Questionable service experience, Utah
#1
Rookie
Thread Starter
Questionable service experience, Utah
Hi all,
Thank you for each and every one on the forum helping out our fellow GS owners!
I'm not sure of a correct title for the thread but I'll let you guys decide after reading this.
I own a 2016 GS 350 F sport RWD with 66500 miles. Fantastic car, absolutely fun. I would consider myself more of a precision driver than a aggressive one. I've purchased the vehicle as a CPO in January 2020 with 45,000 miles. Since couple months, I've been having transmission issue especially during cold start or after the car sitting for 7hrs, when changing from 2 to 3gear and 3 to 4gear, it almost feel like it's slipping.
By slipping I mean, with constant throttle from start when changing to respective gears, the shift point changes and rpms rise and a gentle push back into seat happens.
Once warmed up, I'm not having slipping issue but when downshifting form 4 to 3 and 3 to 2 a gentle push back into the seat.
As vehicles is under warranty, I was going to let nearby dealership take a look at it. I explained to one of the SA my issue and he right away told me to take to a tyranny shop instead of them as they straight away without diagnosing the issue would tell me to replace the whole tranny. Later I reveled to the guy that the vehicle is under warranty which then he told me to bring the vehicle in.
Does that mean when going to these dealerships, they're gonna rip you off without warranty?
Added, when asked for the loaner vehicle, same SA told me he cannot lend me one without diagnosing the car. So does that mean, I drop the car wait to diagnose and if found issue then go get a loaner? Is that even fair? Going to such a inconvenience when you have to drive an hour and you live alone with no one to help.
Please advise on the transmission issue I've been facing and apologize for being a novice if this is how things with dealerships work in the USA as I'm not from around.
Thank you for each and every one on the forum helping out our fellow GS owners!
I'm not sure of a correct title for the thread but I'll let you guys decide after reading this.
I own a 2016 GS 350 F sport RWD with 66500 miles. Fantastic car, absolutely fun. I would consider myself more of a precision driver than a aggressive one. I've purchased the vehicle as a CPO in January 2020 with 45,000 miles. Since couple months, I've been having transmission issue especially during cold start or after the car sitting for 7hrs, when changing from 2 to 3gear and 3 to 4gear, it almost feel like it's slipping.
By slipping I mean, with constant throttle from start when changing to respective gears, the shift point changes and rpms rise and a gentle push back into seat happens.
Once warmed up, I'm not having slipping issue but when downshifting form 4 to 3 and 3 to 2 a gentle push back into the seat.
As vehicles is under warranty, I was going to let nearby dealership take a look at it. I explained to one of the SA my issue and he right away told me to take to a tyranny shop instead of them as they straight away without diagnosing the issue would tell me to replace the whole tranny. Later I reveled to the guy that the vehicle is under warranty which then he told me to bring the vehicle in.
Does that mean when going to these dealerships, they're gonna rip you off without warranty?
Added, when asked for the loaner vehicle, same SA told me he cannot lend me one without diagnosing the car. So does that mean, I drop the car wait to diagnose and if found issue then go get a loaner? Is that even fair? Going to such a inconvenience when you have to drive an hour and you live alone with no one to help.
Please advise on the transmission issue I've been facing and apologize for being a novice if this is how things with dealerships work in the USA as I'm not from around.
#2
My advise would be to take it to another dealership, or at least speak to a different advisor. Your car, even without the CPO warranty, should be still under powertrain warranty (6yr/70K). The fact that he blown you off on the first call means he doesn't want to deal with it. I wouldn't work with that guy at all.
Most if not all dealerships will rip you off, with or without warranty whether on maintenance or repairs. So please prepared to learn and play their games. There is always a shop that specified in Lexus/Toyota.
The loaner policy varies by dealership. Some are more lenient than other. Since Covid happening, I've seen them having stricter policy. But what he told you about loaner is not totally out of line. But I'd make an appointment with a different advisor and specially ask for a loaner. It's because you'll be more likely to leave the car overnight for diagnostic.
As for the transmission itself, I don't have a GS per se but when cold, it can behave like that. The shift points tend to have higher rpm to help warm up the powertrain faster to the operating temperature. Something like that along the line. You can request to drive a similar GS at cold start and see if it behaves the same.
Most if not all dealerships will rip you off, with or without warranty whether on maintenance or repairs. So please prepared to learn and play their games. There is always a shop that specified in Lexus/Toyota.
The loaner policy varies by dealership. Some are more lenient than other. Since Covid happening, I've seen them having stricter policy. But what he told you about loaner is not totally out of line. But I'd make an appointment with a different advisor and specially ask for a loaner. It's because you'll be more likely to leave the car overnight for diagnostic.
As for the transmission itself, I don't have a GS per se but when cold, it can behave like that. The shift points tend to have higher rpm to help warm up the powertrain faster to the operating temperature. Something like that along the line. You can request to drive a similar GS at cold start and see if it behaves the same.
