conditions replacing the filter is not necessary but you'll need to have a new pan gasket at hand if you do the pan drop. There is a great DIY thread somewhere describing the drain&fill and the pan drop. If it were me, that's the first thing I'd do. It could significantly improve the hesitation you're experiencing.
Make sure you have good eye protection anytime you lie down on your back underneath the car. Good luck.
Make sure you have good eye protection anytime you lie down on your back underneath the car. Good luck.
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: california
had the same problem...even the tran was replaced under warranty.....same problem kept happening...took it back to the shop..took a week to figure out the guys the problem..... and the problem was......front tires were bad, they were toasted they looked good on the outside but they were bad...the put 2 brand new tires and did alignment and since then the problem was gone...sound silly but I do not think the lied to me...after all they first replaced the tran..
do not know how tires can affect in that way....but that's what they told me.
do not know how tires can affect in that way....but that's what they told me.
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