#Transmission Failure or Issues
05-03-19 | 03:13 AM
#212
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 101
From: BOSTON,MA
I have had an intermittent issue with the shift from P to D and back be a little stiff with squeaks passing through the gears but the indicator lights always illuminate and correct gear. I usually cycle through the gears and it loosens up.
05-08-19 | 02:32 PM
#214
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 9,089
Likes: 3,696
From: USA
Looks like you would have to meter out the connectors as per the attachment in post #14 to determine if it is the console switch or one on the transmission.
Techstream allows you to do a live test of switches meaning... as you put in gear it would show if that was detected or not. This would help pinpoint where the cause.
Unfortunately no smoking gun with that code without getting in and testing out connections.
Do you have experience using a volt/ohm meter? It looks like one would want to do both with meter and Techstream.
It's says it is one of these:
-Open or short in park/neutral position switch circuit
-Park/neutral position switch
-Transmission control switch (transmission floor shift assembly)
-ECM
Techstream allows you to do a live test of switches meaning... as you put in gear it would show if that was detected or not. This would help pinpoint where the cause.
Unfortunately no smoking gun with that code without getting in and testing out connections.
Do you have experience using a volt/ohm meter? It looks like one would want to do both with meter and Techstream.
It's says it is one of these:
-Open or short in park/neutral position switch circuit
-Park/neutral position switch
-Transmission control switch (transmission floor shift assembly)
-ECM
05-27-19 | 01:37 PM
#216
Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 103
Likes: 7
From: Texas
I've been dealing with a strange issue on my 2010 GX with 100k miles and wanted to document it on the forum in case others have a similar issue.
The issue started a couple months ago. It usually only happened on the highway between 40 and 60 MPH in 5th and 6th gear. While cruising in this range I started to feel a light shudder from the rear of the vehicle -- kind of feels like you're going over small rumble strips. It happened more frequently when trying to hold speed on a slight incline. When it happens you can take your foot off the gas and re-apply and the shudder will go away.
I knew this could be transmission related to I took it into a independent lexus service shop. They test drove it and felt the issue, then hooked it up for a diagnostic test. They determined it was a torque converter and would cost $2500 and possibly more if the transmission needed to be replaced. They also said they have NEVER seen a issue like this on a GX before and they advised I talk to Lexus Customer Care and my Lexus dealer to see if they can help.
I opened a case with Lexus Customer Care and went to the dealer. The dealer agreed that this was a very rare case. They performed a diagnostics test and said a software update would fix the issue. I said sure why not....but it didn't fix the issue. Two days later they said a Lexus engineer recommended pulling the drive shaft and inspecting some pins for $800 minimum...I said I wasn't ok with a $800+ diagnostic that sounded like it might not fix the issue. They did it on their own dime and it didn't reveal anything. Lexus came back and said it would need a new Torque Converter at a cost of $4500.
On top of that, Lexus Customer Care denied my request for assistance, basically saying that I am the 2nd owner of this vehicle (only had it for a year) and I don't have enough history with Lexus, even though the lexus itself has had every service and oil performed at a lexus dealer since new. The service record was immaculate which is why i purchased this particular GX in the first place. Not that I expected much from them, but they really should provide a nicer response to new customers.
So i told them I would need to consider my options and drove the car home. The car experienced the shuddering issue on the way home so I knew it wasn't fixed.
Here's where it gets interesting. The independent shop told me my battery needed to be replaced. When I took the GX home I already had a battery ready to go in so I replaced it. The car immediately died when I started it up after replacing the battery -- common issue when you have carbon buildup in the throttle body. I cleaned the throttle body and the engine cranked up with no issues!
I've driven the GX about 600 miles over the past two weeks since replacing the battery and cleaning the TB and I have not experienced any shuddering. In fact, it feels like it has a lot more power on the highway and accelerates without downshifting on inclines where it would shudder before.
Did I just save myself $4k? I guess time will tell but I am floored at how much better the car is driving.
Feel free to chime in if you've experienced anything like this before.
The issue started a couple months ago. It usually only happened on the highway between 40 and 60 MPH in 5th and 6th gear. While cruising in this range I started to feel a light shudder from the rear of the vehicle -- kind of feels like you're going over small rumble strips. It happened more frequently when trying to hold speed on a slight incline. When it happens you can take your foot off the gas and re-apply and the shudder will go away.
I knew this could be transmission related to I took it into a independent lexus service shop. They test drove it and felt the issue, then hooked it up for a diagnostic test. They determined it was a torque converter and would cost $2500 and possibly more if the transmission needed to be replaced. They also said they have NEVER seen a issue like this on a GX before and they advised I talk to Lexus Customer Care and my Lexus dealer to see if they can help.
