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This is the one I had performed on my RX in September and my RX now shifts perfectly.
For more info on this and all of the TSB's currently out for the 2004 RX330 (there are eight, I think)...go to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's Web site: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
I noticed shortly after I purchase my 01 AWD RX300 that engine braking was oftentimes practically non-existent. It appears that if you get off the gas in order to coast down to a stop the transmission actually up-shifts. The feeling is as if it shifts into neutral.
Some have complained of the "slingshot effect" or as if being bumped from behind just before coming to a full stop.
My own suspicion is that this is the method Lexus has chosen to simulate the over-running clutch GM is now using in their upscale FWD cars to avoid loss of control due to engine braking on the front on a slippery surface.
Others have complained of a downshift "delay" when entering a turn during acceleration. Explainable yet again regarding FWD dynamics. It can often be bad news in a FWD vehicle to be asking the front tires to stand up to lots of lateral force and suddenly also have lots of engine torque applied.
Or it could be that all of the above is really the result of a few thousand lines of "C" code in the VSC ecu.
Vehicle STABILITY Control.
Get it?
I took the car in for its 1,000 mile service today and was surprised to get a disclaimer about the ECM update. The service advisor warned me cryptically that once the update was done, there was nothing they could do about it if I subsequently did not like the way the car drove. He continued by telling me that it might be thirty days before the car then relearned my driving style.
He was so adamant in his warnings that I had to pause and think about it. I asked him if anyone who had had the update in either the RX or ES had ever complained about the change. He said that no one had. I also remembered the helpful post #37 by kcr2, and gave him the go ahead.
Will report on any differences following the ECM update after I pick up the car tomorrow. Sure am looking forward to having those Lexus guys wash my car for me!
Btw, I've experienced intermittent problems with my power rear door not working with the remote (sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't). They took a look at that and reset the computer. So far so good with no probs.
I wasn't happy with the sluggish feel of the transmission. I had the update done at 1000 miles and I am VERY happy I did. It took about a day for the RX to "relearn" my driving habits (basically, no longer than it took when I drove it off the lot the day of the sale).
I find it hard to believe Lexus wouldn't do everything possible to keep customers happy. The RX330 is a new re-design and all of us are the "test" subjects for refinements that will take place in 2005 models and beyond. If Lexus isn't willing to go the extra mile then they won't get repeat customers (myself included). So far, Lexus service has been more than helpful (albeit a bit too slow).
This could be why I only experienced the hesitation only three times in 1,000 miles. However, I had to ask him why it happened at all. He said that the technician had taken it on a test drive to reproduce the hesitation I had experienced when coasting at 20mph and accelerating again. Of course, since it was very intermittent, the car did not hesitate at all during the test drive, as I'm sure the tech had no time to do a hundred mile test drive. When I pressed for an explanation, the service advisor gave me a lame excuse that that is how Lexus cars shifted because of the cable! I'm sure he didn't want to admit that Lexus had messed up. Has anyone heard anything like that before? My LS400 never does this.
Anyway,I'm willing to chalk all this up as a minor annoyance.
What amazes me are the dealers (and sales and service people) who claim they are unaware of TSB's on the RX330.
The very best way to improve the fidelity of any automotive audio system is to reduce the cabin sound level from the typical ~70db of the LS430 say.
Summer tires (fully inflated), heavily undercoating the wheel wells, removing the roof rack cross bars, using an exhausting blower at the rear for HVAC airflow, etc, etc.
Super advice-WWest. Thanks a million. I'll go purchase these items today prior to my wife admitting me for treatment!
Having said all of that, the RX330 is an extremely nice vehicle; beautiful interior; comfortable ride. But for me the jury is still out.
But as we "speak" here today many automotive manufacturers are experimenting with different types of anti-noise systems, electronic methods of noise cancelation, as a way to improve the music appreciation experience in their products.
In the meantime you can do some of that DIY.
My other complaint is a carryover from the 2000 RX300. It also will not shift out of 3ed gear before the engine is warmed up. (On the 2000 it was second gear). I worked with machinery all my life and it irks me to no end to race a cold engine.
