Acceleration problem

[daisyduke]

I'm driving an old 99 rx 300 with 180k miles. I got the front brake pads replaced as well as an oil change and when I picked the car up and drove away, the check engine light came on. About a mile down the road I stopped at a red light and when it turned green I accelerated and the car wouldn't move. It felt like it was stuck in neutral. I pushed again and it took off really slow until it finally drove normal. I turned off and on and noticed smoke coming out the back. I checked the oil dip stick and the oil is way above the second dot. Would too much oil cause these problems? 

[dcfish]

Drain some oil out and fill to proper level.

[RX400h]

Or take it back to the shop that changed the oil and have them do it.

[dcfish]

If you can trust the shop anymore !!!

[RX400h]

Watch the tech who does it! 😏

[Amy Hernández]

That's the vehicle going into limp mode.

My 02 did that when I had taken it to a shop I trust, and they weren't able to get it into the shop and told me I'd need a new transmission.

The issue for mine was that the transmission filter (which in the 02 RX300 is underneath the transmission and needs to be replaced every so often) had very likely never been changed. The local Toyota dealership didn't even know that it was a changeable part.

We purchased the filter from a local parts store and got the Toyota/Lexus transmission fluid at the dealership and my husband changed it that evening.  Once he got a half mile or so down the road to "test" it afterward, it began running as normal and has ever since.

[daisyduke]

Update: I checked the transmission fluid and it was bone dry! I bought T-4 fluid and added a bottle. I let the car warm up for five mins,turned off and checked again. It was a little above cold. I won't be returning to that shop. I don't trust them to work on my car. If the dip stick was dry, how much fluid should be added? I haven't driven the car at all but like I said I added one bottle only so far. 

[dcfish]

When they changed the oil maybe they pulled the tranny plug and drained the 2 quarts out and never filled it. ????

[daisyduke]

4 hours ago, dcfish said:

When they changed the oil maybe they pulled the tranny plug and drained the 2 quarts out and never filled it. ????

I called and asked if they tried to drain any other fluid and was told no. Where is the tranny plug located? And I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my post. This is a neat place to talk about cars. Glad i found the site!  😃

[Amy Hernández]

Oh yikes!! Well, I'm glad that I saw your original post!  It sounds like they drained the transmission fluid and then put oil in the vehicle.. so you actually DIDN'T get an oil change.  Might want to call that shop, tell them what happened, and get your money back. And then don't ever return.

Pull out the owner's manual and look up how much fluid needs to be in there.  I will also say this.. don't just grab any old transmission fluid at Wal-Mart.  Go to a Toyota or Lexus dealership and buy it there. Fluid quality matters - especially in these older vehicles. 

In my 2002 RX300, the transmission filter pan is more square (my hubs calls it an allen bowl), and it's located near the middle underneath the vehicle.  The oil pan is more round and has a plug in it to drain the oil.

IF yours also has the transmission filter underneath, it's worth it to just replace the filter & fluid pan in addition to adding the fluid. It's not all that expensive. I think we paid around $60 total for the parts, fluid & everything when my husband did mine.

 

[RX400h]

Side note: Always use your maintenance schedule as a guide for determining when things need to be changed. Since the transmission is essentially a closed system, if the fluid is changed according to the manufacturers listings, the filter is not often required to be changed at the same time.  Your maintenance schedule should specify.

However, if the transmission fluid was neglected for extended periods of time, then the filter should be changed when the fluid is changed.