Shift flare?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 310
Likes: 137
From: CA - California
Shift flare?
Anybody else notice this behavior on theirs?
Noticed the other day that our 350 with 105k miles exhibits a shift flare when the transmission is in S2 and I upshift to S3 at moderate rpms and low throttle input. I limit it to 2nd gear in stop and go traffic, then allow it to upshift when I feel traffic has "permanently" sped up. I shifted into S3 at ~3500rpm and the engine came up to 4000 without the vehicle accelerating, before it came down again as the transmission caught 3rd gear.
The behavior is not seen in Drive during the normal upshift. For that reason, I don't believe that it is a case of the transmission slipping. I don't fully discount the possibility because the transmission fluid was darker than night at it's first change at 95k miles. It was a drain & fill, 7x, done by a dealer...I told them to treat it as their personal vehicle and they were authorized to do what they wanted based on that. The service advisor was family of a childhood friend, so I believe the work was of good quality.
Noticed the other day that our 350 with 105k miles exhibits a shift flare when the transmission is in S2 and I upshift to S3 at moderate rpms and low throttle input. I limit it to 2nd gear in stop and go traffic, then allow it to upshift when I feel traffic has "permanently" sped up. I shifted into S3 at ~3500rpm and the engine came up to 4000 without the vehicle accelerating, before it came down again as the transmission caught 3rd gear.
The behavior is not seen in Drive during the normal upshift. For that reason, I don't believe that it is a case of the transmission slipping. I don't fully discount the possibility because the transmission fluid was darker than night at it's first change at 95k miles. It was a drain & fill, 7x, done by a dealer...I told them to treat it as their personal vehicle and they were authorized to do what they wanted based on that. The service advisor was family of a childhood friend, so I believe the work was of good quality.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 835
Likes: 82
From: Nukewastedump
Has it always done this or is it a new behavior? I recall trying the "manual" shift method in years past, and hated it. The computer takes too long to shift after an input (mainly upshifting) which is what I suspect you're experiencing. I honestly havent tried it for a few years because it was too annoying. I drove a stick for about 20 years before getting my first automatic, so the shift gate function on the gear shift selector on this gen Rx is essentially ridiculous IMHO. Not even close to being like a manual tranny, and the paddle shifters in the newer cars are slightly better.
When you say the tranny drain and fill was done by "a dealer", are we talking Toyota/Lexus dealer? If it was a VW dealer or something like that, they may not have used the correct tranny fluid. Just wondering.
When you say the tranny drain and fill was done by "a dealer", are we talking Toyota/Lexus dealer? If it was a VW dealer or something like that, they may not have used the correct tranny fluid. Just wondering.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 310
Likes: 137
From: CA - California
It's hard to say because it's my wife's car and I don't daily it. I've driven it a lot recently because of vacation. I'll say it's probably new behavior. I also drove manual right up to a month before we got this thing, so I also hate the trans/shifter.
It was a Toyota dealer. I made sure it was the right fluid.
It was a Toyota dealer. I made sure it was the right fluid.
CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,231
Likes: 1,747
From: VA
I think the ES350 with almost the same transmission was known for a flare issue, but have not heard much about that complaint on the RX. See this link. It appears that sometimes a reflash of the computer will help.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...re-spikes.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...re-spikes.html
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