ES350Bob

gars,

We will use your transmission reports, and others, as hopefully a glimpse this has been resolved once and for all, so please keep reports up of it's performance if you don't mind.

When I started this thread for ease of identifying build months rather we all keep asking, mine then was an observe for now which has changed.

09/06 build month with severe transmission flaring needing service.

I do not want to go through repeated trips to service like former 06/06 build ES350 or having anything done unless it is finally a sure thing as a permanent fix unless I do something else entirely to rid myself of being subjected to a drawn out process.

garsarno

As of today and approx 300 miles later, new transmission working as it should have from day one. I have done everything to replicate but it shifts nice under cold and hot conditions. Still have the cold engine noise but I am optimistic it will disappear when our Lexus dealer does the free first oil change.

Jonathann

Hey guys,
Just an update on the response from both my local Lexus dealership (Rockville Center, NY) and Lexus Corporate since the TSIB failed about 40 days ago; there has been no response. The service manager at the dealership said to bring the car in again, or to “contact Lexus corporate with your concerns”. Apparently, last week I received 1 phone call from the service rep I was dealing with but was at work at the time. Someone from corp. called me 2 weeks after I initially contacted them and left me a different # to call back in reference to the issue. I have called back 2x since then and the ticket has not been updated at all. According to the rep I spoke to today, the dealership had not even replied to them since their inquiry, “probably because of the busy holiday season”. Yup, that reasoning is fine with Lexus Corporate. Many of you would probably follow through with this a little more vigorously, but I’m not going to waste any more time than I need to and let it consume my life. I just won’t buy another Lexus/Toyota. Like I initially stated, I love just about everything else about the car other than the problem they won’t ethically admit to and fix. Since having the valve body replaced, the flare actually occurs every day on a cold start, when before the TSIB it occurred every few days. Obviously Toyota doesn’t really care, but I have two family members and one friend who have purchased cars within the last month, and specifically did not consider Toyota because of their blatant lies to me and the way this has been handled. We’ll see what the dealers next line will be at the 5000k servicing. Happy Holidays!

Since the rest of the post was so negative, I thought it would only be fair to edit it and say that the TSIB actually did seem to resolve the hesitation that I experienced multiple times when shifting from 2nd to 3rd. It might have happened 1 time in the last 40 days, but that may also have been my foot slipping off the pedal, so I'll give the car the benefit of the doubt!

dunnojack

if it's not a safety issue, maybe it would be better to wait till 2008 to get it fixed. it's such a waste of time going to the dealer.

garsarno

We bought a 2007 Grand Cherokee Limited Hemi from the same mega dealership but not from our Lexus salesman, who could have sold us the car.
He did see us there but probably found out about the sale after it was consumated on 12/21. By the way, no flaring transmissions and no cold engine knock noise on the Hemi Jeep as yet.

garsarno

Well, I spoke a little too soon. I think I am having a problem with the new transmission - seems that the car is not going into 6th gear as cruising along at speeds up to 70 mph, when I take me foot off the accelerator pedal, the speed immediatley drops a little faster than normal as if the car is in 4th or 5th gear. I have not noticed this up until tonight. Taking to the dealer tomorrow morning for a test drive.

tnedator

Somebody should be able to tell you what RPM they have at 70mph, which should tell you whether or not you are in 6th gear at 70.

garsarno

That would be great. I think it is approx 2000-2200 rpm from memory tonight.

LexBob2

That sounds about right from my memory too. Maybe closer to 2200-2300? Hopefully someone can confirm it.

2007es350

Have you tried putting your car in manual shift mode and shift it into 4th, 5th, then 6th gear? The RPMs should drop with each shift.

ES350Bob

gars...,

There is a TSB out on harsh downshifting during deceleration, as I have seen it mentioned a couple of times. Looks like another solenoid in valve body is involved. I did a search and this is what came up mentioning the ES350 though do not have an account to get full data including detail of reference to ES350, worth asking your service director about since it seems it may be related to what you are describing. Just type in ES350 Harsh downshift in a search or refer to below to service department to see that they pull up.

• TSB Repair Reference and Accessories Knowledgebase - Transmission ....
pdf TC010-06 HARSH 5-4 DOWNSHIFT ON DECELERATION ... File is associated with other vehicles. 2007 Lexus ES350. 08-08-2006 28Kbytes ...
tundrasolutions.com
•

garsarno

On the highway, when I was doing 70 mph, I dropped it into S and 4th gear came up. I shifted into 5th and 6th and could feel the shift. I then put it into D and when I lifted my foot off the gas, the rpms fell enough to be noticed even though I was going on a slight descent on the highway.

garsarno

I went back on the interstate this morning: 70mph = 2,000 rpm.

If anybody can confirm this is correct, please let me know.

onsknht

Yes, that is correct... I've watched the RPMs before @ 70 and they're right in there at 1900-2000-2100 depending on what angle you look at the needle.

FWIW - @ 70 my TL is also right on/about 2000 RPM

garsarno

Well then, everything is still OK with the new transmission. Just a figament of my imagination! Thanks for the fast responses.