Lexls400

I have a 2000 ES300 and I was driving the car the other day and the transmission started jerking pretty hard and then it went dead.. I had it towed to the dealer and I found out the car needs a new transmission when I had this one serviced with the transmission oil changed and transpan gasket changed because of a leak.. To install a new transmission will be about $4500.00 plus tax... I just put in a new starter as well the week before.. This is lately costing me alot of money that I don't really have.. Could this be the start of bad things to come? Ive owned this car for a little over 4 years... and my other car before this never had any of those problems and I had a 1990 LS400 which is 10 years older then this car is that I have now.. My LS400 was 11 years old the day I bought it and this car was only 5 years old the day I bought it.. Right now I am also working with a rep from the Lexus MFR on what I can do about this problem with this car... I also rented a 2009 Nissan Altima which seems to be a nice car while my car is stuck on the dealers lot... I have ben a loyal Lexus customer for years and I have always been into Lexus vehicles for as long as I remember ever since I was a kid but for the first time ever I am considering another car from a different manufacture like maybe a Nissan Maxima when time comes to get rid of this car which might be soon.. Any Ideas or thoughts?

-Joe

Parker Gen

Yeah the ES300 has had some transmission issues. I wouldn't think getting rid of it after fixing the transmission is a good idea. The fact that the transmission is the major problem, once fixed it should be fine. I had replaced my transmission when I bought it, and since then there has been no major problems at all. The fact that I've replaced a lot of engine parts with new ones probably has something to do with it, but they won't or shouldn't be major things. The engines are very good reliability wise in these cars. Not the coolest things, but if you want reliability, than you picked a good car (engine wise).

H.Q.Inc

To agree with Parker Gen, the ES300 is known to have tranny problems, particularly after a transmission service in higher mileage vehicles. I had the same problem happen to my 2000 ES. I took it to the Toyota dealer and had the transmission power flushed @ about 95K, thinking I was doing the smart thing. Less than a month later it began shifting erradically and eventually died in about 4-5 weeks. Towed it to the local reputable transmission specialist who explained to me that flushes are not good for these and most other cars, especially if they arent done EVERY 30K as specified by Lexus. I bought the car used, so I didnt know if the previous owner had followed the recommended service intervals or not. Long story short, Lexus wanted about $4500, tranny shop priced me around 4000 for a rebuild, 3500 for a used one. I found a used one at Everdrive Auto Parts for $1800, free shipping, and they offered a 3 year, unlimited mileage warranty. Got it installed for about $700. It's been about 10K since and I havent had a problem since (knock on wood). I would check out everdrive auto parts and see if you like what they have to offer before trading it because youre not gonna get much for it.

miltonlin

I had my 1999 ES300 transmission serviced by the dealer, it leaked in my garage when I got it back, then had to get a rebuilt transmission. Poor service? Dealer footed the bill. That was at around 60K. I now have 115K. I'm sticking to 20-25K fluid exchange with Type-IV fluid.
The car drives nice, but really could benefit from a another gear to get better mpg.

MyfirstES

That's scary to be reading this. I hope I don't have this problem with my 01.

ALarsh

I am pretty sure the ES is not known for tranny problems. I have done a lot of reading about the car and there really aren't many problems. Sure a couple will go here and there but not known across the board. Do your maintenance and don't abuse it, it will last a long time.

Parker Gen

Who are you preaching to? You've just told Lexls400 that you are "pretty sure the ES is not known for tranny problems", based on your reading about the car. And, you've just told Lexls400 who has a 2000 ES300 with a transmission that died on it that you're "pretty sure the ES is not known for tranny problems". What maintenance exactly are you talking about to make the transmission last a long time? Flushing won't fix a weak transmission. Unless you plan on putting engine oil inside it, I don't think your maintenance will help.
Sure, the transmission can last a very long time on the ES, so it's not really an issue is it. You only have the issue when it happens. Unfortunately Lexls400 may have to fork out $4500 to fix it. Since you have done a lot of reading on the car, you'd probably be able to understand the point of why we say the transmission is a known problem for the ES. Because there isn't much else major that goes wrong with the car. That's why we say it.

Lexls400

I have done all schedualed maintence on my car and also the transmission. I followed all the dealers suggestions on how to care for my car including the transmission with a transmission oil change. and other gasket change maintence because of a leak at the time. but for this to now go out completley is rediclous and the price to fix it is also rediclously high for me.. I will keep everyone posted on what is going on.

-Joe

hoonami

Sorry to hear that... I have 02 ES and it was acting funny for few days and went away. But when i was acting up I called up few different places and found this one shop in Wheeling, IL. They gave me couple different options ranging 1800-2500ish(1 - 4 yr warranty with pretty decent mileage) and it was total rebuilding with Factory Parts they said(which I am guessing it's Toyota Parts). Or like H.Q.Inc. said look into different junk yards or ebay to see if you can find used tranny....

http://www.gatortransmissions.com/

check 'em out....

-Tae

Sekcug

Sorry to hear about the tranny going after servicing. I know some may say this is not related... I had a 88 camry, thought I was doing well getting tranny service @67K miles. It did same as yours after 2000 miles. Had it replaced by Dealer w/ OEM trany for $2300. Drove for 30K more miles and decided to use this car for Sales Job. Lot of driving. Got Tranny serviced again.... Same thing. Tranny blew. Different Toyota dealer said he would put rebuilt in to save $. After sub-par rebuilt broke, 5 more times, and rebuild supplier would not let dealer open case, dealer srung for OEM, to not see me anymore. Told me to come back after 10K miles for service. I said no way. From 179K until trading in at 315,000, never had tranny serviced again, and never had any problems. I would love to sue Quick change services for incorrect tranny service proceedure that caused $6000 in repairs and aggrevation back in '92 and '97. Find OEM used, in junk yard or something. Don't let anyone but Dealer service. Make up lie that you have partnered with your state's attorney general investigating Bad Transmission services for class action law suites. Maybe they will do job with care. Good Luck.

ALarsh

What the **** crawled up your ******* and died?

I'm talking about doing what a KNOWLEDGEABLE person would do you ****ing idiot. As far as maintenance - it's called DRAINING THE FLUID AND REPLACING IT. NOT FLUSHING THE TRANSMISSION OUT.


I hate ******.

Parker Gen

No, see what you said is above.......
Exactly the same as quoted before.....
You shouldn't need to justify what you say if you are correct the first time. You left trash here, and now you are sweeping it up so you don't stand in it. (since you have read so much, you might want to move on to communication, and expand your skills in that department. If you have anger problems, than tell a shrink about it, don't waste other peoples time with your nonsense)

Thank you.

Limen

Yea it is scary isnt it.

I have about 155K on my 97' I hope the tranny doesnt go. For $4.5K one could buy another high mileage ES300 (prolly with the same damn problem though).

MKLEX

I have 2000 ES300 with 125k miles. Last time tranny fluid was done about 80k. Should I change it now? When I start this car in cold weather it runs on high RPMs on 3 gear and when it warm ups it works fine.

I don't know if I should change it now?

Parker Gen

I think on average every 30 000km is good, but I don't know where I remember that from.
And when the engine is cold, it won't change gears as freely at certain temperatures, so that's fine.