Transimssion "clunkink" Sound

[Tom_S]

I meant to type Clunking.............

Hello;

I just drove off the lot with a '96 lx450 with 109,000 miles on it and

1. on the way home the check engine light appeared (read that thread, thanks, but an additional question; could that light illumination be delayed? It was totally empy at the dealer and we dove to a gas station, but the light didn't come on for another 20 miles or so.)

2. MORE importantly, the transmission seems occassionally to drop, lurch, or clunk into the next gear when I hit the gas a little while up to speed (40-50 MPH) and it goes into gear but you feel it a little. Having read the throttle body problems with the lx 470, is this a problem on this car too?

3. sometimes it idles at 1500-2000 rpm and does not come down...

Very nervous all of a sudden about this vehicle. Can return tomorrow, does anyone have any thoughts on the transmission thing, or the check engine light....

thanks

[Rookie]

You can typically get the CEL code pulled at Autozone for free, then you'll have a better idea of what the problem is on that. CEL can be intermitent, or the dealer could have cleared the code prior to you purchasing it. The malfunction usually has to occur twice before the code is tripped. I had the same problem when I drove mine off the lot. Mine was a P0401 and needed a new VSV for EGR.

The tranny problem, I'm not too sure about. It's pretty common to have some odd behavior (spooling and not shifting right) at lower speeds (like 5 to 10mph) and the common problem is adjustment needed in the kick down cable. But I don't recall having that type problem at higher speeds. May just need a couple of quick drain/fill cycles on the tranny fluid.

The first thing I'd do for the high idling is remove and clean the throttle body. That usually fixes that, and would be needed on a vehicle of this age and mileage.

I think I'd take it back to the dealer and see if they can get it squared away.

Rookie.

[ArmyofOne]

I meant to type Clunking.............

Hello;

I just drove off the lot with a '96 lx450 with 109,000 miles on it and

1.  on the way home the check engine light appeared (read that thread, thanks, but an additional question; could that light illumination be delayed? It was totally empy at the dealer and we dove to a gas station, but the light didn't come on for another 20 miles or so.)

2. MORE importantly, the transmission seems occassionally to drop, lurch, or clunk into the next gear when I hit the gas a little while up to speed (40-50 MPH) and it goes into gear but you feel it a little. Having read the throttle body problems with the lx 470, is this a problem on this car too?

3. sometimes it idles at 1500-2000 rpm and does not come down...

Very nervous all of a sudden about this vehicle. Can return tomorrow, does anyone have any thoughts on the transmission thing, or the check engine light....

thanks

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#2, is likely to be U-joints. Lube them witha grease gun and you should be fine.

[91L3xus]

With the CEL, you said you went to a gas station after buying the car from the dealer? I think something as little as not tightening the gas cap all the way can set off the CEL.

[Tom_S]

Thanks guys.

Well, the clunking was a transmission on the way out, the check engine light apparently indicated a problem with the 3 stage CAT system (expensive fix) and after an "interesting" conversation I got my trade in back and returned the car. Back to the starting point.

There was a throttle body problem as well