I have a TLs 03. with just over 1000 miles on it.
I have read a lot of comments on the tranny problem.
So far I have pushed my transmission a lot and it seems really solid with the exception of the following situation.

When driving in slow traffic ( damn work! ) with the car in D5, I have felt the transmission jump back and forth into differnt gears.
It has happened now on several occassions when I am doing 37-40 mph. The tach is showing 1500 and when it starts oscillating back between different gears the tach goes back and forth between 1500 and 2000. If I accelarate passed this point all seems well. I have a feeling it is just how the gear ratios are set up and me driving to damn slow!
Anybody have similar experience...Please don't tell me this is the first sign of the tranny going!

 

Yeah I wouldn't worry about it. I have seen a lot of people with our cars say the same thing around 40mph. I've noticed it too ... The transmission wants to upshift to higher gears as quickly as possible, but when you give it some gas then it needs to downshift again...

If you put the car D4 it should prevent the problems. (I usually drive in D4 all the time for city driving and then switch up to D5 when I exceed 50mph or so).

 

Yep. That's pretty much what I do, too. Keeps that "extra" shift from happening. Just don't forget to go back to D5 when you get some room on the freeway!

Later,

V.

 

the common TL tranny hickup

 

Are you sure your not just experiencing the Torque converter locking and unlocking ?

 

Happens to me when going down hill slowing down. The gear changes sharp from 4th to 3rd I think. Right at about 40mph. I still drive my car in D5 except I just don't slow down anymore

 

Yep, I'm experiencing the same problem. '03 TL-S with 4,000 on the odo.

I think I'll try leaving it in 4th.

 

I think this feature is an indicator. When it does the hickups, it means everyting is OK. When it stops doing it, probably the tranny will be toast soon