Hello everyone! I bought a 2013 OS ES at an auction after the auctioneer claimed was an all wheel drive. But after winning the bid, I found out it is really a front wheel drive. I am stuck with it now and hoping I will not be losing my $1500 as it has a ton of issues. But I am mechanical and will go through it best I can.

Biggest issue is the CVT, as while driving it home 5 miles, I could tell it was losing power on the hills and heard a whine from below the car. I did some internet reading and bought 5 gals of Castrol CVT fluid to change out whatever red fluid was in the vehicle. On the first drop and fill yesterday of CVT fluid, I got 9.5 quarts of fluid out. That is right, about 5.5 quarts overfilled from what it should have had. Then after a short drive to warm CVT, I repeated the flush 3 times trying to get rid of the old CVT fluid which I suspect was likely ATF. Anyone dumb enough to overfill the CVT that much has no clue on the proper cvt fluid is my thinking. But after even he first dump and fill, the vehicle drove and shifted fine the whine was gone. The CVT is pretty quiet now unless going uphill and giving it some gas, I hear a low growl, but it is not too loud and I am hoping it is just how they sound when under some load???

I went to a local mechanic I know to run the DTC codes and he got 3 codes, P0401/EGR flow, P0420/Cat below threshold, P1590 CVT communication failure in torque reeducation request. I do not have emissions inspections in SW colorado, so first 2 codes might not matter and maybe will clear after a full tune up?? The P1590 is likely due to the overfilled CVT and maybe explains the lack of power I felt when going up hills on way home and no power when I pushed my foot to the floor?? Hoping this will clear out out after a few drive cycles and CVT service.

I think my plan now is to go ahead and finish the CVT service today by dropping the lower CVT pan and installing a new filter and cleaning up the magnets/pan and new gasket with another fluid exchange. Then if that is all good, I go ahead and change out oil, air filter, plugs and other tune up things like cleaning up the mass air flow sensor, throttle body, EGR and whatever else I figure out might need some attention. I saw the fuel filter is in the tank, maybe not needed to replace till the pump fails??

The vehicle has a lot of other issues, like the driver's side door door lock does not unlock as I discovered when I went back to pick up the car the day after the auction and had to call a locksmith to break in to the vehicle. The air controls are wacky and the fan lowers but never shuts off, the front vents are not allowing air to pass through the vent (the foot and defrost vent are working. I think fan is good and I suspect a stuck "barn door" in venting behind the dash somewhere??). The AC seems to be on continuously and it cycles on and off every few seconds, maybe low on freon and bad controls??? I get an airbag service warning on the dash and a engine maintenance needed warning that comes and goes. And a few other cosmetic broken stuff I can sort out, glass is excellent, body OK with a few minor bumps and things, no fluid leaks that I can see anywhere.

But the vehicle now has good power and shifted fine after the CVT fluid exchanges yesterday, so hoping minimal damage to CVT. So off to go finish the CVT service and start tune up today while I have a day off of work. I did find the PDF on line with the owners manual as mine was missing. I am hoping I can find other DIY stuff I need on YouTube or here on this site. I will get my mechanic to repair the door latch eventually and deal with the air control stuff is my guess, but I might tackle some of that myself as well.

I have had very good experience in the past with BG additive products and might do their engine flush with oil change and try their CVT additive to help with any damage from the overfill and lack of past maintenance, and add some BG 44K fuel additive to clean up the injectors as it has a mild intermittent hesitation on accelerating from a stop that is worse when cold.

Any help is appreciated with my new/old rescue/project OS ES! Thanks for the help!!!