i just bought a 97 sc300 and auto, and when ever the trans shifts from 1st to 2nd 2nd to 3rd and so on i can feel the shift, its not super smooth. i mean its not slipping or anything i can just feel a nice fast firm shift. is that normal or do the sc's should shift with out you even feeling anything?

 

What's the ATF fluid look like? How many miles on the vehicle? Any records of transmission service?

 

the trans is full, and clean fluid. car has 130k on it. dont know about the history.

 

Transmission is full... Clean and what color on a white rag? Cherry red, rust red or brown and clear?

If you don't have a clue there just might be the wrong fluid installed. Does the dipstick have stamped down on it ...Use Type IV Fluid? or Dexron III?

Unless it's not burnt smelling and cherry red in color, a couple of drain and fill proceedures might be in order.

How are the rest of the fluids, the coolant (red toyota), power steering (red - dexron III) and brake fluids (clear, no color to a slight yellowish) ? Your Lexus likes fresh fluids...

 

i think i will do a drain and fill on the trans this weekend, and for some reason i have green coolant in it, i did not know it takes red.

 

I have green coolant too. Someone said that there wasn't any red fluid at the time SC was designed (so I guess red fuild is ok).

 

I recommend getting a transmission flush. You should be getting rid of those hard shifts after that.

 

My research has me concluding that green prestone type coolant is designed for cast iron block engines. My "2F" 4.2 straight six in a landcruiser is cast iron and it had factory filled green.

The red 50/50 with distilled water and pre-mixed pink are factory filled for Toyota/Lexus aluminum block engines.

 

what type of ATF fluid does the sc300 take? do you think a drain and fill would help.

 

Do a new gasket and tranny filter service yourself. I put in Amsoil Sythetic ATF, very nice shifts!!
You can Use Mobil1 synthetic ATF or Type IV tranny fluid from Toyota.