2002 Series 1 Rx300 Gearbox Problem - Help Please

[Whitelighter]

Hello all,

This is in regards to my dad's car but since he's in his 80s now I have to try and help out.

He has a 2002 RX300 which has done 160k miles. Recently (unbeknownst to me) it's started to develop a judder at lower revs which became less apparent at higher speeds revs. On Friday the car failed completely, with the car having no drive. It happened at about 30mph but the drive disengaged and the car just revved as if in neutral. The car now has no drive at all.

I rather fear total gearbox failure - perhaps a main shaft or something - but that's just a guess. Is there anything relatively inexpensive we can try before throwing the car away?

I have read that sometimes an oil and filter change can help but I can't see that doing much with complete loss of drive. A replacement gearbox is a non starter as it's probably twice the value of the car. I suspect a gearbox rebuild is probably a similar situation.

Any suggestions (or commiserations) gratefully received.

[steve2006]

Hello and welcome to the LOC.

Sorry to hear of the problems with the RX

It does sound as you suggest a complete failure of the transmission, changing the fluid at this point is unlikely to prove a cure and around 20 litres of Toyota Type IV fluid is required at £60.00/5Lts.

Perhaps you best bet would be to find a good used transmission and have that fitted at a local independant garage,there are quite a few being broken on eBay at the moment (see link below)

As you say the price of parts and labour could easily outstrip the vaue of the car,if you do decide to "throw the car away" let me know :)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=lexus+rx+300+transmission&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR2.TRC1.A0.H0.Xlexus+rx+300+breaking&_nkw=lexus+rx+300+breaking&_sacat=0

[Boxbrownie]

That does sound quite terminal, but having a specialist look at it will confirm one way or another.

What's the service history on the car like, has the fluid ever been changed before or even levels checked regularly?