Quick Question: AT Oil Light?!

[Hugga99]

Hi Everyone!

Quick question. I stupidly put my LX470 on my local Craigslist, and someone just came to test drive it.

They were messing around with 4 low, on the level pavement, and they were not doing it correctly. The "AT Oil Light" came on for a brief moment, maybe 5-10 seconds, then turned off. Once shifted back to 4hi, it drove fine.

Should I be concerned, and take it to get looked at. I must say, this was my first time letting a stranger drive my car like that....never again! They treated my LX470 worse in 15 minutes than I have in 3 years.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am sweating bullets at the thought that he messed up my transmission.

 

[2001LC]

Driving around in low won't hurt anything. I run in 1st with gear box in 4low to run in high RPM test & do clean outs.

Let see a link to your CL add?

 

[Hugga99]

Hey 2001LC.

He was not in low, he switched to 4lo without first going to neutral....and started hitting the gas, and going through all the gears. That is when the AT Temp Light came on. The car was not moving at all, with the lever on 4lo, but he kept hitting the gas, and revving the engine. I told him to stop, put it back into 4hi, and it seems fine.

I just drove it for 3 miles, drove fine. When I got out of the car, I thought I could smell a very vague burning rubber scent, but it could be my paranoia.

I deleted the ad, I posted a pretty high price, since I don't really want to get rid of it. I was only floating the idea around.

It is a 99" with 147k miles. Asking $13k. Excellent overall condition.

 

[Hugga99]

1999 Lexus LX470

There is the link. As I said, it isn't a "bargain" price as I know so many people on here want. I was just considering getting an LS460, so I threw it in CL.

With that being said, is it possible for a lot of damage to be done to the transmission by shifting incorrectly to 4Lo, and then revving the engine, while it won't move?

I love this car, and it really bugs me thinking something may be wrong. I had just detailed it, and washed it. It looks great!

 

[2001LC]

I would have been pissed. Basically the drivetrain was disconnected and he was revving the engine and spinning the transmission with no load. Something Toyota recommend we do not do (revving engine), except during some test. I doubt he hurt it or you'd know by now. These tanks can take amazing amount of abuse on keep going.

Looks great BTW

 

[Hugga99]

Thanks 2001LC.

If it were truly damaged, would the damage show itself straight away? I don't want to keep driving it if it could make it worse, as in, if maybe there was slight damage, and driving the LX470 will worsen it.

It drove home, immediately after the light turned on/off fine (1 mile), then I took it for a 3 mile circle and it felt normal.

I honestly thought I smelled burnt rubber, but I could not find any leaks, looked in the engine and saw no leaks, and the car was revving/changing gears well.

I'm just paranoid, and love the car. I was fuming when the guy did this, as he seemed himself "an expert" who has owned 2 before, and then he low-balled me on the price.

Trading a car in may give you less money, but at least I would save myself this aggravation.

 

[WarWagon]

I've never had this happen but something tells me a lot worse things have been done to these vehicles and they've survived. They're engineered to survive 3rd world abuse, period.

I think your pink panty is fine

 

[2001LC]

The only way you'll find out is by driving it.

These rigs do better when driven and all systems are exercised I.E. CDL, Power Start, ECT, Cruiser control, all gears and hi & low. Put it through its paces. Just make sure all fluids are in good shape with no burnt smells.

You have two choices; put through paces or leave parked until next test drive and pray.

I'd put through paces and fix if something wrong, as I always want buyers to be happy.

 

[Spike555]

He overheated the transmission. The trans temp warning came on, he stopped revving the engine, transmission cooled and all is well.
If you're keeping it I'd think about changing the transmission fluid. But odds are in your favor that even if you don't it'll be fine.

 

[Hugga99]

Well, it is my DD so I certainly will be driving it. I do not have the luxury of this being a weekend rig. I know that a large majority of this forum use these trucks as adventure rigs, but I simply love it for the day-to-day use, and never had any use for hi-low, etc. I never even use the adjustable suspension, just keep it in N. Being in Austin, there is no snow, I just love to cruise in it.

I appreciate all the help, as always. Frankly, as much as I love my LX470, I enjoy reading these forums everyday, just as much. That is half the reason I got one, and a lot of the reason I want to keep it. It is not very often you find a community so passionate about a car, and you know the car must be worth it when people love them this much.

I was not too panicked about the A/T Temp light, at first, but when I did a quick google search I kept reading "transmission is ruined", "new transmission will be needed soon", etc. I know to take it with a grain of salt, just like when I search about back pain and it says I have cancer. Nonetheless, I still wanted your guys more expert advice.

Also, I didn't realize how much I was attached to my LX470 until the guy test driving it started treating it like crap. I felt like he was kicking my dog, or calling my wife fat. Haha.

 

[Hugga99]

I have read tons of forum posts about changing the transmission fluid. Some say yes, some say no. I know most stand by "new fluid is better than old".

I read that Mobil 1 ATF seems to be the go-to. Some said doing a drain and fill is useless though, that a complete flush is the only worthwhile thing to do.

 

[2001LC]

I do a complete transmission and steering flush every 15K with M1 full synthetic MV AFT. I'm going to start do steering ever 5K. Both are easy but pricy stuff.

 

[Spike555]

I have read tons of forum posts about changing the transmission fluid. Some say yes, some say no. I know most stand by "new fluid is better than old".

I read that Mobil 1 ATF seems to be the go-to. Some said doing a drain and fill is useless though, that a complete flush is the only worthwhile thing to do.

I disagree 100%.
A drain and fill will do just fine. And then you can do another in a few thousand miles.
I used Castrol low viscosity ATF.
A drain and fill is easy to do and doesn't take much time.
I also use mine as a daily driver.

 

[Hugga99]

I'm going to do the drain and fill. Is it a problem if the ATF that I put in, does not match the current fluid? I'm not sure what the previous owner did/used.

 

[duggy]

Are you sure it's the AT oil temp light and not the AT/P light instead? That light will turn on when the transfer case lever is in the N position. It's purpose is to tell you that the transfer case in neutral.

 

[Hugga99]

Are you sure it's the AT oil temp light and not the AT/P light instead? That light will turn on when the transfer case lever is in the N position. It's purpose is to tell youbthatbthe transfer case in neutral.

You know, it may have actually been the AT/P light. He was driving it, so I don't get a great look. I just heard grinding for 2 seconds, saw the light, and figured the worst. You very well could be right!

I took it to the shop, they said it all seems alright. I did an oil change, and was feeling happy with the car, so I picked up some Cooper Discoverer 285/75r16 tires to improve the look. I've always wanted bigger tires, and finally did it. They defiantly have a rougher ride than the Michelin LT set, but they looks way better.

 

[Spike555]

I'm going to do the drain and fill. Is it a problem if the ATF that I put in, does not match the current fluid? I'm not sure what the previous owner did/used.

No. No problems at all. Just make sure the fluid you use is LOW VISCOSITY ATF for Toyotas.
Brand doesn't matter.
It is super easy to do the drain and fill. The hardest part is finding and removing the fill plug.
I just did this 2? weeks ago so if you have questions just shout.

 

[Hugga99]

No. No problems at all. Just make sure the fluid you use is LOW VISCOSITY ATF for Toyotas.
Brand doesn't matter.
It is super easy to do the drain and fill. The hardest part is finding and removing the fill plug.
I just did this 2? weeks ago so if you have questions just shout.

Awesome, thanks. I'll reach out if I have any problems.