2001 ES300 Trans U140E
12-28-17, 07:27 AM
#1
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2001 ES300 Trans U140E
I am in the market for a used transmission for my es300. Transmission type U140E. I just wanted to double check with everyone here to make sure that I buy the correct replacement. I saw on a website that sells jdm engines and transmission. They stated that they have a transmission that would fit: "99 00 01 02 03 LEXUS ES300 WINDOM CAMRY 3.0L V6 VVTI AUTOMATIC FWD TRANSMISSION JDM 1MZ"
New to lexus so any help and guidance in the right direction would help. TIA!
New to lexus so any help and guidance in the right direction would help. TIA!
01-19-18, 01:21 AM
#4
I had to change the transmission on my 2001 ES300 and it was pretty expensive. The cheapest one I could find was $1,300. Every other option was over $2,000. If I had known the U140E was so expensive I probably wouldn't have bought the car. I assumed it was the cheap transmission from the older ES300's when I bought the car.
I work at a Lexus dealership and the U140E is a huge problem according to the techs. We see quite a few ES300's with low mileage come in with transmission issues. The 97-98 ES300 never had this problem. Just the U140E cars.
I work at a Lexus dealership and the U140E is a huge problem according to the techs. We see quite a few ES300's with low mileage come in with transmission issues. The 97-98 ES300 never had this problem. Just the U140E cars.
Last edited by Kira X; 01-19-18 at 01:24 AM.
01-27-18, 06:22 AM
#6
No.
The 02+ has the U151e transmission and mechanically, it is very, very good. The 02+ combination of the (very slightly) improved mz-fe engine and 2nd generation Aisin u series transmission is about as bullet proof as automotive power trains get, and the main reason we have one. The first generation of the “u” series has a fatal flaw in it, unfortunately. Toyota kept using the bad U140e in some Toyota brand models after 2001 but not Lexus brand models. This is a shame as the late 3rd gen ES is one of the best designed bodies Toyota has ever done and, as current trends suggest, may ever do.
I have searched a fair bit to find if there were improved parts - principally a single thrust bearing - to at least let you pull and rebuild the u140e and make it reliable. No joy on that as far as I can find and the 99-01 models will always be a little risky on this point. If that cheap part problem could be fixed, I would buy a clean coach or platinum model and happily drive it forever, knowing I could rebuild it for reliability when the reasonably certain failure came.
Despite a marginally ugly body, the 4es has a very elegant interior design. Coupled with the excellent power train, it is a real keeper.
The 02+ has the U151e transmission and mechanically, it is very, very good. The 02+ combination of the (very slightly) improved mz-fe engine and 2nd generation Aisin u series transmission is about as bullet proof as automotive power trains get, and the main reason we have one. The first generation of the “u” series has a fatal flaw in it, unfortunately. Toyota kept using the bad U140e in some Toyota brand models after 2001 but not Lexus brand models. This is a shame as the late 3rd gen ES is one of the best designed bodies Toyota has ever done and, as current trends suggest, may ever do.
I have searched a fair bit to find if there were improved parts - principally a single thrust bearing - to at least let you pull and rebuild the u140e and make it reliable. No joy on that as far as I can find and the 99-01 models will always be a little risky on this point. If that cheap part problem could be fixed, I would buy a clean coach or platinum model and happily drive it forever, knowing I could rebuild it for reliability when the reasonably certain failure came.
Despite a marginally ugly body, the 4es has a very elegant interior design. Coupled with the excellent power train, it is a real keeper.
Last edited by Oro; 01-27-18 at 06:32 AM.
01-30-18, 10:51 AM
#7
Was the 3rd Gen ES's transmission really that bad? I have an '01 ES with 170k that I've had for over 8yrs that's never given me an issue. I've never worried about the transmission because I never read anything negative about it.
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12-30-19, 11:16 AM
#8
Lexus Champion
Remember when dropping the pan on a 2002+ ES, its not easy to reach one or two pan bolts. You'll have to jackup the transmission slightly to get to them between the subframe.
02-11-20, 04:53 PM
#10
Car startying running like crap lately, engine and exhaust smells, horrible MPG, no OD on highway
Got this on my 00 ES300 after the car was random misfiring and got cel for low coolant temp and b1 s1.out of range
Changed B1 up Af sensor, no help
Changed MAf no help
Changed B2 vvti no help.
Disconnected battery for 10 min and reconnect and the car runs great and OD is back.
ECU can prevent OD if it thunks car is not making enough power to take that OD gear.
No more misfire code but get bank 1 AF sensor, I am thinking it is small exhaust leak on passenger side that trips the computer to limp home mode, because knock sensors are old and might read it as such
No other codes
Got this on my 00 ES300 after the car was random misfiring and got cel for low coolant temp and b1 s1.out of range
Changed B1 up Af sensor, no help
Changed MAf no help
Changed B2 vvti no help.
Disconnected battery for 10 min and reconnect and the car runs great and OD is back.
ECU can prevent OD if it thunks car is not making enough power to take that OD gear.
No more misfire code but get bank 1 AF sensor, I am thinking it is small exhaust leak on passenger side that trips the computer to limp home mode, because knock sensors are old and might read it as such
No other codes
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