I got the amended fix for the 02-04 ES300 hesitation problem. It is an update to TSB TC004 (now called TC004-03). I've been driving with it for about two weeks. The fix directly addresses my major complaints of slow acceleration from a stop or when rolling at slow speed and needing to accelerate quickly (the "slow roll" problem). The fix significantly improves acceleration under these conditions. It feels like the 800 pound gorilla has been removed from my trunk.
However, the downshifts are very abrupt under some circumstances. I especially notice this when leaving a school zone after cruising at
20mph and then pressing down a tad more when the zone ends. The car jerks into the lower gear in preparation for rapid acceleration, even though that's not my plan. If I press the accelerator much more slowly, I can avoid the jack-rabbit jerks, but I have to press more lightly than I would expect to. Anyway, I am overall pretty pleased with the fix. Despite the abrupt shifting in some cases, I would rather it do that than not respond quickly to a call for power when I need it. I had a '97 ES and it had a super smooth transmission that shifted effortlessly. I miss that in my '03, but at least it is more drivable and predictable now with the new fix.Has anybody else gotten the fix? What are your thoughts?
Dave