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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'92
Lexus ES300, Transmission Sticking
Q:
I have a '92 Lexus ES300, and when I put the selector on
D, it moves but has no power , as if it is moving on 2nd
or 3rd gear, but when shifting on L, it has power. Also
the O/D light is flashing. Is this a minor electrical problem
or major transmission overhaul job?
Roger
A:
Your Lexus' transmission is in what is called limp mode. When the
computer for the transmission loses a critical piece of input
information a default program is initiated. A critical input is stuff
the transmission's computer needs to know to work right. If the
computer loses a critical input it could make very bad decisions that
would rip the transmission apart. I had a '93 Plymouth Voyager that
would try to put itself into 2 gears at once at just about 40 MPH, the
result of the programmed event resulted in a transmission failure.
Transmissions, like people, cannot be in 2 places at the same time.
It is likely that your default program is running and your
transmission is starting off in a higher gear and you'll likely find
that it does not shift up when it should either. We often call this
condition limp mode as it is the computer trying to limp you home
safely. The blinking O/D light is the computer alerting you to the
condition. Is it a minor or major problem? You need to have the
computer codes checked to reveal the cause for your vehicle's
transmission computer initiating the default/limp mode program. Oh
yes, driving the vehicle is not recommended until you get it checked
out
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