Altezza Auto Box Problems

[NikkiT]

Help! I've got a 1999 Altezza Auto.

I ve been having problems with it when the weather is cold - i.e. it doesn't let me go into 2nd and when I try to drive it just revs the engine.

Took it to a Auto Gearbox specialist who said I needed the seals replacing. Ok! He's done that but he also said that a part had worn in the box that he couldn't source. It a loop of twisted wires that have worn at the top like a 'brillo pad'. He said it had broken off in the box and therefore mustn't of being doing much good anyway so he's removed it and not replaced it.

Anyway, to cut a long story short - gearbox went back into the car tonight and now my ECT POWER light is flashing on the dash and the car will select the gear but won't move!

I've had a look in the manual (only got the IS200 one) and it says that if the ECT light is flashing then to contact Lexus as I've got a Transmission Fault. Nothing more nothing less so I'm still non the wiser.

Firstly, does anyone know enough to tell me what the loop of twisted wires might be? or why the ECT POWER light is flashing??

Any help or advice i'd be grateful before I go guns blazing at the gearbox centre.

Thanks

Nikki

[Noel]

Not giving you 2nd gear is a design feature to protect the engine until the coolant temp. rises......they all do this

ECt flashing is a different story.... take it in to Toyota to read the ECU fault codes, post the codes up here if toyota can't understand them....

BTW... welcome to LOC and lovely Tezza you have there... whats the charger?... Blitz?

[IRLRs200]

Not giving you 2nd gear is a design feature to protect the engine until the coolant temp. rises......they all do this

ECt flashing is a different story.... take it in to Toyota to read the ECU fault codes, post the codes up here if toyota can't understand them....

BTW... welcome to LOC and lovely Tezza you have there... whats the charger?... Blitz?

Welcome mate. Supercharged auto? How much ponies is that pushing out? You should by one of the Altezza manuals off amazon. Lots of useful info about your car, including autobox safety features

[elexes]

very nice where did you get ur front bumper im after one as long as its good quality

[Robin H]

nice tezza you got there

welcome to the club

[NikkiT]

Thanks for the comments on the car. I've had it about 2 and half years. Supercharged it approx 18 months ago with a Blitz Supercharger. Not sure how much it's pushing out though.

Thanks for the comments on the gearbox problem. I understand the bit about the 2nd gear safety thing but I'm not too sure as to why it would just sit and rev instead of driving and also the box fluid was filthy. Had a oil change about 4 months ago and it's dirty already so obviously something not right.

Does anyone know how many litres of ATF it should take from a complete drain?

I've been told 9 litres but need this clarifying. If it's not got enough ATF in then this is poss the problem with the ECT light flashing.

I just need my 'Tezza baby back on the road as I'm driving a 1.2 Corsa hire car at the min and it's not good!

[Robin H]

Rrs200 is doing a manual conversion on his tezza, so he may have the auto box still, you could just drop the hole new box in if it's up sale

maybe of some help if you don't get the problem sorted

[Dizz]

Hey mate, welcome to the site!

Box should take 7.2 L of ATF if it's the 5 speed auto box...

(according to this thread anyway: http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/fo...hl=quantities) :D

[spikes]

hi welcome to loc :) you say the fluid is dirty again,not sure but maybe there is a gearbox flush for auto boxes same thing as engine flush so you can clean out any s :tsktsk: ...could be worth checking out....good luck :)

[chips229]

Hi and Welcome to LOC :)

Myself i would have gone for replacing the autobox with a secondhand from a breakers.

If the autobox fluid is dirty again then id say the clutches in the box are burning out/burnout and not giving you drive.Is there/was there much engine braking when at a cruise speed you select a lower gear manually by moving the selector.If theres little engine braking then thats another clue the box has had it.

From my dealings with recon gearbox places,yep they do give warranty but only replace the minimum parts to get the box going and to last the time of the warranty then you will find the rest of the worn parts that havent been replaced will cause other problems over time.Thats just my thoughts though ;)

Most breakers give 30 days warranty on parts and ive found that the cheaper/better option in the long run.

In my option if the place you took the car knew what they were doing,when you picked the car up it should have been right first time when you drove away and not had more excuse.If they knew there stuff they should have been able to source any parts needed at the time of repair.

Good Luck with getting the autobox right.

Out of interest how much did they charge you to do the work?

Cheers..

Chips.

[NikkiT]

Hi and Welcome to LOC :)

Myself i would have gone for replacing the autobox with a secondhand from a breakers.

If the autobox fluid is dirty again then id say the clutches in the box are burning out/burnout and not giving you drive.Is there/was there much engine braking when at a cruise speed you select a lower gear manually by moving the selector.If theres little engine braking then thats another clue the box has had it.

From my dealings with recon gearbox places,yep they do give warranty but only replace the minimum parts to get the box going and to last the time of the warranty then you will find the rest of the worn parts that havent been replaced will cause other problems over time.Thats just my thoughts though ;)

Most breakers give 30 days warranty on parts and ive found that the cheaper/better option in the long run.

In my option if the place you took the car knew what they were doing,when you picked the car up it should have been right first time when you drove away and not had more excuse.If they knew there stuff they should have been able to source any parts needed at the time of repair.

Good Luck with getting the autobox right.

Out of interest how much did they charge you to do the work?

Cheers..

Chips.

I paid £600 to have the seals & teflon seals replaced - its about right for that type of work.

The 'Tezza is still sat on the ramp at the garage I work at. They took the box off and I took it to the gearbox centre who did the work then I went pick it up and they've put it back on.

We topped the fluid up and it's still making no difference - cant' even get it to drive in M range (tiptronic). I'm getting fed up now!!! Gonna have to try get the car up to the gearbox centre as I'm not having the box taken out again!!!

[chips229]

Hi,

Have you had any luck with getting the autobox fixed and running right.

I know how you feel having to keep taking the gearbox out,from problems ive had with cars in the past.

Good Luck.

Chips.

[NikkiT]

Hi,

Have you had any luck with getting the autobox fixed and running right.

I know how you feel having to keep taking the gearbox out,from problems ive had with cars in the past.

Good Luck.

Chips.

Just to let you all know - the box went back to the guy who supposed to have fixed it and came back in a cardboard box in bits !!! He gave me my £600 back and told me he couldn't fix it!

Eventually sourced a box from Nippon for £622 (wish i'd of done this in the first place)!!! Straight in topped up with correct amount of fluid and it's lovely again!!! ECT power light went out on the dash also so this was a relief.

I actually enjoy driving my baby again!

Thanks for all your help.

Nik

[Robin H]

good news then :D