mikey00

Nope - Just the shifter panel. Guess you're right, a loose bulb.......Now if I could only figure out how to get to it! These directions are for a RX300 but they should be the same. http://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-first-g...lumination.html

Yes, it would be interesting to see the before and after temps of the cooler being that it is not in the best of places. But then again that cooler is just in addition to the one in the bottom of the radiator. It has always been my thought that between the 2 of them they are doing their job being that I have never heard of a RX having a trans temp light come on even under extreme conditions. I always wanted to put a trans temp guage anywhere to to verify that. Even if it was one of those temporary ones with a sending unit screwed into the drain plug. I just feel that a lot people would like to add additional coolers and filters on the RX, rather than fix the planatary gear design problem. As far as the drain intervals go, I am back to factory specs, which is lifetime. I am not even sure what the Mobil 1 specs are. Of course I am not blindly doing lifetime. I keep a close eye on the fluids visual appearance and will change it if it looks like it needs it. The fluid in my current RX was nice and clean and red when it was new. By 30K it was looking pretty bad even though Lexus still claimed it was lifetime. I started changing it regularly but it always seemed to get dirty sooner than expected. Now that my trans has been rebuilt with the redesigned planatary gear setup the fluid is staying real clean for over 30K. If it stays that way, I won't feel the need to change it.

The cooler the fluid the longer the fluid lasts and remains more effective If the trans fluid is operating at the temp it was designed to, lowering the temp will provide no benefit. Coolers are used when you are operating in a maner that will overheat the fluid (extensive towing, etc). The RX has a trans temp light which will indicate this. The RX has a trans design problem, not a trans temp issue. I use the cooler to extend the life of the fluid, The tranny only has to heat up to 153 degrees to operate properly, Although full temp is quite above 153, So keeping the fluid cooler is a benefit. ;) What makes you think fluid running at 153 will last longer than fluid running at let's say 170? I can see the need for an additional cooler (remember you already have 2) if there is a design problem where the tranny runs above the intended temperature or if some use such as extended towing is raising the temp above the design intent. However, throwing on an extra cooler just to lower the temp below the design intent is not always a good idea just because you saw it on some high performance race car. Not the case that I saw it on a race car :P Tranny fluid at full engine temp runs around 200 degrees so I run 190 or cooler, There is only 1 line that runs through the bottom of the radiator. B) Either way you look at it , The cooler temp extends the life of the fluid. I am not sure what you mean when you say there is only 1 line that runs through the bottom of the radiator. There is a second factory cooler in the fender well. The cooler you say that is installed in the fender well is aftermarket, (PICTURES of the aftermarket cooler PLEASE ) Just like the cooler I am refering to. Although the fender well is not the best place for the install. B) It's not aftermarket. It is factory and has been discussed over and over many times on the forum, along with the pros and cons of the location. Just take a look at your right front fender well. You do have a RX right? This is an RX forum and I was only refering to the RX. It looks like you may have some other Lexus model. So, If Lexus has a second factory cooler, Then it certainly has benefits, Right ? Back to > ( Is anyone using Mobil1 Syn ATF? Its now T-IV compliant? Any experiences? ) And being that you are already reaping those benefits adding a third cooler as suggested is pointless. It helps to be familiar with the car you are discussing. And yes I am using Mobil 1 ATF for over 30K.

You basically have a check engine light on. The VSC comes on with it by design and means nothing.

The cooler the fluid the longer the fluid lasts and remains more effective If the trans fluid is operating at the temp it was designed to, lowering the temp will provide no benefit. Coolers are used when you are operating in a maner that will overheat the fluid (extensive towing, etc). The RX has a trans temp light which will indicate this. The RX has a trans design problem, not a trans temp issue. I use the cooler to extend the life of the fluid, The tranny only has to heat up to 153 degrees to operate properly, Although full temp is quite above 153, So keeping the fluid cooler is a benefit. ;) What makes you think fluid running at 153 will last longer than fluid running at let's say 170? I can see the need for an additional cooler (remember you already have 2) if there is a design problem where the tranny runs above the intended temperature or if some use such as extended towing is raising the temp above the design intent. However, throwing on an extra cooler just to lower the temp below the design intent is not always a good idea just because you saw it on some high performance race car. Not the case that I saw it on a race car :P Tranny fluid at full engine temp runs around 200 degrees so I run 190 or cooler, There is only 1 line that runs through the bottom of the radiator. B) Either way you look at it , The cooler temp extends the life of the fluid. I am not sure what you mean when you say there is only 1 line that runs through the bottom of the radiator. There is a second factory cooler in the fender well. The cooler you say that is installed in the fender well is aftermarket, (PICTURES of the aftermarket cooler PLEASE ) Just like the cooler I am refering to. Although the fender well is not the best place for the install. B) It's not aftermarket. It is factory and has been discussed over and over many times on the forum, along with the pros and cons of the location. Just take a look at your right front fender well. You do have a RX right? This is an RX forum and I was only refering to the RX. It looks like you may have some other Lexus model.

