02 ES300 trans hesitation report

Some time ago I mentioned that, after complaining to a Lexus service advisor
about my ongoing trans hesitation (well it really became a trans
jerking-while-finding-a-gear problem after last software upgrade) that he
mentioned that Lexus had issued a TSB that stated the need for premium fuel
after the upgrade. I doubted it and he couldn't find the TSB. I later found
it online however, and he was right - it did state that. I still had my
doubts about fuel being involved.

Some here said that it was possible for the octane level to affect the trans
performance. I finally gave in, and have been using premium fuel for the
past few thousand miles, and I have to say there is a big improvement.
Yesterday I felt the jerkiness again though - but it was a minor episode
compared to previous ones, and it was the first and only time since I
started using premium.

Now, it's kind of academic though, because I've been looking into getting an
'04 LS430. In doing my research on that vehicle, however, I learn that they
had a recall on those 430s made in '03 whereby the trans is replaced ! I
thought the worst thing on those cars was the air suspension. Now I have to
worry about the trans on the LS430 I might buy !

Does anyone have any info on the 04 LS430 (6-speed) trans problem ?

(I suppose I should have started a new topic for this LS question.)

On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:00:17 -0400, njbok <NOSPAM (AT) nospam (DOT) com> wrote:

Now, it's kind of academic though, because I've been looking into getting an
'04 LS430. ...

thought the worst thing on those cars was the air suspension. Now I have to

What's wrong with the hydraulic suspension? I have it on my ES300 and
I like the ability to adjust the suspension stiffness depending on the
drive condition.

There was talk earlier on this board about many problems w/air suspension on
LS models, and hints that LS models so-equipped were to be avoided. Maybe ES
models are okay.



On 4/26/07 3:16 AM, in article g8k0335480objauh1i5csekjhvqpkve10v (AT) 4ax (DOT) com,
"-" <nobody (AT) nowhere (DOT) com> wrote:

What's wrong with the hydraulic suspension?

I found an aftermarket product online that is an ECU upgrade, and it
specifically addresses response issues. I've been kicking around giving it
a try, but only if it is reversible. Would sure love to know if anyone has
tried on on the 02 ES300.


"njbok" <NOSPAM (AT) nospam (DOT) com> wrote

Some time ago I mentioned that, after complaining to a Lexus service
advisor
about my ongoing trans hesitation (well it really became a trans
jerking-while-finding-a-gear problem after last software upgrade) that he
mentioned that Lexus had issued a TSB that stated the need for premium
fuel
after the upgrade. I doubted it and he couldn't find the TSB. I later
found
it online however, and he was right - it did state that. I still had my
doubts about fuel being involved.

Some here said that it was possible for the octane level to affect the
trans
performance. I finally gave in, and have been using premium fuel for the
past few thousand miles, and I have to say there is a big improvement.
Yesterday I felt the jerkiness again though - but it was a minor episode
compared to previous ones, and it was the first and only time since I
started using premium.

Now, it's kind of academic though, because I've been looking into getting
an
'04 LS430. In doing my research on that vehicle, however, I learn that
they
had a recall on those 430s made in '03 whereby the trans is replaced ! I
thought the worst thing on those cars was the air suspension. Now I have
to
worry about the trans on the LS430 I might buy !

Does anyone have any info on the 04 LS430 (6-speed) trans problem ?

(I suppose I should have started a new topic for this LS question.)

On Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:12:28 -0400, "Steve Larson" <r (AT) NOSPAM (DOT) com>
wrote:

I found an aftermarket product online that is an ECU upgrade, and it
specifically addresses response issues. I've been kicking around giving it
a try, but only if it is reversible. Would sure love to know if anyone has
tried on on the 02 ES300.

Link?

On Apr 25, 8:00 pm, njbok <NOS... (AT) nospam (DOT) com> wrote:

Some time ago I mentioned that, after complaining to a Lexus service advisor
about my ongoing trans hesitation (well it really became a trans
jerking-while-finding-a-gear problem after last software upgrade) that he
mentioned that Lexus had issued a TSB that stated the need for premium fuel
after the upgrade. I doubted it and he couldn't find the TSB. I later found
it online however, and he was right - it did state that. I still had my
doubts about fuel being involved.

Some here said that it was possible for the octane level to affect the trans
performance. I finally gave in, and have been using premium fuel for the
past few thousand miles, and I have to say there is a big improvement.
Yesterday I felt the jerkiness again though - but it was a minor episode
compared to previous ones, and it was the first and only time since I
started using premium.