I am happy with the vehicle but would be ecstatic if it wasn't for the above mentioned things one of which is to save money(noise) and the other to take care of pollution problems (shifting).
Anyway, I hope you find this info of value:
TSB's for the 2004 Lexus RX330 (as of 1/14/04)
NV00603(20031024)
160000 STRUCTURE
**RATTLE NOISES COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD.
EL00703 (20031023)
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
**OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CALIBRATION.
TC00503 (20031023)
100000 POWER TRAIN
**ECM CALIBRATION SHIFTING ENHANCEMENT.
EL00803 (20031023)
133000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
**POWER WINDOW AUTO FEATURE MALFUNCTION.
PG00403 (20031023)
198000 TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
**SPARE TIRE CARRIER OPERATION. 2004 LX470 INCLUDED.
3LE (20031016)
063200 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
**SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN (SSC) 3LE - EXHAUST MANIFOLD CONVERTER ASSEMBLIES.
00203 (20030811)
100000 POWER TRAIN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM)
**RESET MEMORY FUNCTION WHENEVER AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED, OVERHAULED OR INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS ARE REPLACED. 1998 - 2003 ALL MODELS INCLUDING THE 2004 RX330.
00403 (20030731)
350000 EQUIPMENT
**WIRELESS HEADPHONE UNEXPECTEDLY TURNS OFF DURING LOW TEMPERATURE OPERATION.
For example, you're driving and coming up to an intersection, so you depress the brake pedal. It's "soft," meaning you have to depress it at least halfway in order to get any significant braking force.
But, let up the pedal and then depress it again quickly, and the braking is firm and immediate.
It's almost like the the initial brake-pedal push "pressurizes" the brake system, because your second brake-pedal-push is firm.
I've never noticed this on any other Toyota's I've had: 97 Avalon, 99 RX300, 00 Celica, 01 IS300...
I have noticed the same issue, plus a slight fluttery feeling in the brake pedal. Went in for the 10K service earlier this week and reported the problem. Was told that brakes were OK after inspection and test drive. Will monitor and report back.
So the solution is to watch how fast and quickly we initially apply the brakes and based on that decide if it truly is a "panic" stop and then "help" us apply the brakes and keep them applied firmly even if we lift the pedal slightly.
A light and slow brake appication doesn't get ANY "assist".
Speaking of engine noise, mine makes clicking noise when idling.
The transmission problem has gotten much worse. I can hear and feel the gears jump when I let the vehicle slow by itself or break from 30 mph, and it would take about 3 seconds after the gas paddle is fully pressed before the vehicle accelerates, about 5 seconds when cold.
I had emailed Lexus HQ about these problems, their reply the next day was "If we don't hear from you again, we will assume your problems have been fixed." I told them it was a bad assumption in my reply, and never heard from them again. Amazing service even from the HQ.
I have direct access to the east coast media. I don't care how happy other RX330 owners are about their RX330, I am not happy about my RX330 and Lexus' services. I will take my RX330 story to the press.
No Lexus/Toyota for me (and most my friends) ever again.
Some of the RX400h engine ecu and/or tranny ecu software mixed in with, inadvertantly compiled with the RX330 software??
That certainly seems to have happened with the climate control software.
I drive my RX330 day in day out and there are only two thing I don't like about this car: Rough shifting and stupid engine noise. My weekend project is to find away to insulate the noise. Here is the link that I found on some website. I hope it help some of you. http://www.bitwalla.com/cruisers/articles/sound.html
I asked my dealer to review the TSB (and listen to the dash on a test drive) at my 5000 mile oil change. The service person I talked to said he was aware of the rattle issue because a number of the RX's they have sold are coming in with the same complaint (I live in Eastern Iowa).
Anyway...when the car came back, the noise on the driver side of the vehicle was fixed but the noises from the passenger side were even louder than before. Even worse, the service dept. chose to use cheap black insulating foam that I could see between the dash and the windshield! I did not pay $40,000 for a car to see black foam at the base of the dash. I had that in my 1985 Chevy back in college!
