Recurring Problem with 1995 Lexus ES300 Transmission

[mpr2]

Hi-
I am hoping someone here can help with our (recurring) Lexus transmission problem. It's an auto transmission, 1995 ES300. What has occurred now two times while on long trips (300 miles one way), is that the speedometer suddenly fails at about 100 miles into the trip. I can continue driving the car, but once I turn off the engine, then a "check engine" light comes on and the "O/D off" light starts flashing. Again, I can continue to drive the car, and the speedometer continues not working. Both times the car has been diagnosed with a bad speed senser, but also both times the service people have said that the transmission needs to be replaced. The first time this happened, we chose to have the transmission pan inspected and flushed. While there was some metal found in the pan, it was not enough to say the transmission was blown. That was in November, 2004. Since then, the car has been operated around town with no problems. I took the car on the road again last week, and it did the first 300 mile leg fine. On the return trip, the speedometer went out again after about 100 miles of continuous driving.

I can't help but think that this failure is related somehow to heat and/or vibration that the car might experience on the road that doesn't present itself with local driving for short distances.

One more comment. During the most recent failure, I thought I saw small amounts of smoke in coming from behind my car just before the speedometer blew, but I wasn't sure if I was seeing road dust or something from my car. Before I could pulll over to check it, the speedometer failed, and I knew I had a bad situation. The smoke then ceased.

As we are now looking at big bucks to replace the transmission, I would appreciate any insight someone might have.

[Toysrme]

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t79638.html

What I said on that thread applies to you also.

Get the CEL to come on, and get the code read.


I highly doubt it's transmission damage since it's not acting up.






FYI Long drives promote slow transmission tempature. It's stop and go, towing, and heavy acceleration that raises transmission fluid temp. 90% of transmissio failures are a direct result of transmission fluid overheating. Every time you overheat the transmission fluid, you cut the life in half.


Either way you seriously need to start changing your fluid every year... If not flushing it, drain it twice. (drain it once, refill, drive around the block, drain again, refill)

[mpr2]

The code was P0500.

This last time that the car did this with the O/D off light flashing, and speedometer not working, the car eventually would not go anymore, after it sat overnight, as in the transmission failed eventually.

I still think there is something amiss with the diagnosis that it is the transmission is bad, when it was okay before I went on a long trip.

Thanks for your input, by the way.

[DeGuyz]

Originally Posted by mpr2

Hi-
I am hoping someone here can help with our (recurring) Lexus transmission problem. It's an auto transmission, 1995 ES300. What has occurred now two times while on long trips (300 miles one way), is that the speedometer suddenly fails at about 100 miles into the trip. I can continue driving the car, but once I turn off the engine, then a "check engine" light comes on and the "O/D off" light starts flashing. Again, I can continue to drive the car, and the speedometer continues not working. Both times the car has been diagnosed with a bad speed senser, but also both times the service people have said that the transmission needs to be replaced. The first time this happened, we chose to have the transmission pan inspected and flushed. While there was some metal found in the pan, it was not enough to say the transmission was blown. That was in November, 2004. Since then, the car has been operated around town with no problems. I took the car on the road again last week, and it did the first 300 mile leg fine. On the return trip, the speedometer went out again after about 100 miles of continuous driving.

I can't help but think that this failure is related somehow to heat and/or vibration that the car might experience on the road that doesn't present itself with local driving for short distances.

One more comment. During the most recent failure, I thought I saw small amounts of smoke in coming from behind my car just before the speedometer blew, but I wasn't sure if I was seeing road dust or something from my car. Before I could pulll over to check it, the speedometer failed, and I knew I had a bad situation. The smoke then ceased.

As we are now looking at big bucks to replace the transmission, I would appreciate any insight someone might have.

[DeGuyz]

We are still trying to narrow down the issues with this but i am leaning toward something electrical. Drive your lexus es300 during the day at a certain speed. Maintain that speed then turn on your headlights and watch your tach to see if there is a difference in the rpm's. With the lights on, i experience the transmission slipping in and out of gear. Then turn the lights back off and see if the rpm's change and if the problems you have change any. I will be monitoring this post and post any new info that i find.

[new echo owner]

On the '95 ES300, the vehicle speed sensor signal actually goes to the combination meter first before it reaching the ECM. P0500 will set if the ECM does receive the VSS signal, without the VSS signal, the ECM wouldn't be able to control the transmission properly, so it will either stay in fourth gear or won't move at all. Since the speedometer actually quit, there are about four possible causes, the VSS drive gear inside the transmission, the VSS itself, the combination meter, or a wiring problem.

N.E.O.