#3
#4
It does hold gears longer to facilitate quicker engine warm up. I see you are in Utah, is happening now that is colder outside? Did it behave the same way last winter or is it different ? Is the snow button on? There hasn't been any problems with either the 6 or 8 speed in the 4GS, of course that doesn't mean you don't.
#5
This seems like one of those issues where it might be easy for the SA/tech to regard as "operating normally", it sounds like something you might have to demonstrate to the tech yourself.
#6
Rookie
Thread Starter
It does hold gears longer to facilitate quicker engine warm up. I see you are in Utah, is happening now that is colder outside? Did it behave the same way last winter or is it different ? Is the snow button on? There hasn't been any problems with either the 6 or 8 speed in the 4GS, of course that doesn't mean you don't.
#7
Rookie
Thread Starter
Will keep you updated.
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#9
Rookie
Thread Starter
The vehicle previously was a personal lease. Not sure about previous owner changing the fluid.
Update as of 6/12, dealership told me there was 2 quarts of fluid less in the transmission (which I don't believe at all).
Couple days after, the problem got much worse, initially, I was feeling the slippage during cold start now I could feel it after completely up to temperature.
I don't know how to proceed with this situation. I cannot go back to any of the lexus dealerships in Utah. They're just ruining the vehicle completely when giving it back to me.
Please suggest!
Update as of 6/12, dealership told me there was 2 quarts of fluid less in the transmission (which I don't believe at all).
Couple days after, the problem got much worse, initially, I was feeling the slippage during cold start now I could feel it after completely up to temperature.
I don't know how to proceed with this situation. I cannot go back to any of the lexus dealerships in Utah. They're just ruining the vehicle completely when giving it back to me.
Please suggest!
#10
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
The vehicle previously was a personal lease. Not sure about previous owner changing the fluid.
Update as of 6/12, dealership told me there was 2 quarts of fluid less in the transmission (which I don't believe at all).
Couple days after, the problem got much worse, initially, I was feeling the slippage during cold start now I could feel it after completely up to temperature.
Update as of 6/12, dealership told me there was 2 quarts of fluid less in the transmission (which I don't believe at all).
Couple days after, the problem got much worse, initially, I was feeling the slippage during cold start now I could feel it after completely up to temperature.
Did the dealership add transmission fluid to bring it back to the correct level?
#11
Rookie
Thread Starter
This is what happens when inexperienced person thinks they know better than Lexus and decides to change their own transmission fluid. If they get the level wrong it will cause damage to the transmission.
Did the dealership add transmission fluid to bring it back to the correct level?
Did the dealership add transmission fluid to bring it back to the correct level?
I took it back the second time, they told me it's 2quarts low. That doesn't make any sense.
How can they correct it the first time and second time as well?
#12
Advanced
It's not once. The first time I took the vehicle to the dealership, they suggested that the fluid was 0.5 quarts low and filled it up to the level.
I took it back the second time, they told me it's 2quarts low. That doesn't make any sense.
How can they correct it the first time and second time as well?
I took it back the second time, they told me it's 2quarts low. That doesn't make any sense.
How can they correct it the first time and second time as well?
#13
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
It's not once. The first time I took the vehicle to the dealership, they suggested that the fluid was 0.5 quarts low and filled it up to the level.
I took it back the second time, they told me it's 2quarts low. That doesn't make any sense.
How can they correct it the first time and second time as well?
I took it back the second time, they told me it's 2quarts low. That doesn't make any sense.
How can they correct it the first time and second time as well?
Did they find any leaks? If someone removed the transmission pan and didn’t tighten it up properly you could have a slow transmission leak.
#14
Rookie
Thread Starter
Idk getting the level correct can be tricky. Have to add more fluid than needed, get fluid to a certain operating temperature, then open overflow plug, let excess fall out until it stops, then close plug and then it’s at the correct level.
Did they find any leaks? If someone removed the transmission pan and didn’t tighten it up properly you could have a slow transmission leak.
Did they find any leaks? If someone removed the transmission pan and didn’t tighten it up properly you could have a slow transmission leak.
#15
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
There is no dip stick or any way of checking the transmission fluid level on the GS. The only way is to add fluid, then open the overflow at a certain temperature, to bring it to the correct level. The number they gave you for how much fluid the transmission needed should be what they added minus what came out the overflow. Dealer techs may have been scratching their head for 4 days trying to diagnose it because there is no record of the transmission ever being serviced. I bet previous owner tried to drain/fill it themselves. Any damage that happened to the transmission when the level was incorrect, could be permanent at this point. The dealer who CPO and sold you this car should be liable for any damages. I have always thought CPO is BS and not worth the extra money, just get a good inspection from an independent mechanic or have someone who knows come checkout the car at the dealership.
Last edited by peasodos; 12-06-20 at 07:34 AM.
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