I have a 2005 V8 T4R with 70,000 miles. I recently had the transmission oil changed at a Lexus dealer. After that I noticed that once in a while, it sticks in 4th gear if I floor it and does not shift to 5th for a while. It will stick in 4th at 65 mph for maybe 30 seconds and then eventually pop into 5th. I drive pretty conservatively so this is the third time I have noticed it. Any idea why this may be happening? It appears to drive normally otherwise. I'm getting a bit concerned...this is my (expensive) baby.
Odd shifting question- sticks in 4th
- Thread starter Flyer
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
First, have them check your fluid level. If it isn't fluid level related, usually a slow shift is a sign of something wrong.
Bad actuators or a slipping transmission. Since it started RIGHT after a fluid change, lets hope for the best and assume the Lexus folks didn't fill you up all the way and that is causing this.
Otherwise, some really painful indicators of a failing transmisson
Slipping: This is where the torque converter and other parts are starting to fail, and the transmission simply seems to "slip" all the power away. You put the car in 1st gear, give it gas, hear the engine race and then EVENTUALLY the gear engages and you move or as your accelerate, and the vehicle "shifts" from 1 to 2 or any gear, you see the rpm race up as the engine races until, finally, the gear engages and you move on.
In this situation, the transmission has serious issues and will eventually fail.
There are others. Sometimes on a auto, a gear will fail to operate as expected and can be caused by a bad solenoid for that drive. The actual transmission may be fine and you can sometimes drop the lower panel and replace this part.
Before we start thinking, UH OH 1500-2500 or more fix, take it to lexus. Park it OVERNIGHT, so the tranny cools down and have them check your fluid level.
Bad actuators or a slipping transmission. Since it started RIGHT after a fluid change, lets hope for the best and assume the Lexus folks didn't fill you up all the way and that is causing this.
Otherwise, some really painful indicators of a failing transmisson
Slipping: This is where the torque converter and other parts are starting to fail, and the transmission simply seems to "slip" all the power away. You put the car in 1st gear, give it gas, hear the engine race and then EVENTUALLY the gear engages and you move or as your accelerate, and the vehicle "shifts" from 1 to 2 or any gear, you see the rpm race up as the engine races until, finally, the gear engages and you move on.
In this situation, the transmission has serious issues and will eventually fail.
There are others. Sometimes on a auto, a gear will fail to operate as expected and can be caused by a bad solenoid for that drive. The actual transmission may be fine and you can sometimes drop the lower panel and replace this part.
Before we start thinking, UH OH 1500-2500 or more fix, take it to lexus. Park it OVERNIGHT, so the tranny cools down and have them check your fluid level.
Another point: It could be your overdrive. I once rebuilt an auto tranny in College with a couple buddies. We did it to do it. Holy HELL. Automatic transmissions are easily the most complicated thing on your car. The one we rebuilt and got right (eventually) was off a 20 year old IROC and even it was very complicated. Today's are simply insane with all the parts that have to fit just perfect.
Anyway. Your problem appears isolated between the shifts from 4 to 5, that is your crucial OVERDRIVE shifting. My guess is, luckily, it isn't a "my transmission" is dying and more a "my computer or overdrive is acting up" and therefore, a cheaper fix.
That said. I just read in the manual, that low tranny fluid will cause the transmission to not want to shift up to 5th gear.
I bet you they didn't fill it all the way.
Anyway. Your problem appears isolated between the shifts from 4 to 5, that is your crucial OVERDRIVE shifting. My guess is, luckily, it isn't a "my transmission" is dying and more a "my computer or overdrive is acting up" and therefore, a cheaper fix.
That said. I just read in the manual, that low tranny fluid will cause the transmission to not want to shift up to 5th gear.
I bet you they didn't fill it all the way.
BlackWorksInc
New member
Actually DC, the transmission on his vehicle should be a sealed transmission running WS Fluid, therefore you actually want the transmission fluid HOT (between a specific temperature range... I should really remember this off the top of my head with how many times it comes up huh? LoL) to check proper level, its a ridiculously complex process that has no purpose but to annoy the technicians and get the customer to pay more in my opinion.
But it is quite possible the fluid level is off, WS Fluid transmissions are very finicky about fluid level. This could also be a learned adaptation on the vehicle's part since he drives it conservetively it does not see a need to upshift into overdrive so soon.
But it is quite possible the fluid level is off, WS Fluid transmissions are very finicky about fluid level. This could also be a learned adaptation on the vehicle's part since he drives it conservetively it does not see a need to upshift into overdrive so soon.
Wow, I'm pretty impressed with the level of knowledge here. I called the dealer service guy and they did mention that they wanted to check the fluid level so I'll go in on the 17th (first Sat the guy worked again).
I thought I noticed a bit of a rev-up today before it went into second but I will keep a close eye on it and drive it more in the meantime. I normally drive my Subaru Forester since it gives me much better gas mileage but will start driving the 4R more to observe its behavior.
I'll post back if I observe anything odd. If not, I'll post after my appointment at the dealer.
I thought I noticed a bit of a rev-up today before it went into second but I will keep a close eye on it and drive it more in the meantime. I normally drive my Subaru Forester since it gives me much better gas mileage but will start driving the 4R more to observe its behavior.
I'll post back if I observe anything odd. If not, I'll post after my appointment at the dealer.
TRDCal
New member
Mine does this when it's cold out. If i'm in a rush in the morning and don't give it long to warm up then it sticks in 4th, and doesn't shift. I'll be doing 60mph and the engine revs are 2500ish. After awhile once it warms up it's fine or if I let it idle for 15mins before I go theres no problem. I'm hoping it's an actuator that got some moisture in it and is freezing, then I can clean it up in the summer and be good for next winter.
Any other thoughts?
Any other thoughts?
Atlanta_man
New member
It's normal until it reaches operating temperature.
The idea is to not demand too much torque from the engine and transmission parts until they have had time to warm up. Higher gears mean lower rpm and higher torque force required to maintain the same power to the wheels.
The idea is to not demand too much torque from the engine and transmission parts until they have had time to warm up. Higher gears mean lower rpm and higher torque force required to maintain the same power to the wheels.
