I bought a great running 06 and drove it for a while before deciding to fix some things and do preventive maintenance. First I replaced the power steering pump and cooling fan, as well as engine cooling fans. Then I replaced the CVT fluid and filter using Redline CVT fluid. I noticed a slow drip at the CVT drain plug, but it drove fine. Then after a few weeks, the tranny started immediately jumping into high range and lugging. Refilled the CVT fluid, and the problem was still there. It had been about a quart low. Erased tranny, and retrained, but during retraining, the tranny never shifted into high range, not even at 100mph. When I start it, it goes into learn mode when I shift into gear, so I do a few shifts from neutral to drive and neutral to reverse, before the x disappears. It's drivable but still goes to high range and 2000 rpm and lugs until I get up to speed. No odd noises. Just replaced the rotational speed sensor today on a hunch, but no change.
Suggestions based on experience?

 

I gave up and ordered a new tranny from
eBay for $1295.

 

R53 doesn’t have a CVT.
You either have an R50 with CVT
or an R53 with Aisin auto trans.
Convertible R52 can be either a
base model like R50 or S model
like R53.

 

Correct! I have an R52 convertible.

 

Is it supercharged or naturally aspirated?

 

not an S