Today I was driving short distance from home and on the way back my 2001 RX300 AWD slams into gear and starts making a grinding noise in first gear only. In reverse it takes a lot of gas to engage and just slams into reverse. Sometimes it would reverse just normal and drive normal. Took it to a guy I know who does transmission and it didn't act up when he test drove it. It did a little on the way back home. For now it's parked until I figure out what to do next. I was thinking of removing the transmission oil pan and changing the fluid with some Lucas thrown in. Would that be a waste of time and money? Do you guys think it's even the trans?

 

What is the idle rpm? If between 550-750 warmed up then the suspect is the transmission or gear shifter links to transmission. You can start by servicing trans, but dont recycle the old fluid. Take it to your buddy for analysis [visual/smell tests at minimum].

Salim

 

Idle rpm is normal like 550-750 rpm. No check engine lights or anything. When I got the car it had 130k miles and changed all the fluids including the trans fluid and filter. I'm not sure if it's the gear shifter links, is that a known issue on these cars? It did start making a slight grinding noise when the car is in first gear, but the noise is gone when in 2nd and 3rd. It's much worse when the car is in reverse and then put back into drive but then gets better. That's why I'm thinking of dropping the pan and changing the fluid. I might just do this Monday since the temperature dropped significantly today and tomorrow.