whirlygig

Hello all, 2004 RX 330 2WD 68k Miles
1st post kind of lengthy with some history of recent purchase.

Just joined.New to the group-Glad to be here! I am in the process of personalizing our recent purchase and getting all the maint. brought up to my schedule. The former vehicle's owner did all the maint while under factory warranty right on time at the Lexus Dealer. Then they disappeared from record at the dealer but kept the car until recently sold and I bought it from a dealer. Not a Lexus dealer but major Euro brand dealer just down the road.
Had Lexus do the check out. It only needed filters (cabin/engine) and tires were noisy, probably because they were goodyear. Bought Michelins from Lexus Dealer.

I am suspecting that something would have been said about this at the Lexus Dealer when checked out but I will question it anyway.

When I checked the trans fluid I noticed the dipstick is very difficult to re-insert and that the tip had a 90 degree bend ??? Is this normal???

Also should I get trans. & diff. flushed?

Thanks for reading.

mandyfig

Lexus checked it and did not recommend a tranny fluid change. How's the color of the fluid? Smell? Burnt? I think you are fine. Straighten it out and do not worry.

Welcome to CL!

whirlygig

Mandyfig
The fluid looks normal, reddish in color, no burned smell.
How would this have gotten bent?

What about flushing tranny and diff.?

xfirechief

Probably got bent by a rough tough big guy not putting in the hole and pushing it down till it wouldn't go any further & then push it down a little more.

Change the fluides just because you can and then you know it has been done.

mandyfig

Ditto^^ some service guy who was not looking....not a big deal. As suggested, you can drain and fill the tranny, use Toyota T-IV fluid only!

Good luck!

whirlygig

Chief and mandyfig ,Thanks for the responses.

Get this!
I called the lexus service dept and he checked with a tech and they said it was supposed to be bent like that??
That sounds bizaar but that is what they said.

I am going to flush all the fluids like you guys said.

mandyfig

I have to pull my tranny stick and check it out, maybe even post a pic here...maybe there is a bend...

whirlygig

That would be great Mandyfig.

Let me know what you find.


2004, breakwater blue, lite gray interior

tromly

You can get it done at the Toyota dealer , save 25%. Same fluid and same tranny as the Highlander

geko29

At least you HAVE a transmission dipstick..... <grumble>

shikbas

It is normal to have this bend at the tip of the stick but if it is in the middle it is not

whirlygig

Thanks Shikbas.
That is what I suspected after the dealer checked with a tech.

On that grid from gecko's post? What...do we have "fantasy" forum teams now?

geko29

It's from the Folding@Home project (folding proteins to find cures for cancer, Alzheimer's, etc), there's been a ClubLexus team for about 4 years now.

whirlygig

Ooops. Sorry'bout that!