toy4two

I bring this up on every tranny failure, here in San Diego, we have a salvage yard that will take out your blown tranny and put in one from a wreck for around $1000. You can check the milage on the ODO, and if it fails it has a warranty. So that might be another option, we've used them on a Previa that lost its tranny at 150k, and it is now at 220k. We also did the same for a old Honda Accord at again, about 150k. So whats another $1000 to drive it another 50-100k miles.

Fern

turbo1,
you have not indicated whether the problem has been professionally diagnosed as a "dead trani".

This is your first step. There are a few other possibilities which are not so costly on the pocketbook that could be causing problems ie, fluid level, solinoids, trani computer, etc... Have the problem properly diagnosed, then that will give you a better idea of the angle of attack.

In my case the local Toyota Dealership had a master tech which in 2005 was one of the top techs in Canada and was able to conclude mechanical failure of internal component.. In my case it was going to cost $1000 to provide me with a proper estimate, however, that estimate was applied to the repairs since I had them proceed with the work.

I had recourse with Lexus Canada in my instance since I had the repair done at Toyota and I had service records to prove the vehicle had always been serviced as per manufacturer's recommendations. I also had a great service manager at the Toyota dealership (Luigi) who went to bat for me in that he said to the Lexus Canada rep. "once the customer has the car serviced as per your recommendations, that's all they can do, at that point they are at the mercy of the manufacturer".

Lexus Canada honoured 1/2 my cost of repairs $3800 CAD .

NOTE: my rear main seal went 2 weeks after the trani overhaul... I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU HAVE IT ALSO DONE FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED EXTRA BUCKS, while the trani is out!

The overhaul kit for my vehicle came from California and cost $795 CAD, the balance of the cost was labour and fluid...

Good Luck!
Fern

Carver

Of course it's fair, she told him she had had the car maintained at Lexus but never had anything done but oil changes...no 30...no 60...no 90. Of course there an element of buyer beware but there's also a telephone to make your displeasure at being deceived known.

EZZ

Which salvage yard? I live in SD and if my tranny fails, i'd like a few options

AM1

iTrader: (6)

i used to know someone that worked at a lexus dealer and he told me about how a lot of rx300 trannys would die around 100K and cost a lot to repiar. my mechanic confirmed this and told me to sell my rx300 quick. so i sold my rx300 at 92k

anulex

How come i am hearing bout the RX300 tranny failures? if the Highlander has the same drivetrain, why arent those failing?

Lexmex

They came out 2 years later for the 2001 model year and I suspect some changes may have been made by then.

Probably the best forum to check out would be the Highlander forum at http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/f83

I should add that most of the Harriers and Klugers that I saw on my trip to Jamaica last week were 2.4 L variety, which I think a transmission of our type could easily support unlike the 1MZFE, and most of those in Asia are of that variety or the 2.2 L in the case of the first Harriers.

thomas1

There software and some hard ware changes were made on the later year transmissions. It is discussed in great deal on the other LEXUS site....

toy4two

All Toyota Lexus in Otay Mesa.

Fern

Now that you mention it, the Toyota Master tech that worked on my RX trani said the my vehilce would not accept any software update due to its year..

If the software is the issue, that may very well be why the Highlander V6awd have not had the trani issues some Rx's have.

Anyone have input on what sort of software update, or what exactly is the new software making the trani do?

thomas1

Go to LEXUsownersclub.com their are lots of writeups by a poster called west. He seems to know a lot about the changes that the RX has gone through. He tends to be quite technical, but very logical.

salimshah

I miss wwest on this board.

Salim

salimshah

Fern:

Firmware on transmission gets input froma various sensors (operating temp, engine rpm, throttle position, shift lever position, incline ... going uphill or downhill [lexus uses incline .. at least I think so], mode (snow, economy), overdrive, current gear etc AND based on these inputs decides for you which gear to engage. Also when to fall into fail-safe mode (limp).

With driving experience limited to FWD, the only and only issue I have experienced is that transmission deos not let me go into high gear till it is warmed up. No jerky shifts or failure to shift. [On RX330 models some have complained about this and there is a software patch available].

Again, with my limited knowledge, the software does not seem to be the problem. We all understand the cold behaviour ... and potentailly the damage caused by inapproriate driver behaviour (who do not drive slow till the transmission warms up).

If only a failing component is repeatedly identified by Failure analysis group and more so shared by Lexus, we are all shooting in the dark.

Salim

edit add on:
I have only once experienced RX reluctance to speed up on kick down .. which I have attributed to track kicking in.

thomas1

thank you, that is his post name...

thomas1

West says that there may have been a different transmission pump in later models and that earlier RX were programmed for fuel economy, hince the constant search for a higher gear when overdrive is not defeated. This puts a lot of strain on the clutches, and gears in general. please read his entries on the other site.