auto tranny slow to engage when cold

[happcm]

When I first start out on a cold morning, I can back out no problem. However, when I shift to drive, the tranny does not engage right away. I have to rev it a bit. Usually only does it the first time when it is cold. After it warms up (either the vehicle or outside temp) it seems to be fine. Vehicle is stock with 95K miles on it. Not off-roaded much at all.
Thanks!

 

[DaHeinah]

Mine does the same thing. Upon first take-off in drive, it revs up to approximately 2600-2700 RPMS, whereas it would normally shift down at 2200 or lower. Is this the same as what you are encountering?
You're right, it only does that on the first shift when cold.
I wouldn't think it would be a big problem, my X has been doing it for a while, no tranny problems yet.

 

[happcm]

Yes, same scenario. Of course I am concerned that the tranny will become completely inop and this is just the initial indication.

 

[ExplosaBlazin]

Something similar happens to my car...when i first start it and let it warm up for a minute...i put my car into gear and the car does not move as if the parking break is stuck...i try every gear and it still doesnt work, but when i give it a bit of gas it will move and make a popping sound and i was curious as to what the problem was

 

[BLACK95]

I have the same exact problem! I thought it was just me. Good to see everybody else has the same problem. I was thinking it was a solinoid of something stuck. After it warms up it shifts just fine.

 

[SteveVB]

Valve body loose?

Sounds like the valve body is loose. Pull the pan, and check the gasket, check the valve body for flatness and reinstall the valve body. Or take it in for a diagnostic pressure test, thay can pull the codes and shed some light on the situation.

Do a search of the site, this problem has been discussed before and I believe there may be a TSB out on it.

Good Luck

 

[TPLYNCH]

Run a search for "low gear/reverse servo". You can also try Private Message to OperaHouse. He's very knowledgable about this tranny problem

 

[dan swedish man]

i just left my x to the shop for the exact same thing...

my work buddy (who is a car mechanic, though we work in a skate board shop) says that it can be as simple as dirt in the tranny oil.
supposedly an oil change could make all the difference.

i'll post how it goes as soon as get it back from the shop!

later.

 

[dan swedish man]

got it back from the shop and here are my results:

leak in tranny
not much oil left
no oil pressure

after fixin' the leak, changing filter and filling it up again - it now shifts like a champ. (cold mornings or not...)

good luck y'all!

 

[biggs92EB]

my first tranny did that in my x till it got to the point where any cold start i had manually shift to 2 otherwise it would just stay in 1, if i had it in drive and came to a stopsign it would start in second, well end result was a disaster the tranny literally exploded inside. now my new one after 10K started doing exactly what you guys are sayin so i brought it in for warrenty and they naturally tried to burn me and say its my fault cause i didnt change the tranny cooler, but finally they just flushed the system and diagnosed it with "debri in shift solonoid" it still acted weird for a while and then just one day stopped and now works perfect

 

[DonM]

Mine does somthing like this also.

If I dont warm the engine up, overdrive doesnt shift as smooth. Plus the RPMS run alittle higher if the engine doesnt warm up enough!

I think it's overdrive atleast? Around 45-50mph...

 

[TPLYNCH]

There will be a delay shifting to overdrive when the engine is cold. I believe the computer delays to keep revs up so the engine warms up faster. My '99 has done this since day one. Always takes longer to shift to OD (5), and if I'm in 4th and hit OD off, it'll shift down to 3rd!!??

 

[biggs92EB]

i believe the probs we are having are related to the a4ld we are so fortunate to have this tranny

 

[DonM]

Originally posted by TPLYNCH
There will be a delay shifting to overdrive when the engine is cold. I believe the computer delays to keep revs up so the engine warms up faster. My '99 has done this since day one. Always takes longer to shift to OD (5), and if I'm in 4th and hit OD off, it'll shift down to 3rd!!??

Yup, even if the engine is warm some times, the OD shift isnt as smooth as I would like. Seems like the faster im going the smoother the shift is. If I accelerate hard, the shift is soft and smooth. If I dont get on it, it takes a few sec for OD to cut in. OD starts around 45mph and completes the shift around 50mph.

 

[Crankcase]

Whenever the fluid is low in the A4LD, it will shift into reverse fine at startup but it won't go in drive until warmed up....Half of my families X's have had this problem when the seal between the X-fer case and the tranny blew, letting fluid leak in to the X-fer case......