2000 Es300 Transmission Gone After 131,500 Miles

[Jeanette]

Does anyone know of someone who had a transmission go out this soon on a 6-year old ES300? I know the miles are high but this car should be able to go more miles than this or am I not being realistic.

[Toysrme]

If you don't do transmission maintenance you're being unrealistic. Gotta flush the fluid atleast every 3 years hunnie. Pull the dipstick out & tell me if the fluid on it isn't black & smells horrible. If it is, there's your answer to the failure.

[Jeanette]

If you don't do transmission maintenance you're being unrealistic. Gotta flush the fluid atleast every 3 years hunnie. Pull the dipstick out & tell me if the fluid on it isn't black & smells horrible. If it is, there's your answer to the failure.

If you don't do transmission maintenance you're being unrealistic. Gotta flush the fluid atleast every 3 years hunnie. Pull the dipstick out & tell me if the fluid on it isn't black & smells horrible. If it is, there's your answer to the failure.

I have always taken my Lexus into the Dealer for regular service and they check the transmission fluid regularly. I would think that if they checked it and it smelled horrible and was black, they would flush it or tell me that it needed it.

[Toysrme]

Go outside & check it 2omorrow. Pull the transmission dipstick out & wipe it on a paper towel, or napkin so u can see the color. Smell it too. That'll answer your question. (Regardless of who you see for service, it still your responcibility to check it.)

But that'll tell you the answer to the question. If the fluid is ugly (it *should* be a pretty pretty bright, clear red), or smells aweful (Trust me, you don't need trianing. It'll either not really smell, or it'll smell aweful. It's a "know it when you smell it" kinda thing) then the fluid wasn't change often enough. If the fluid looks good, then the other answer to your question would likely be in order. (That you just have some random, uncommon failure hunnie.)

btw, once ya do that, tell us what the transmission is doing, or was doing & maybe we can help ya out as to the cause.

[lexusk8]

For my '01 ES, the transmission went out at 98,600 miles. It first started with an error code indicating a malfunctional shift solenoid. This led then to jittery behavior of shifting gears, including when going from park to reverse or park to drive. This happened about a couple years ago, and I ended up having to take the car to the dealership for repairs. Luckily, my 100,000 mile extended warranty was still applicable at that time to include coverage of transmission repairs. Long story short, I got a remanufactured transmission off of another 2001 ES, which replaced the failed tranny in my car, and everything worked fine afterwards.

[Jeanette]

Thanks for the reply. I had the car flushed a month ago and at the present time my car is at the Lexus Dealer waiting for me to tow it home because the transmission is gone as I said before. The problems started about two months ago with a hard down shift when breaking, the gears would not engage (sometimes) between reverse and park. This did not occur on a regular basis. Starting on last Thursday evening, when driving the car it felt like the gears were shuttering and it felt like the car was losing power but then the power came back with a steady acceleration. I had taken it previously to another Lexus Dealer who did a flush and thought it may need transmission assembly but told me to drive it at least 1500 more miles to see what happens. I then took it to a transmission shop and they could not find anything wrong with it. After Thursday evening's problems, I decided to take it to Lexus of Silver Spring who said that I needed a new transmission.

Are you saying that I am being unrealistic because Lexus was probably not checking my transmission fluid during my services?

[SW03ES]

At 132k I wouldn't pay Lexus to replace the transmission, take it to a transmission shop.

Personally, I don't think these transmissions on the ES are as sturdy as the transmissions on other Lexus models. If you've always had Lexus service it, they change the fluid every 15k. *I* would think it was premature for a transmission to fail on a Lexus at 132k if the transmission had been regularly maintained. Go back through the records and see what they did. If they were following the Lexus reccomended schedule for the ES the fluid was changed every 15k. Have you had the car since new?

What other dealer have you taken it to? I have a service rep at Lexus of Rockville I trust if you want a referral for a second opinion.

[Lexlogic]

At 132k I wouldn't pay Lexus to replace the transmission, take it to a transmission shop.

Now you got me thinking! I just had a 60,000 miles service (actual mile 62,000), before taking the car for service, I notice from reverse to drive, a delay in shifting. The independent Toyota/Lexus service said that the fuild was very drity ( I complained about the shifting before they started). While driving the car for two weeks, the delay shifting from reverse to drive is gone. I don't have to step on the brake that long as before. But I was told to drive it for 1500 miles for a flush / drain transmission fluid again. Back in my mind perhaps they want to squeeze more money from me. I am getting a second opinion from a transmission specialist from the BBB directory. Thanks guys for all inputs. transmission replacement can be expensive.

[Jeanette]

Thanks, SW03ES

I will take your advice about looking back at my service records and recommending the second opinion from Rockville. I am in the process of getting it towed home and waiting for a quote from a shop to put in a rebuilt transmission. This forum has helped me to be more aware of keeping an eye on my own car and not putting all my trust in dealers or auto shops. Thanks for all who have replied. And, yes, my car was bought brand new.

[SW03ES]

Jeanette,

Look back through your records at the 15,000, 30,000, 45000, 60000 etc maintenances and look for transmission services, it should read something like "replace transmission fluid" included in those services. If you decide to let Rockville look at it, ask for Tony Rappatoni and tell him Steve Withrow referred you to him, he'll take care of you.

If the transmission needs to be replaced, and you can't get Lexus to cover any of the cost, look around at getting it done at a transmission shop, you"ll save a lot of money.

[Jeanette]

Jeanette,

Look back through your records at the 15,000, 30,000, 45000, 60000 etc maintenances and look for transmission services, it should read something like "replace transmission fluid" included in those services. If you decide to let Rockville look at it, ask for Tony Rappatoni and tell him Steve Withrow referred you to him, he'll take care of you.

If the transmission needs to be replaced, and you can't get Lexus to cover any of the cost, look around at getting it done at a transmission shop, you"ll save a lot of money.

Thanks, Steve.

[backyard_famer]

Jeanette,

Look back through your records at the 15,000, 30,000, 45000, 60000 etc maintenances and look for transmission services, it should read something like "replace transmission fluid" included in those services. If you decide to let Rockville look at it, ask for Tony Rappatoni and tell him Steve Withrow referred you to him, he'll take care of you.

If the transmission needs to be replaced, and you can't get Lexus to cover any of the cost, look around at getting it done at a transmission shop, you"ll save a lot of money.

I have a '01 ES 300 and in checking my OM, the service interval for transmission fluid is not listed for "normal" service. The diff oil is recommended for change at 15,000 mile intervals if you are towing a trailer, camper or have a car top carrier. Only time transmission oil is listed for change is at 60,000 miles (and 120,000 miles) if you are operating your vehicle while towing a trailer, camper, or using a car top carrier. Also notice on the transmission dipstick the small label just above the o ring seal. No requirement to change transmission oil under normal operating conditions. Anyway, it is always good to check the clarity of the transmission oil and to smell it. Should be pink, clear and not smell burnt. I have heard from a good friend who has owned Hondas into the 250,000 mile range about periodic "partial" drain of transmission oil and then an equal partial fill with new transmission oil, but never fully changing the oil totally at the same time.

backyard farmer