Despite my displeasure, I was going to wait until my next scheduled service to complain but my husband was REALLY not happy. He rarely drives the RX and he was shocked at the rattles when he drove it a few days after the service.
So, we decided to bypass the service department AND our sales guy. Instead, we went straight to the sales manager (in person). We explained our complaints and our RX was immediately rescheduled for service. This time, they agreed to keep it overnight and drive it cold. Normally by the time the valet gets the RX to the dealer, the car is warmed up and the dash rattles weren't as bad. I should mention they did give me a new RX to drive while mine was in the shop.
To make a very long story a bit shorter, the RX came back and ALL of the problems appear to be fixed. The service manager told me they worked on three separate areas. And I can tell you that the dash profile itself looks different at the point where it meets the windshield. They definitely added more insulation. And, I don't hear the engine noise as much.
Lesson of the day: complain to the sales manager. If he/she wants to sell you another car they will do whatever they can to make you happy.
The service folks did tell me after this last trip to the shop that Lexus is very aware of the complaints and has been helpful to the dealer service centers in identifying ways to fix it. So, if your service department claims no knowledge of how to fix your dash rattles... you need to find another Lexus service department.
Step on the brake once, it's mushy and takes quite a stroke to get firm braking.
Step on it again and it's a firm brake pedal, no matter how many times you step on it.
Don't step on it for about 30 seconds, and then the next step on the pedal is "mushy" again.
By the way, EBD should be transparent to the user in terms of brake pedal "mushiness."
Without seeing the BA software specification I would never say that what you are experiencing isn't BA.
What does EBD stand for?
I don't know what year, but the accumulator was eliminated in favor of a stronger quick starting brake pressure replenishing pump.
With no accumulator to maintain pressure for long periods, probably hours, the pumpmotor will possibly start and run for each first brake application separated by more than a few minutes.
When you apply the brake the first time after not using them for a few minutes the pump starts up and builds brake pressure in case ABS or BA is needed, on the next pedal application the pressure is still there.....
Just a wild guess....
tidester, host
Anyway, I meant transparency in terms of the pedal feeling, not the "stopping power" of the vehicle. Why should the pedal firmness change in the case of Brake Assist?
Brake Assist is activated when, as wwest stated above, the computer senses that a panic stop is initiated by the driver (quick stab at the brake pedal). It essentially "clamps down" on brakes at full force, even though the driver doesn't fully depress the pedal (the computer assumes you want to stop hard).
So, I am differentiating between "stopping power" (the vehicle itself) and "pedal firmness" (my problem).
Service advisor told me this tsb should fix the trans problem. Damn shifting problem still there. Not much improve at all. Wonder why this new rx330 is worse than the current rx300 regarding engine noise and shifting?
I've always thought that maybe it was Lexus' way of avoiding engine braking, drag, on the front drive wheels.
Now with all these complaints about the RX330 (HL, Sienna)transmission shift pattern I wonder if Lexus is somehow trying to simulate the operation of a clutch.
There are no doubt many circumstances wherein if the tranny could somehow be popped into neutral it might prevent an occassional loss of control due to FWD and would undountedly increase the MPG.
In the Prius the driver can choose to use, or not, the engine braking mode in favor of charging the batteries. Maybe some overly bright young engineer decided to carry this "feature" over to the non-hybrid RX330.
With an e-throttle I would think the software would put the transmission in gear and only then allow throttle throughput.
Another option is to do manual shift.
Mine has been upgrade and now the transmission is responsive.
Good Luck.
The OP CODE is specified as "TC3001", with expected tech service time of 0.8 hours (for warrantly charging purposes).
It appears the only guaranteed method to verify whether you have the updated program is for a technician to hook up the diagnostic tester and read the ECU Calibration ID.
I hope this is a moot point, but the TSB states that a specific version (or newer) of the Diagnoster Tester program is required to perform this update.