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