Hey all, I am in need for some desperate help. Our family 2009 RX-350 which only has 124k Kilometers (77k Miles), was run for an unknown amount of months on low transmission fluid due to a small leak. It wasn't until I started feeling hard shifting when accelerating that I took it to my mechanic and made this discovery. Very unfortunate to say the least as we love this vehicle. Mechanic filled the transmission oil and a few days later, it had leaked out again. Then we discovered this tiny crack in the seal at the bottom. Now the leak is gone however, maybe it's just me, but the vehicle doesn't quite drive the same. Upon accelerating, I can hear this howl starting around 40Km/h which gets really loud around 80. Because we travel a lot I am starting to doubt the reliability of this car especially with 2 young kids. I'm on the brink of trading it in for a new vehicle. Please advise what I should do? Is that howl a warning of the storm ahead? Or should I gather up the courage and every last penny I have to take the vehicle to the dealership and have them do a thorough inspection?

 

1. sorry, should have not been driven with a leak like that. Again, sorry.
2. It howls - don't drive it. Something's busted.
3. Trading it in with a howl?
4. Re manufactured transmission. Again, sorry. You'll get nothing for trade in or private party sell, with a noise like this. Got to be fixed to rid of.

 

Hey, before getting all worried.

Is your RX AWD or not?
As if it is, you have two more devices that can howl.
Transfer case and rear differential. Front, I believe, is part of transmission and is filled with fluid when ATF change is done.
But either way, vehicle should not be driven.
Of course, Murphy's law be it, it might just be a bad hub bearing that chose to go bad exactly after you had ATF service done. But chances to that are rather low.

 

@Raidin How do you like the Falken Sincera SN250 tires?