RX330 Won't move - P0500 code
 

Hi Everyone,
I've done some searching on this site and others and haven't really came up with a solid resolution so figured I'd make a post.

I've got a 2005 Lexus RX330 with about 177k Miles. I've owned the car for about a year and half and have done some general maintenance work on it. Engine seems healthy, doesn't burn much if any oil, change it every 5k miles or 6months with full synthetic. I've changed the transmission filter when I first got the car because didn't know PO service history intervals. I've done two transmission fluid changes with OEM Toyota ATF Type T-IV. The car has been on many road trips and no major issues. It doesn't seem to slip or have any issues, it would occasionally have a slightly longer shift out of first gear every once in a blue moon, its an older car with mileage so didn't seem crazy out of character.

Today while driving the car a few miles from my house running errands I was pulling out of a small parking lot area with a bit of an incline and as I went to accelerate out the car made a loud noise (hard to describe but sounded like I hit a curb on a car barely bumped into me) obviously neither of those things happened but the car would not accelerate. I noticed my check engine light came on and I put on my emergency flashers and put the car in Park. Turned the car off and back on and tried to put it into drive again but same results, the RPM's would go up but the car wouldn't go forward, it felt as if it was in neutral and started to slowly roll backwards. I got the car to a safe parking spot and checked the codes, I'll upload all those below. Based on my reading so far it seems like the P0500 is kind of a bogus /red herring code. I do have some ABS codes that popped up as well. The main things that I've noticed so far is that the car would roll forward while in Park so had to set the emergency brake to prevent that. Also I am able to shift between the gears of P-R-N-D etc and the lights on the cluster are illuminated and change.

My first thought is that something internal in the transmission failed. I really hope this isn't the case, just wondering if it could be a shift cable or something else. I'm not a mechanic by trade but I have done some decently sized DIY jobs in the past. I would greatly appreciate if anyone was able to give any helpful troubleshooting tips or dealt with this situation or something similar in the past.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...d64fd1623.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...0de87dd32.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...62bcaaac6.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...d1234d04c.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...fa4849a7e.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...b98fa178a.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...3bb92b41e.jpeg


Similar Forum post:https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...-won-t-go.html

Rolling in park means the transmission selector is not in the correct position this function is strictly mechanical. Yes it is possible to have internal failure but I'd guess it's not common. If it was me I'd remove the shift cable from the transmission and make sure the selector is really in the park position.

Have you done a visual inspection for broken parts?
Take a peek underneath at your Axle Shafts where they enter the Spindles.

I suppose it's possible a snapped Axle Shaft. Stranger things have happened.

I went out today and recorded a couple of quick videos that might help in understanding the situation.

Starting the car up, going through the gears, showing whats on the dash, and what happens when you try to accelerate.

Realized there is now a horrible noise when the car goes into park

Visual Inspection of the underside / axles etc. Doesn't appear to be anything out of the normal, no fluids leaking, visibly broken or torn parts

This leads me to believe that its not the shifter cable and likely something internal in the transmission? Any thoughts on best way to proceed?

Can't say for sure but going by your videos it looks like something internally has failed.

Just throwing a guess out.

Is it possibly the parking pawl?

I know that would take the car out.

I appreciate everyone that's commented and tried to help. I got some time today and did a few more checks. I checked the fluid on the transmission dipstick and it still looks very red and didn't notice any metal flakes or anything suspicious. I then got the car up on jack stands and removed the passenger wheel to better inspect the underside and noticed the axle does have what feels to be a significant amount of play. I'll link to the video I recorded

I also have the dash cam footage of when it happened

Raise both front wheels and spin one of them (car in neutral) the other wheel should rotate the opposite direction. Something is very wrong with that axle or maybe the transmission either way you'll need to remove the passenger axle assembly to see what's up.

Was using this video for reference on how to remove the passenger axle I found out I don't have a deep enough 30mm 12pt socket to get the axle nut broken off. Going to need to make a trip for that.

I noticed that there is no snap ring. yikes i don't know if maybe it broke and that caused the issues?

The silver area of the axle seems bowed/bent and not making a solid connection here

These axles were installed in June 2023 so they aren't very old.

Looks like we might know what happened. The carrier bearing is held in by a clip and bolt with rubber stopper. Since your axle is not secured into the carrier bearing bracket this caused the axle to move around possibly stripping out the splines on the input shaft. That is best case scenario.

Follow up post on this. I went to my local Toyota Dealership and got a snap ring Part # 90521-78002 and installed it. Test drove the car in the neighborhood and shifted perfectly normal, and no grinding or weird noises when switching through gears or putting the car in Park. The axle isn't making any type of clicking/popping noises so maybe it didn't get too damaged, and if it needs to be replaced it is what it is. For now it seems to be back to normal and just wanted to update the post. Thanks
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...39f5c4cfb.jpeg

Wow you dodged a bullet. I recommend you drop the transmission pan, replace the filter and do a few drain/fills there could be a bunch of metal particles from the axle splines grinding away.

[QUOTE=frostmica2;11822658]Hi Everyone,
I've done some searching on this site and others and haven't really came up with a solid resolution so figured I'd make a post.

I've got a 2005 Lexus RX330 with about 177k Miles. I've owned the car for about a year and half and have done some general maintenance work on it. Engine seems healthy, doesn't burn much if any oil, change it every 5k miles or 6months with full synthetic. I've changed the transmission filter when I first got the car because didn't know PO service history intervals. I've done two transmission fluid changes with OEM Toyota ATF Type T-IV. The car has been on many road trips and no major issues. It doesn't seem to slip or have any issues, it would occasionally have a slightly longer shift out of first gear every once in a blue moon, its an older car with mileage so didn't seem crazy out of character.

Today while driving the car a few miles from my house running errands I was pulling out of a small parking lot area with a bit of an incline and as I went to accelerate out the car made a loud noise (hard to describe but sounded like I hit a curb on a car barely bumped into me) obviously neither of those things happened but the car would not accelerate. I noticed my check engine light came on and I put on my emergency flashers and put the car in Park. Turned the car off and back on and tried to put it into drive again but same results, the RPM's would go up but the car wouldn't go forward, it felt as if it was in neutral and started to slowly roll backwards. I got the car to a safe parking spot and checked the codes, I'll upload all those below. Based on my reading so far it seems like the P0500 is kind of a bogus /red herring code. I do have some ABS codes that popped up as well. The main things that I've noticed so far is that the car would roll forward while in Park so had to set the emergency brake to prevent that. Also I am able to shift between the gears of P-R-N-D etc and the lights on the cluster are illuminated and change.

My first thought is that something internal in the transmission failed. I really hope this isn't the case, just wondering if it could be a shift cable or something else. I'm not a mechanic by trade but I have done some decently sized DIY jobs in the past. I would greatly appreciate if anyone was able to give any helpful troubleshooting tips or dealt with this situation or something similar in the past.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...d64fd1623.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...0de87dd32.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...62bcaaac6.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...d1234d04c.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...fa4849a7e.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...b98fa178a.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...3bb92b41e.jpeg

Thanks guys
 

It worked, I check the passenger cv axle to check the snap ring but the whole cv axle had shredded itself. Luckily no damage besides the axle was present. Totally thought it was going to be the transmission but got lucky.