OK...additional info. First of all, the check engine light has now come on and stays on...also, it seems to (intermittently) be "lugging" the engine down when coming to a stop-in other words, similar to a manual transmission car if you're in a higher gear, and come to a stop without engaging the clutch. The car can be driven, and seems to shift normally up through the gears-it's just that you have to shift it into neutral as you're coming to a stop. It then will accelerate normally, etc. Also, this behaviour is still intermittent-it's currently in the shop, and , when my mechanic drove it, it did not exhibit this behaviour.
He put a scanner on the test connector. Here's what the code said:
"1997-98 Automatic Transmissions Toyota A-340 Series Electronic Controls
Circuit Description
ECT ECU uses signals from throttle position sensor, airflow meter and crankshaft position sensor to monitor engagegment of Torque Coverter Clutch (TCC). ECT ECU compares engagement condition of TCC with lock-up schedule in memory to detect mechanical trouble of lock-up solenoid, valve body and torque converter. DTC is set when TCC lock-up does not occur during appropriate speed, or lock-up does not release at appropriate speed. Possible causes are:
Lock-up solenoid is stuck open or closed
Valve body clogged or valve stuck
TCC malfunction"
Based on this, I have authorized him to check the aforementioned solenoid, which I guess, has to be done by dropping the pan-does the valve body have to come out, or any other hard to do stuff? Any other thoughts?
Now here is some other info, which I am just now finding out from my wife.
She was in Jacksonville FL three weeks ago, while I was out of town (of course), and locked her keys in the trunk. After the local Pop-A-Lockl came out, he told her that he couldn't touch it, and it would have to be dealt with by the local Lexus dealer. It was at night, and apparently there were very few tow trucks available, for some reason. When she talked to me on the phone, I told her to make sure and insist on a flatbed "rollback" type of wrecker. When the wrecker arrived (after she had waited two hours!!), he already had a car on the flatbed, but insisted to her that it wouldn't be a problem to tow the car on a hook.
NOW GET THIS...he told her that he had 28 years of experience, and that it wouldn't be a problem because it was a FRONT WHEEL DRIVE car- he would just put it in neutral, and tow it with the hook in front, and the rear wheels rolling. Not sure exactly how far it was to the Lexus dealer, but she got it back the next morning from them, after they opened the trunk at no charge.
All the transmission problems seem to have happened since this. I can't swear that nothing was wrong before (after all, it's my wife's car, and she is not the world's best in letting me know about car problems), but I thought I would put this out there for your collective wisdom to think about.
David Baker
Merritt Island, FL
