93 transmission prob..o/d?

[86Toy4x4]

93 lexus es300 3vzfe 6cyl
tranny works ok when cool...(motor has no power then...common problem i hear) when tranny starts warming up...seems it looses 1st gear..or maybe the o/d is engaged?? feels like i'm taking off in 3rd gear. drives fine at speed!
i have to place shifter in "L" to start faster than a frozen turtle..
starting in "2" is the same as starting in "d"

atf level is good..when hot.
just plain slipping? but it starts fine in "L" .... or solenoid problems?
Any ideas/solutions besides replacement/rebuild?
Thanks
Wes

[v6camrydriver]

Originally Posted by 86Toy4x4

93 lexus es300 3vzfe 6cyl
tranny works ok when cool...(motor has no power then...common problem i hear) when tranny starts warming up...seems it looses 1st gear..or maybe the o/d is engaged?? feels like i'm taking off in 3rd gear. drives fine at speed!
i have to place shifter in "L" to start faster than a frozen turtle..
starting in "2" is the same as starting in "d"

atf level is good..when hot.
just plain slipping? but it starts fine in "L" .... or solenoid problems?
Any ideas/solutions besides replacement/rebuild?
Thanks
Wes

Is the OD light flashing? I had the same issue, only all the time, and when I checked the trouble code it was for a defective no.1 shift solenoid (which means the solenoid is either stuck or fauly or that there is a blockage in the valve body.

[JohnGD]

Sounds like a clutch pack is slipping. The fact that you have to use L (and in other threads people use 2) to get traction.

When you are in L or 2, one or the other brake band is activated. This helps to hold a drum (for whatever clutch) that was slipping before.

How's the condition of the ATF (red, brown, black?). Was the pan ever dropped and cleaned? Was the strainer ever replaced? You can do these and maybe use a High Mileage ATF.

It could a number of things, but if it's a clogged strainer lowering line pressure then doing the above may help. However, dont' flush the thing. In the long run, you'll be looking at a rebuild.

Originally Posted by 86Toy4x4

93 lexus es300 3vzfe 6cyl
tranny works ok when cool...(motor has no power then...common problem i hear) when tranny starts warming up...seems it looses 1st gear..or maybe the o/d is engaged?? feels like i'm taking off in 3rd gear. drives fine at speed!
i have to place shifter in "L" to start faster than a frozen turtle..
starting in "2" is the same as starting in "d"

atf level is good..when hot.
just plain slipping? but it starts fine in "L" .... or solenoid problems?
Any ideas/solutions besides replacement/rebuild?
Thanks
Wes

[JohnGD]

93 Toyota Camry/Lexus ES300 uses the 4-speed A540E transmission.

The next generation, A541, had some wear problem in the valve body, resulting in lower line pressure and accelerated wear. The transmission then craps out on you. Later A541s had a tougher liner in the booster valve (or something like that). The A541 series feels flimsy compared to the lower torque version called the A140 series.

[86Toy4x4]

..sometimes the o/d light does flash

did a fluid change (no strainer) about 6 months ago and added lubeguard "red"

fluid looks pretty good!

also when it warms up...o/d seems to be engaged all the time..button will not turn o/d off. I am thinking the o/d is on all the time when shift lever in in "D"and "2"

takes off just fine when shift lever in is "L" (no slipping whatsoever)

thanks for the help everybody...

[JohnGD]

You can follow the instructions in Haynes manual to pull the codes out of the transmission ECU. And tell us what it is.

Originally Posted by 86Toy4x4

..sometimes the o/d light does flash

did a fluid change (no strainer) about 6 months ago and added lubeguard "red"

fluid looks pretty good!

also when it warms up...o/d seems to be engaged all the time..button will not turn o/d off. I am thinking the o/d is on all the time when shift lever in in "D"and "2"

takes off just fine when shift lever in is "L" (no slipping whatsoever)

thanks for the help everybody...

[Toysrme]

check your shift solenoids

[Camry LE 94]

a year ago my transmissions overdrive went. i was driving it and all of the sudden my car stopped accelerating after stopping at a stop sign. i parked the car while waiting for a tow truck, and in the meantime the fluid was cooling down. i started it after about 30 minutes (was a colder night) and put it into drive and it started accelerating again. i got down the road about a half mile and it started back up again with the car failing to accelerate.

do you do a lot of city driving? and if so, do you keep the O/D on? if so then you're gonna need to get the O/D replaced on the tranny, or buy a new tranny.

[86Toy4x4]

seems to me the o/d is on all the time ..all gears etc when shift lever is in "D" no downshifting at all....feels like i am starting off in 3rd gear

takes off fine when i put lever in "L" (feels like i have 2 gears low "L" and the next one...maybe 3rd with o/d engaged)
"2" is the same as "D"

are the solenoids replaceable with tranny in car?

Thanks

[86Toy4x4]

(93 lexus es300) wanting to replace the #1 solenoid...do i have to pull one from a a540 tranny only? or can i pull from other years/ or models?
Location of the #1 solenoid?
location of #2?
thanks

[JohnGD]

The solenoid pack for the A540 fits below. According to O'Reilly's. I'd suggest you also call your local Transtar Industries. Pick up a strainer, cork-rubber gasket, and maybe a valve body gasket kit if you decide to take it apart and clean it.

http://www.transtar1.com/locations.asp


Pioneer Prods. Solenoid:
Part Number: 771051

This product fits the following vehicles - click on a vehicle to see detailed engine information.

Lexus
1990 - 1991 ES250

1999 - 2000 RX300
1992 - 2001 ES300

Toyota
1995 - 2004 Avalon

1998 - 2002 Sienna
1988 - 2001 Camry

1999 - 2003 Solara
1996 - 2000 Rav4

Originally Posted by 86Toy4x4

(93 lexus es300) wanting to replace the #1 solenoid...do i have to pull one from a a540 tranny only? or can i pull from other years/ or models?
Location of the #1 solenoid?
location of #2?
thanks

[86Toy4x4]

thanks JohnGD

(1) anyone know the difference in locations of solenoid 1 and 2?
seems I need to replace #1
(2) I cant find the differences in locations..??
(3) valve body cleaning..? remove clean replace? is there a gasket for the
valve body also?

thanks for any info...!!

[JohnGD]

Looked on Transtar's catalog. I think it's the assembly #87420BK for your 1993. They are two-in-one assembly, and does not look like you can replace just one, but I may be wrong. The assembly sits on the valve body.

You may be able to get a rebuilt valve body from Transtar. Call to check the price. Maybe worthwhile. It may be rebuilt with an upgrade kit for longer life?

Originally Posted by 86Toy4x4

thanks JohnGD

(1) anyone know the difference in locations of solenoid 1 and 2?
seems I need to replace #1
(2) I cant find the differences in locations..??
(3) valve body cleaning..? remove clean replace? is there a gasket for the
valve body also?

thanks for any info...!!

[86Toy4x4]

Thanks a ton John Will look at transtar!!
Have a Great Day!

[n3rdifed]

was this problem fixed?
im having the same exact trans issues and this is the only thread i could find

had to bring it back alive.