I Mistreated My Lexus... :(

[DobieG]

Here's the story...

I was driving in Vegas the other day and had to make a 3-point turn. While reversing I noticed a car coming up behind me faster that I had anticipated. So, while still reversing I put the car into DRIVE and went to the gas. The car heaved a bit and then accelerated.

I didn't drive the car again for another 2 days. When I did, I noticed that the car now makes a loud clunk and shutters when I put it in REVERSE or DRIVE. Otherwise, it drives perfectly once it's in gear. Did I do some major damage, or did I just throw something off?

I also noticed another sound that wasn't there prior to the trip. When decelerating from 20 mph to 0 and accelerating from 0 to 20 mph there is a clicking sound coming from under the hood that sounds similar to a playing card in the spokes of a bicycle wheel. Doesn't do it once I'm passed 20mph.

Ugh - I think I'll fly to Vega$ next time... :cries:

[amf1932]

You could have broken one of the motor mounts. :(

[ArmyofOne]

about how fast were you going?? any less than 5 MPH shouldnt hurt much.

little story:

i had been driving a stick for 4 years, and when i got my lexus, having never driven an auto before, i rested my hand on the shifter...

welll, not even thinking i come around the corner in my neighborhood and my hand autmoatically goes through the motions of 2nd to 1st downshift...

the selector moved rigth through netural and BAM SCREEEEEEECH...into R...i was doing 10-15 MPH. the motor stalled almost instantly.

praying as hard as i could, i put the car in park, and turned the key... started right up...then i went to move the selector to D

(PAUSE FOR EFFECT)

and away i went.

i was very lucky, being that my transaxle had 140,000 miles on it and had fluid that was 80,000 miles old ( idid not know the latter at the time.)

anyways, oopses happen. but its better to screw up the trans a little bit than get into a wreck in a strange town (yes vegas is a STRANGE town ;) ) and possibly injuring yourself or someone else and having your insurance rates go up (this wreck would have been deemed your fault more than likely).

BTW, the funniest thing about my story, is that i had to push the button on the selector in to get the shifter into R from D, i dont know why, but my had went faster than my mind, and i ended up doing exactly that...

[DobieG]

Thanks for the story, ArmyofOne...

I'm not sure how fast I was going. I would guess pretty slow until I realized there was someone approaching.

I drove the car today and found the shutter and clunking noise had decreased a bit. Maybe it just had to adjust itself (?) - if that's possible.

Also found the culprit causing the clicking sound. A piece of the heavy plastic on the front of the car, the piece that usually scrapes over curbs or parking blocks, had come loose. I ended up tearing the piece off because I couldn't find a way to re-attach it.

Thanks for the input!

[SKperformance]

That is a very expensive peice of plastic ,you might want to find a way to put it back.

[ArmyofOne]

LMAO @ SK.

yes chances are you just knoced something out of adjustememnt. see if it gets better over the next few days. check your trans fluid after about 300 miles.

[chuckb]

You finished off at least one motor mount. If it's just the dogbone it's easy and cheap to fix yourself

[DobieG]

If it is the motor mount(s), how do I determine that for sure? Would I have to have a mechanic tell me, or is there something I could look for to find out?

[ArmyofOne]

start the car, and have the friend look at the motor when you start it, see if it jumps. then, while they are still looking, go from P-D-P and the P-R-P.

if it bounces, you have killed a mount.

[DobieG]

Thanks for the tip, ArmyofOne.

I have another question. Why would it be that it jumps when going into Drive but not when going into Reverse, or any other gear for that matter....?

Thanks!

[ArmyofOne]

Thanks for the tip, ArmyofOne.

I have another question.  Why would it be that it jumps when going into  Drive but not when going into Reverse, or any other gear for that matter....?

Thanks!

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that seems pretty normal.

put your brake pedal on the floor (yes, you will have to press rather hard) and then shift from P-D. if it still bounces, then i woudl say check the tranny mounts.

