bbethke

I did not get any help on this issue so the forum was not any good for me. However, I thought I'd report the solution. Ends up that Toyota/Lexus calls the kick-down cable a "Detent Cable". This kicks transmission into a lower gear with full throttle (like passing). On this car the cable has a plastic end that goes into the transmission. There is an O-ring on the cable end and a small bolt holds a locking tab in place. This cable end broke (probably when replacing starter). Which means I had to buy a new cable ($80 Lexus/Toyota online or $30 for aftermarket). And to install the cable I need to remove the bottom pan on the transmission and then remove all wires and tubes inside, and then the valve body needs to come out to get to the cable end.

I do not know what kingdd is referring to, but I am asking about the cable that goes from the throttle control to the transmission that kicks the transmission down to a lower gear with full throttle (i.e. goes into "passing gear"). It is a mechanical cable. That part works fine. The problem is the sheath or shell of the cable is to seal the transmission oil from leaking out and that sheath pulled out of the transmission. It is about the same area, but to the right of where the fill tube goes in (when looking at the front of the transmission). Does anyone know how this seals? I've gone through exploded drawings but do not see the cable on any of them. When I search for "throttle kick-down cable" I find nothing. Am I calling it the wrong thing?

I have a 91 ES250 and I often (semingly randomly) get a huge transmission oil leak. Fluid is clean, tranny works great, but when this happens I get a quart or more that leaks out. Recently this happened when the car was parked with the nose pointing down hill. I finally traced it to the opening in the front of the trans where the kick-down cable goes in. The sleeve around the cable came out of the hole and I don't see anything that holds it in. I do not know if my sleeve on the cable is broken or if a clamp is missing, etc. Can someone please explain how that cable sleeve seals oil from leaking out? A picture would be very helpful. Thanks!