I opened a case with Lexus Customer Care and went to the dealer. The dealer agreed that this was a very rare case. They performed a diagnostics test and said a software update would fix the issue. I said sure why not....but it didn't fix the issue. Two days later they said a Lexus engineer recommended pulling the drive shaft and inspecting some pins for $800 minimum...I said I wasn't ok with a $800+ diagnostic that sounded like it might not fix the issue. They did it on their own dime and it didn't reveal anything. Lexus came back and said it would need a new Torque Converter at a cost of $4500.
On top of that, Lexus Customer Care denied my request for assistance, basically saying that I am the 2nd owner of this vehicle (only had it for a year) and I don't have enough history with Lexus, even though the lexus itself has had every service and oil performed at a lexus dealer since new. The service record was immaculate which is why i purchased this particular GX in the first place. Not that I expected much from them, but they really should provide a nicer response to new customers.
So i told them I would need to consider my options and drove the car home. The car experienced the shuddering issue on the way home so I knew it wasn't fixed.
Here's where it gets interesting. The independent shop told me my battery needed to be replaced. When I took the GX home I already had a battery ready to go in so I replaced it. The car immediately died when I started it up after replacing the battery -- common issue when you have carbon buildup in the throttle body. I cleaned the throttle body and the engine cranked up with no issues!
I've driven the GX about 600 miles over the past two weeks since replacing the battery and cleaning the TB and I have not experienced any shuddering. In fact, it feels like it has a lot more power on the highway and accelerates without downshifting on inclines where it would shudder before.
Did I just save myself $4k? I guess time will tell but I am floored at how much better the car is driving.
Feel free to chime in if you've experienced anything like this before.
05-28-19 | 07:21 AM
#217
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 375
Likes: 127
From: Northwest
Start with the simplest, get your tires checked.
06-10-19 | 04:47 AM
#218
7th Gear
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7
Likes: 3
From: Virginia
I experienced the same issue over the weekend. I bought a 2013 GX w/36K Saturday, washed wheels and then parked it in the garage. Next day it would not reverse or go forward. It felt like the parking brake was still engaged. I'm not sure how the water is getting in the parking brake to cause so much rust. I was able to free it by giving it a little extra gas. Very relived it was not the transmission! 
08-08-19 | 11:19 AM
#219
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 45
Likes: 20
From: TX
My 2019 with 2,000K has this same uneven shifting issue. I particularly notice it in my parking garage going up the ramps when I begin to slow to make the turn to the next ramp. My wife has even commented as a passenger "this thing feels sort of jerky".
08-08-19 | 01:36 PM
#220
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,484
Likes: 166
From: NY
I did my 5k service and it seems to have smoothed itself out a bit. It is about half as bad. I wonder if they did some kind of software flash or something. And I noticed the display info is a bit different so that lead me to believe there was some sort of software update.
08-08-19 | 03:23 PM
#221
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 9,089
Likes: 3,696
From: USA
10-17-19 | 03:11 PM
#223
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
From: KS
Transmission Question
I'm the new owner of a well maintained 2013 GX with 106k miles which was an upgrade from my 2001 4Runner with 256k miles.
Love the vehicle, but the one thing that's bothered me is that the transmission on the old 4runner seems buttery smooth compared to the GX and I was wondering if that was normal? It's really not terrible, but shifting from Park or Reverse into Drive takes an extra beat to engage and on the road the shifts are much more noticeable than in the 4Runner, especially at low speeds. It seems like the tranny just shifts slower between gears. I'm sure I'll get used to it and it might be totally normal, but I want to make sure there's not a remedy I should be trying.
The vehicle was at the Lexus dealership for service every ~5k miles since new and it shows the transmission fluid was changed at 75k miles. Thanks!
Love the vehicle, but the one thing that's bothered me is that the transmission on the old 4runner seems buttery smooth compared to the GX and I was wondering if that was normal? It's really not terrible, but shifting from Park or Reverse into Drive takes an extra beat to engage and on the road the shifts are much more noticeable than in the 4Runner, especially at low speeds. It seems like the tranny just shifts slower between gears. I'm sure I'll get used to it and it might be totally normal, but I want to make sure there's not a remedy I should be trying.
The vehicle was at the Lexus dealership for service every ~5k miles since new and it shows the transmission fluid was changed at 75k miles. Thanks!
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joshmv (10-17-19)
10-17-19 | 03:31 PM
#225
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 9,089
Likes: 3,696
From: USA
More than likely they just did one drain and fill which can mean about 2.5 - 3.5 quarts. You need to do about 4 drain and fills to effectively get most fluid.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...id-change.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...id-change.html
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joshmv (10-17-19)