The cooler the fluid the longer the fluid lasts and remains more effective If the trans fluid is operating at the temp it was designed to, lowering the temp will provide no benefit. Coolers are used when you are operating in a maner that will overheat the fluid (extensive towing, etc). The RX has a trans temp light which will indicate this. The RX has a trans design problem, not a trans temp issue. I use the cooler to extend the life of the fluid, The tranny only has to heat up to 153 degrees to operate properly, Although full temp is quite above 153, So keeping the fluid cooler is a benefit. ;) What makes you think fluid running at 153 will last longer than fluid running at let's say 170? I can see the need for an additional cooler (remember you already have 2) if there is a design problem where the tranny runs above the intended temperature or if some use such as extended towing is raising the temp above the design intent. However, throwing on an extra cooler just to lower the temp below the design intent is not always a good idea just because you saw it on some high performance race car. Not the case that I saw it on a race car :P Tranny fluid at full engine temp runs around 200 degrees so I run 190 or cooler, There is only 1 line that runs through the bottom of the radiator. B) Either way you look at it , The cooler temp extends the life of the fluid. I am not sure what you mean when you say there is only 1 line that runs through the bottom of the radiator. There is a second factory cooler in the fender well.

It's not the hose behind the airbox or the gas cap. If it was you would get an evap type code like P0440, P441 and P0446. Are you sure it was bank 1 sensor 1 that you changed? Here is some info I had saved on that code on a RX: "P01135 A/F Sensor Heater Circuit (Bank 1 Sensor 1) Replaced You can ohm the 2 black wires and you will have an open circuit. The replacement sensor much read between .8 and 1.4 ohms to work properly and not generate the P1135 code. A Denso generic has a resistance of 8 ohms across the heating element and vehicle will still generate a P1135 code. The Bosch replacement would not correct the P1135 code. I did not measure the resistance across the heating element. Installed Toyota 89467-48011 which has resistance of 1.2 ohms and problem is solved."

The cooler the fluid the longer the fluid lasts and remains more effective If the trans fluid is operating at the temp it was designed to, lowering the temp will provide no benefit. Coolers are used when you are operating in a maner that will overheat the fluid (extensive towing, etc). The RX has a trans temp light which will indicate this. The RX has a trans design problem, not a trans temp issue. I use the cooler to extend the life of the fluid, The tranny only has to heat up to 153 degrees to operate properly, Although full temp is quite above 153, So keeping the fluid cooler is a benefit. ;) What makes you think fluid running at 153 will last longer than fluid running at let's say 170? I can see the need for an additional cooler (remember you already have 2) if there is a design problem where the tranny runs above the intended temperature or if some use such as extended towing is raising the temp above the design intent. However, throwing on an extra cooler just to lower the temp below the design intent is not always a good idea just because you saw it on some high performance race car.

The cooler the fluid the longer the fluid lasts and remains more effective If the trans fluid is operating at the temp it was designed to, lowering the temp will provide no benefit. Coolers are used when you are operating in a maner that will overheat the fluid (extensive towing, etc). The RX has a trans temp light which will indicate this. The RX has a trans design problem, not a trans temp issue.

You already have 2 stock transmission coolers, one in the bottom of the radiator and the second in the fender well. Fender well isn't the best location but it works. Do you really think there is any advantage to adding a third? The trans definetly has a design problem but I don't see anything that indicates there is a trans cooling problem.

No problems is a good thing! On the flip side, what are the benefits? No noticeable benefits whatsoever. But then, I had no problems with T-IV. Mobil 1 is a full synthetic and T-IV is a semi synthetic. Some possible benefits are longer life and better protection but that's hard to measure. I have almost 30,000 on a new trans with Mobil 1 and it's very clean. Starting from brand new new my last trans fluid (T-IV) was much dirtier at 30K. But the dirt could have been from the original Lexus trans parts which have now been upgraded.

I switched to Mobil 1 full synthetic trans fluid almost 2 years and 30,000 miles ago when it first became T-IV compatible. No problems.

My needs have changed and after a lot of thought I have decided to sell my RX and buy a new Lexus sedan. Still haven't decided on the exact model. Anyone recently sell or buy a RX that can give me any advice? I have a 2001 RX AWD SilverSport with 157K. I am the original owner and have all maintenance receipts from day 1. Oil has been changed every 5k with Quaker semi-synthetic. Car is in excellent condition and has been kept in a heated garage its whole life. I got a new trans about 2 years ago. Engine is still covered by the Lexus sludge warranty. Anybody have any sugestions on what I should ask and where is a good place to list it?

To answer your question, if you buy a used remote off ebay you have to do both programming phases for it to work. But the key blade portion that comes with the remote will already be cut for another car and will not turn in your locks or ignition. So I am not sure exactly you plan to accomplish with this method. Easiest way to get another remote key is to buy one from sparecarkeys.com or similiar site for about $150. This includes the electronics and the blade cut to your VIN. Then do the 2 programming phases and you are good to go.

From your post it sounds like your mechanic has already read your code and it points to a knock sensor. When your CEL is on from certain codes (knock sensor code is one of them), the ECU prevents the tranny from shifting into 4th. This is by design. Change the knock sensors, get rid of the CEL and it will shift again. On another note, you did not cause your problem using regular. That is all the RX requires. My guess is your knock sensor was going bad and preimum was needed to prevent knocking. Try regular again once you get your knock sensors replaced.