2015 rx350 moves forward in neutral
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2019
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From: CA
2015 rx350 moves forward in neutral
Has anyone experienced this , my 2015 RX 350 ,, While on flat surface , surged forward while in Neutral , going up a 1 degree upslope. I can actually drive my entire cul de sac in neutral , there are are a few dips and upslopes , very slight , but it just motors on.
CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
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From: VA
Why are you putting it in neutral, without the parking brake on and allowing this to happen? If the car is in neutral you should be in the driver seat and able to hit the brake pedal to prevent this from happening. Just put it in park! Neutral is for testing or working on the car or in certain situations, such as the car wash. I doubt there is a problem anyone would diagnose or that you would want to spend money repairing. I assume everything else works just fine with the transmission.
You could always stop at a transmission shop and ask and if they don't laugh at you and are not dishonest enough to want a bunch of money for diagnosis or fake repairs, you may get an answer.
You could always stop at a transmission shop and ask and if they don't laugh at you and are not dishonest enough to want a bunch of money for diagnosis or fake repairs, you may get an answer.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 4
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From: CA
i should have put it in Park , but I did not , I was still in the driveway, needed to do something ,which is flat,I put it in neutral from Drive, to answer , and after about 90 seconds the car decide It want to go , and it did , So yes I did put on the brake. Now I was curious why would it surge forward? so I went out to my street , as mentioned .On my street there is a slight upslope, then a slight dip then mostly flat.So it concerns me is all , since Neutral should be exactly that , Neutral , no movement at all on a flat surface. Anyway I showed the video to the service manager of the local Lexus dealer .He invited me to bring the car back tomorrow and they will do a full diagnostic check of the car and see why( if the can) this happened.He claims in his memory he has never seen this before.So more later.
This is my 6th
Lexus I have owned , and the 3 rd SUV , Previous ES300 , GS300 , SC400 , then switched to the suv's
This is my 6th
Lexus I have owned , and the 3 rd SUV , Previous ES300 , GS300 , SC400 , then switched to the suv's
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 1,385
From: Austin, TX
Had it been 450H, we could have had extensive discussion as the powertrain is very different.
Seeing a creep in "N" for auto-trans is unexpected, but is there some thing very wrong?
My test is with the engine not running and placing the vehicle in "N", should allow me to push the vehicle forward or backward. [needed for recovery in an accident or repairs].
The other test is to see if the vehicle can be started in "N".
If I pass those two tests, I would leave it alone. But if you feel it needs to be explored further, please make sure that you go to a trusted mechanic where your money will be spent wisely.
Salim
PS: Note how the shift lever can be moved into "N" without the the need of pressing the release button. Those engineers are smart.
Seeing a creep in "N" for auto-trans is unexpected, but is there some thing very wrong?
My test is with the engine not running and placing the vehicle in "N", should allow me to push the vehicle forward or backward. [needed for recovery in an accident or repairs].
The other test is to see if the vehicle can be started in "N".
If I pass those two tests, I would leave it alone. But if you feel it needs to be explored further, please make sure that you go to a trusted mechanic where your money will be spent wisely.
Salim
PS: Note how the shift lever can be moved into "N" without the the need of pressing the release button. Those engineers are smart.
Last edited by salimshah; Sep 5, 2019 at 09:38 AM. Reason: PS
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 4
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From: CA
Thank you , I am going to the Lexus dealer tomorrow as the first step, Yes the car can be moved when off in Neutral , and it rolls backwards
or forward in Neutral usually when on a slope. But every once in a while id decides it wants to go for a ride , when it is on flat ground first . Just weird to me.
or forward in Neutral usually when on a slope. But every once in a while id decides it wants to go for a ride , when it is on flat ground first . Just weird to me.
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Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Toronto, ON
Possibly a little bit of drag in one of the clutch plate units inside the transmission. A tiny bit of drag is probably ok, but a lot might mean the plates are too close together when not engaged and might wear out faster. In either case, avoid driving around town in neutral :-)
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Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,634
Likes: 254
From: CA
I agree with you.
Also very dangerous to have the engine running and put in neutral and get out of the car. The car may roll depending on the slope (however slight) AFTER you had already gotten out of the car.
I think the OP does not need to really chase this issue if the two factory tests mentioned above in another post were negative. If the OP still want this to be checked out, then go to a reputable mechanic who is knowledgeable about Toyota/Lexus. Otherwise you may get some BS about needing some FAKE transmission repairs as mentioned already above by another post.
Also very dangerous to have the engine running and put in neutral and get out of the car. The car may roll depending on the slope (however slight) AFTER you had already gotten out of the car.
I think the OP does not need to really chase this issue if the two factory tests mentioned above in another post were negative. If the OP still want this to be checked out, then go to a reputable mechanic who is knowledgeable about Toyota/Lexus. Otherwise you may get some BS about needing some FAKE transmission repairs as mentioned already above by another post.
Driver
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 59
Likes: 4
From: NY
This doesn't really make sense. If your car was not going into neutral it would drive like normally would in "D". There is no such thing as partial neutral lol its either in or out. Its not a manual car where your clutch could be dragging slightly when depressed. Not sure why your just leaving your car in the driveway running while in neutral at the very lease should have the E brake on.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 4
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From: CA
Thanks to all , appreciate the info. Will advise more later.
Regarding they driveway
Drive way , measured by an engineer neighbor is not 100% flat it has where the car was parked a i very slight upslope that goes to flat that goes then of course toward the curb area is down sloping.
The Street however East -West orientation has an upslope of about 75 ft , before it levels off to zero so is flat to a very slight dip , then a slight rise , and so on.
No more driving in Neutral ,(LOL)
Just seems strange to me is all .. Getting it checked out.
Regarding they driveway
Drive way , measured by an engineer neighbor is not 100% flat it has where the car was parked a i very slight upslope that goes to flat that goes then of course toward the curb area is down sloping.
The Street however East -West orientation has an upslope of about 75 ft , before it levels off to zero so is flat to a very slight dip , then a slight rise , and so on.
No more driving in Neutral ,(LOL)
Just seems strange to me is all .. Getting it checked out.