[DobieG]

I definitely see & feel movement when switching from P-D-R. Now that I know what the problem may be, should I take it to the Lexus dealer or just go to an independent mechanic? I normally take my car to Lexus for routine oil changes, but I haven't had the need for any other work yet.

Thanks!

[ArmyofOne]

buy a mount from autozone etc its ok if remaned ( i have never heard of remanufacturered mounts, but im sure they exist) and then take them to a private, but qualified mechainc for the labor. shouldnt run more than $200 for labor.

[DobieG]

buy a mount from autozone etc its ok if remaned ( i have never heard of remanufacturered mounts, but im sure they exist) and then take them to a private, but qualified mechainc for the labor.  shouldnt run more than $200 for labor.

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Thanks for all the help, ArmyofOne!

How do I know which mount it is? I was under the impression that there are several of them.

Also, why is it that the clunking isn't nearly as bad when the car is warmed up? In fact, if it's sitting in the sun and I start driving right away the shifting is hardly noticeable. In the mornings, if I don't have the time to warm it up it clunks pretty harshly. Does this still make you think its' the motor mounts?

Last but not least, is there any damage done if I don't have the repaire done right away? For the time being I've just being letting the car warm up really well in the mornings so it's not as bad.

Thanks again for all the help!

[amf1932]

In the mornings, if I don't have the time to warm it up it clunks pretty harshly.

From this quote, I think that when the engine is cold, the transmission computer delays the shifting pattern until it's warmed up a bit. This delay could make it slam into the next higher gear. It still could be worn motor mounts though.

[DobieG]

In the mornings, if I don't have the time to warm it up it clunks pretty harshly.

From this quote, I think that when the engine is cold, the transmission computer delays the shifting pattern until it's warmed up a bit. This delay could make it slam into the next higher gear. It still could be worn motor mounts though.

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I'm stopping by the Lexus dealer this afternoon. Hopefully, they'll be able to diagnose the problem. I had forgotten that I've had the clunking since the transmission was serviced a couple of months ago. I mentioned this to the Lexus dealer on the phone and they said to bring it by today.

Of course, when I drove my roommate to the airport yesterday I was unable to duplicate the clunking! Oi!

I will update with any info I get from Lexus.

Thanks again for the help! :)

[DobieG]

In the mornings, if I don't have the time to warm it up it clunks pretty harshly.

From this quote, I think that when the engine is cold, the transmission computer delays the shifting pattern until it's warmed up a bit. This delay could make it slam into the next higher gear. It still could be worn motor mounts though.

←

I'm stopping by the Lexus dealer this afternoon. Hopefully, they'll be able to diagnose the problem. I had forgotten that I've had the clunking since the transmission was serviced a couple of months ago. I mentioned this to the Lexus dealer on the phone and they said to bring it by today.

Of course, when I drove my roommate to the airport yesterday I was unable to duplicate the clunking! Oi!

I will update with any info I get from Lexus.

Thanks again for the help! :)

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Everything checked out ok. Luckily, motor mounts are all fine. Service tech believes it could be due to the cold mornings we are having and that I should continue to let the car warm up in the morning. I made several stops on the way home from the dealer and REVERSE & DRIVE were working brilliantly - no harshness at all. Hope it stays that way!

Also had them lube the moonroof and it solved the minor wind noise I was getting at freeway speeds!

So - everything is looking good!

[ArmyofOne]

Also had them lube the moonroof and it solved the minor wind noise I was getting at freeway speeds!

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if you payed for that, you shouldnt have LOL, it can just as easily be done at your house with 5 minutes of your time and some grease. :D but thats ok, it couldnt have been too expensive, and next time you know. i wish i had a NON LEAKIN 1993 ES 300 right about now.

BTW, glad everything worked out :)

[DobieG]

Also had them lube the moonroof and it solved the minor wind noise I was getting at freeway speeds!

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if you payed for that, you shouldnt have LOL, it can just as easily be done at your house with 5 minutes of your time and some grease. :D but thats ok, it couldnt have been too expensive, and next time you know. i wish i had a NON LEAKIN 1993 ES 300 right about now.

BTW, glad everything worked out :)

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I didn't have to pay! :)