Seeking Advice on Erratic Shifting and Grinding Noise in 2003 Lexus SC

Hey, got the same brand but a 2006 Lexus ES. Mine started doing the same thing a while back with the strange shifting and grinding noise. After taking it to my local garage, they concluded it was the Automatic Transmission Converter giving trouble. The problem's actually pretty nasty. My mechanic explained that the torque converter handles power distribution from the engine to the transmission, so any issues with it seriously affect your ride. Grinding noises and erratic shifting suggested that the lock-up clutch in my converter was broken. It wasn't allowing the car to shift properly and causing all sorts of weird sounds. They had to completely replace the converter, which I won't lie, is a pretty big job. Mechanic said it was really important to get it fixed since a dodgy converter impacts the overall performance and can lead to more serious transmission problems down the road. So, definitely get it checked out as soon as you can. Avoid any more potential issues with your ride. Peace!

Hey there, thanks for shedding some light on this. Seems like you were in the same boat with your ES. That automatic transmission converter job sounded like a pretty hefty one. Roughly how much did it set you back? Also, how's your Lexus doing after the fix, ever had any repeat issues or was it pretty smooth sailing?

Hey there! Yeah, the cost did make my wallet cry a little. It ended up being around 2120€ to sort out that pesky automatic transmission converter. But honestly, I reckon it's money well spent. At least I got my peace of mind back and could enjoy driving my Lexus again. Absolutely no regrets with the fix! Ever since getting it sorted by the mechanic, the converter lockup clutch has been giving me no trouble at all. Smooth sailing indeed! It really helped eliminate those erratic shifts and all that nerve-wracking grinding noise. So yeah, despite the sting on the expenses, I'd say get it fixed up. If it is indeed that converter acting up, you don't want it messing up your transmission a few months down the road. Cheers!

Hey, thanks again for the detailed response! Yikes, that price tag is a bit of a shocker, but hearing your positive experience post-repair, I've pretty much decided to bite the bullet. I'd rather get this sorted now than let it snowball into a bigger problem later on. And besides, ensuring a smooth ride is pretty important to me. Really, I just want to get back to enjoying my drive without all these rumbles and grumbles from under the hood. You've been a big help in pushing me to get it sorted, cheers!