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Sedans Lexus ES Transmission problems with Lexus ES?
1381 messages, Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 12:56 PM
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My ES330 uses the previous generation of transmission and computer. It sometimes hesitates on acceleration but I have never felt in danger because of it. After careful tests I have determined that on my car there is hesitation only if I gently press the gas pedal. This is fine because it saves gas. When I stab the pedal, the car takes off briskly. The hesitation problem for the newest transmission and software combination may also be related to how quickly and how far you press the pedal. The computer can easily determine how fast you are moving the pedal, which makes this different from what we are used to with a non-computerized transmission. I think that this is a side effect of an algorithm in the engine computer designed to get better mileage and emissions ratings in the standard tests. It has been an issue with several Toyota models for several years. For me, the 330 has turned out to be a great car. |
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Replying to: wwest (Feb 24, 2007 10:58 am)
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Replying to: tedescm1 (Mar 05, 2007 5:43 am) We were driving on a single lane road and I got tired of driving behind this old beat-up pickup truck at low speeds. I floored the gas pedal and immediately the rpm went up from 1600 to about 5000 rpm, I overtook the vehicle and as I eased off the gas pedal, the vehicle refused to drop rpms and speed. The vehicle behaved as if I was driving in 1st gear and stuck in it. Also, the sound from the transmission was unbearable. I wanted to slow down and kept on shifting to 4, 3, 2, while pushing down on break pedal with my foot, anything that would switch off the vehicle but to no avail. I then shifted to Neutral and that did not help, either. The vehicle was still going fast. Luckily, there were no cars on the road in front of me. In my last desperate attempt, I simply took the ignition key off. The vehicle finally came to a stop. I then caught my breath, put the key back into ignition and started the car. It was Ok, finally. I really did not feel I had to take the car to my dealer as I was afraid they would laugh at me. I no longer try to floor the gas pedal anytime I drive this car.
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Replying to: gavrik (Jul 14, 2007 11:24 pm) I presume when you put the vehicle in N or Neutral, the vehicle speed would have continued to decline, specially if you put on the brakes... However, perhaps the engine reving would not go down for you. That MUST BE diagnosed by your dealership. Further, you should report your experience with the NHTSA site. Never though should you turn your ignition off. Not only can you end up locking your wheel, you'll loose power to the stearing and braking systems. Again, when you put the vehicle in N (Neutral), that should have de-coupled the engine from the transmission / wheels, and you should have been able to slow (although with engine perhaps racing). If that's not the case, then you have a totally different problem.
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Replying to: user777 (Jul 15, 2007 3:58 am) The only thing left is the Stearing, brakes and ignition and even with those these days you can't be sure there isn't some ECU firmware in the control loop, especially with the ignition "control" key. Some of the newer VSC systems even have the ability to "assume" control of the stearing inputs.
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Replying to: wwest (Jul 15, 2007 9:12 am) ECM/PCM/TCM i don't know.
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Replying to: user777 (Jul 15, 2007 3:08 pm) It most certainly would not "allow" a shift into reverse.
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Replying to: wwest (Jul 15, 2007 6:16 pm) i did recommend the poster contact the NHSTA didn't I? http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ it could be like the airbus crash at the paris airshow... test pilot performs a low-altitude manuver that the engineers didn't anticipate in the programming of the system and the engine controls usurp pilot authority when he attempts to go full throttle (to make it over the trees). he didn't make it. if the transmission is programmed NOT to go to "N" at high rev, coupled with a sticky accelerator / non-linearity in sensing / or a confused throttle body servo, then that is one scarey scenario. you've got to be able to decouple the engine from the drivetrain if speed is increasing. turning off the vehicle to "reset the electronics" is  now then, one would think it *may* be possible for the vehicle to be checked under controlled conditions again. but who would want to do it. oh how wonderful if not repeatible, huh? now, speaking for myself, and not trying to be alarmist, if i had an uncontrolled event like that which could not be pin-pointed / addressed, i'd be immediately dumping the vehicle, loss and all.
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Replying to: user777 (Jul 16, 2007 2:46 am) Or to be quite fair, the gas pedal may have been stuck under the carpet mat, like has happened to me twice, once many years ago and again just two years ago. Carpet mat "draped" over the gas pedal but behind the brake pedal, the harder you brake the more the engine ROARS.
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Replying to: wwest (Jul 16, 2007 7:57 am) still, you have to be able to disengage the transmission. it's suicide if you can't.
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