# 2002 Lexus 300es

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-300es/27931>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [March 18, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-300es/27931 "2009-03-18T01:13:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mkriley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@mkriley](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mkriley)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-300es/27931/1 "2009-03-18T01:13:23Z")

</div>

When I put my shift lever into the “drive” position, the indicator light in the instrument cluster goes to “4”. Has anyone else experienced this? I’m not sure if the care is in “Drive” or “4” as both felt similar in the past. Any Ideas?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-300es/27931/2 "2009-03-18T01:38:36Z")

</div>

Since this is a 5-speed automatic, this could be an indication of a transmission problem. On a positive note, it could be an electronic problem, which is cheaper to fix than a mechanical problem.

But…have you checked the level, the color, and the smell of the transmission fluid?  
When was the transmission last serviced?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-300es/27931/3 "2009-03-18T02:27:52Z")

</div>

i have had an old chrysler show off by one letter on the PRND12 scale. i am not sure if the linkage was off, the mechanical indicator was off, or the transmission was off. but it ran fine, so i just ignored the dial.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-300es/27931/4 "2009-03-18T02:36:16Z")

</div>

If the gear shift lever is on the column, the steering wheel tilt may be causing the mismatch. Set the steering column straight, rather than tilted, and look at the gear position indicator.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 11:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-300es/27931/5 "2009-03-18T11:09:59Z")

</div>

This is a Lexus with a nice florescent display. They don’t use a mechanical display for gear indication.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-300es/27931/6 "2009-03-21T01:54:13Z")

</div>

Does your ES have the OD off button on the shift lever? You may have inadvertantly turned OD (5th) off.