HELP! a Lexus with no reverse!

[ceeelle]

I need some guidance with this one..

I've got a friend with a 1993 Lexus ES 300 with a transmission that's got no reverse...

The car has the 6-cylinder engine and about 150K miles on the odometer. The car drives fine in all forward gears, although there is a bit of slippage when first getting underway, and has plenty of power.

BUT it has little to no power when the transmission is in reverse. He's been told by his mechanic that he needs a new or rebuilt tranny and to fork over $3,000.

Forgetting that $3K for a tranny seems absurd... does anyone have any thoughts on what might be wrong with the car? What's the best cure?

If the car does need a transmission, a couple of questions:

1. How difficult a job is it, and what related components must also be replaced? How hard is it to get the tranny out of the car? Can it be done by a competent shadetree mechanic, or does it require putting the car up on a hydraulic lift?

2. Must the tranny be replaced with one from Lexus, or will one from a '93 Camry work? (I've heard the Camry and ES 300 were mechanically the same, but I know nothing about Lexuses...)

3. What's a ballpark figure for a rebuilt tranny? How about pulling one from a salvage yard?

Thanks, everyone!

[papanature]

The tranny on my Camry blew about a year and a half ago. It would not go into any gear. So, I had it rebuilt for $1000. The engine and tranny of my Camry and the Lex ES300 should be the same. I suggest you tell your friend to look around for better prices on the rebuild.

[PC]

reverse is the first gear to go on an auto. head down to the locla parts store and pick up a can of trans-X. it is in a blue/silver can add it in and it will help. it may not get your car to drive right again but it will help. i have seen cars that literally would not move drive away after adding this stuff in there. its like $7 def. worth a shot. its gauranteed to improve the tranny within 100 miles of driving.

[Big Chris]

Get it rebuilt thats the only fix

[408EK9]

could it be just the torque converter? or low tranny fluid level?.. he did say it was slipping a bit in forward gears also..