Now, it's kind of academic though, because I've been looking into getting an
'04 LS430. In doing my research on that vehicle, however, I learn that they
had a recall on those 430s made in '03 whereby the trans is replaced ! I
thought the worst thing on those cars was the air suspension. Now I have to
worry about the trans on the LS430 I might buy !

Does anyone have any info on the 04 LS430 (6-speed) trans problem ?

(I suppose I should have started a new topic for this LS question.)

It was for a piece of metal that might jam the parking pawl inside the
transmission! Hardly a major problem.....

Thanks Greg. That makes me feel better. I bought the car (04 LS430) today.
I'm hoping to enjoy it.

Walt




On 4/27/07 4:30 PM, in article
1177705817.338035.54850 (AT) s33g200...oglegroups.com, "greg"
<grezuki (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote:

On Apr 25, 8:00 pm, njbok <NOS... (AT) nospam (DOT) com> wrote:

had a recall on those 430s made in '03 whereby the trans is replaced !

Does anyone have any info on the 04 LS430 (6-speed) trans problem ?

It was for a piece of metal that might jam the parking pawl inside the
transmission! Hardly a major problem.....

I've had my '04 LS430 from new (now with 40,000 miles), and never had a
problem with it, period. It's a sample of one, but this is my 6th LS, and
other than having one stolen while I was vacationing in New York (serves me
right for going to NY I suppose), the worst thing that's ever happened is a
water pump failed after 50,000 miles (which was replaced for free even
though it was out of warranty). You won't be sorry with your LS.

-C
"njbok" <NOSPAM (AT) nospam (DOT) com> wrote

Some time ago I mentioned that, after complaining to a Lexus service
advisor
about my ongoing trans hesitation (well it really became a trans
jerking-while-finding-a-gear problem after last software upgrade) that he
mentioned that Lexus had issued a TSB that stated the need for premium
fuel
after the upgrade. I doubted it and he couldn't find the TSB. I later
found
it online however, and he was right - it did state that. I still had my
doubts about fuel being involved.

Some here said that it was possible for the octane level to affect the
trans
performance. I finally gave in, and have been using premium fuel for the
past few thousand miles, and I have to say there is a big improvement.
Yesterday I felt the jerkiness again though - but it was a minor episode
compared to previous ones, and it was the first and only time since I
started using premium.

Now, it's kind of academic though, because I've been looking into getting
an
'04 LS430. In doing my research on that vehicle, however, I learn that
they
had a recall on those 430s made in '03 whereby the trans is replaced ! I
thought the worst thing on those cars was the air suspension. Now I have
to
worry about the trans on the LS430 I might buy !

Does anyone have any info on the 04 LS430 (6-speed) trans problem ?

(I suppose I should have started a new topic for this LS question.)

Hey! The moron speaks! Yippeeee!! Hadn't seen your useless crap for a
while, and kinda hoped you'd gone back to your hole... no such luck.


"Elmo P. Shagnasty" <elmop (AT) nastydesigns (DOT) com> wrote

In article <XIadnTjH-o-OCavbnZ2dnUVZ_t6qnZ2d (AT) comcast (DOT) com>,
"GIga" <a@b.com> wrote:

I've had my '04 LS430 from new (now with 40,000 miles), and never had a
problem with it, period. It's a sample of one, but this is my 6th LS,
and
other than having one stolen while I was vacationing in New York (serves
me
right for going to NY I suppose), the worst thing that's ever happened is
a
water pump failed after 50,000 miles (which was replaced for free even
though it was out of warranty). You won't be sorry with your LS.

How would you know? You've had 6 of them? You haven't had one long
enough to know anything about their reliability.

Actually, it sounds like they aren't very reliable, if you've had 6 of
them. That's one every 3 years. Nobody can speak to the reliability of
any of them with at most 3 years of experience for any given model year
under his belt.

On 4/30/07 9:08 PM, in article XIadnTjH-o-OCavbnZ2dnUVZ_t6qnZ2d (AT) comcast (DOT) com,
"GIga" <a@b.com> wrote:

You won't be sorry with your LS.

Well, I picked it up today and love it. I have a lot of reading to do -
can't even figure out what half the buttons and switches do yet.

The Nav is different than the one in my 02 ES - took me 20 mins to figure
out how to set my HOME in it - and that's using the book.

BTW, I didn't get a trunk net with it. I thought they came equipped with
that as standard equipment. When I asked, they said it was an option, and
mine probably never had it.