davie17

Hi I am considering buying a lexus ls430 year 2000

which as a problem Gearbox has developed an intermittent selecting problem . Sometimes drives ok but some times has erratic gear change and loses drive .

does any one know if this might be a filter and fluid problem? having spoken to the owner he said he drove the car for a few miles then it started to slow down when he got out of the car he could hear a crackling sound it was the transmission fluid boiling in the gearbox?

regards davie17

jimbosr1

i would check the fluid level first.how many miles does it have?

KING

iTrader: (1)

Buddy, there isn't a 2000 LS430.

Either a 2001 LS430, or a 2000 LS400.

airchomper

What if I told you there was a difference between model year and year of assembly?

The RHD LS430/Celsior entered production in August 2000, and the LHD car entered production in October 2000, IIRC.

It's entirely possible that Davie's car is a 2000 LS430.

However, the 1998-2000 LS400 had basically the same transmission as the 2001-2003 LS430s.

Davie,

How many KM/Miles on the car and has the fluid ever been changed?

Start by checking the fluid, if it's like the LHD cars, the transmission has a dipstick behind and below the oil dipstick (if you're standing at the front of the car and facing the rear of the car)

If the fluid is brown/dirty, consider getting it drained and filled. It's a simple enough procedure, a shop shouldn't charge you more than an hour of labor.

Then get a drain and fill with every oil change for the next 3 oil changes, and do another drain and fill in 30k miles or so.

The other issue could be a shift solenoid, you'll need a professional to do the diagnostics but the part and installation isn't too bad.

It's uncommon for these cars to just blow their transmissions, but it does happen. I'm a fan of changing transmission fluid at 60k, and then every 30k, but recently changed the transmission fluid for the first time on a Toyota Highlander with 150k miles and it's driving much better and doing ok.

KING

iTrader: (1)

What if I told you that nobody goes by the year of assembly? OP didn't specify if it was year of assembly or model.

And as widely known, around the whole world, if you mention a year, you're more than likely stating the year of the car, and not the date of assembly.

Crazy fact you got there, though.

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

Year of assembly will mislead. For instance, my 04 was built in the end of 03 but if I identified my 04 as an 03 at the parts counter I would be given the wrong items.

KING

iTrader: (1)

makes perfect sense. Especially in your situation.

Mine was made last month of 2005, but it's an '06. Not as determinable as yours.

airchomper

Japan definitely goes by year of assembly, and most JDM cars are identified by year of assembly.

But by all means, tell this man that he's wrong to say he has a 2000 LS430 and ignore the the primary issue: that his transmission is shifting poorly.

davie17, the transmission's code is A650e, you can pick them up pretty cheap in America and Japan, but IDK about Europe. Worse comes to worse, you can always swap out the transmission for a newer one. Most shops that know RWD toyotas should be able to do it in less than a day.

davie17

not sure how many miles it as only only seen it on ebay and it does not tell you how many miles it as done

davie17

Hi bro

this is from the internet

In October 2000, eleven years after the first LS400 was sold, the new flagship Lexus – the LS 430, with an enlarged engine – went on sale.

davie17

haviong spoken to the owner he said it drove for few miles and then it slowed down when he got out of the car he could hear this crackling sound it was the transmission fluid boiling in the transmission