Problem with transmission? on cold mornings

[montanafan]

First of all, I'm female and fit the stereotype of knowing very little about vehicles.

A few weeks ago, on the first really cold morning of the year, I started my truck (2001 Toyota Tacoma) put it in drive and gave it the gas to pull out and it barely started to roll. I revved the engine and still hardly any movement.. I put it in reverse and it moved just fine. Then after a few seconds it started moving in drive just fine, no jerking or unusual noise or anything. No problems after that or on any other morning until a couple of very cold ones again.

I just took it in for new tires and an oil change and told them about it and they said that since it had 80,000 miles on it they wouldn't recommend changing the transmission fluid, but would try putting an additive in the transmission fluid.

Anyone know what the problem could be?

 

[Demo24]

sounds like its just cold to me. I'd just let it warm up for a bit

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: DEMO24
sounds like its just cold to me. I'd just let it warm up for a bit

Yep. The fluid needs to get flowing and when it is cold things move more slowly.

 

[DougK62]

Just let it warm up a minute.

And don't ever go back to that mechanic. I would definitely change the transmission fluid, and no way would I add an additive to it.

 

[iamwiz82]

How cold is cold to you? I usually don't experience car oddities until 0F and below. That's when power steering gets tighter and funny sounds start eminating.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: woodie1

Originally posted by: DEMO24
sounds like its just cold to me. I'd just let it warm up for a bit

Yep. The fluid needs to get flowing and when it is cold things move more slowly.

Nope. Her profile says she lives in Virginia....it's not that cold. Car should engage immediately when she puts it in gear.

First, the fluid level needs to be checked....this is a classic symptom of low fluid.

Second, 80k is NOT too late in the game to do a trans service. Hell, lots of cars now don't even recommend a service until 50, 75, even 100k.

First thing to do, other than taking it to a transmssion shop and having them diagnose it is to check the fluid level.
If the fluid level is okay, have it flushed. I'd definitely recommend a flush on this one...particularly because if you have a sticking valve body, the flush will help clean it, whereas a regular drain/change filter/refill won't.

Then drive it awhile and see what you've got.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: DougK62
Just let it warm up a minute.

And don't ever go back to that mechanic. I would definitely change the transmission fluid, and no way would I add an additive to it.

No kidding. That guy is an idiot, change the fluid and see if that helps...oh, and find a new mechanic.

 

[LTC8K6]

That is not normal, imo.

Check the level as soon as you can. Don't add anything but the proper trans fluid.

80K is a good time for a trans fluid and filter change.

 

[montanafan]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I just got the truck back and they said they checked the fluid and everything looked alright, and they didn't use the additive. They said that it might just be that when it's cold it takes longer to pick up the fluid and to just let it warm up a little first.

It still bothers me though because I haven't had this problem before in even colder temperatures. The three times this happened lately the temperatures were in the 20s. I guess I'll just take the advice to let it warm up first for now and ask around about some place that knows about transmission problems.

Thanks again.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: montanafan
Thanks for all the advice guys. I just got the truck back and they said they checked the fluid and everything looked alright, and they didn't use the additive. They said that it might just be that when it's cold it takes longer to pick up the fluid and to just let it warm up a little first.

It still bothers me though because I haven't had this problem before in even colder temperatures. The three times this happened lately the temperatures were in the 20s. I guess I'll just take the advice to let it warm up first for now and ask around about some place that knows about transmission problems.

Thanks again.

They are wrong. It should engage immediately. See a tranny place very soon.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: montanafan
Thanks for all the advice guys. I just got the truck back and they said they checked the fluid and everything looked alright, and they didn't use the additive. They said that it might just be that when it's cold it takes longer to pick up the fluid and to just let it warm up a little first.

It still bothers me though because I haven't had this problem before in even colder temperatures. The three times this happened lately the temperatures were in the 20s. I guess I'll just take the advice to let it warm up first for now and ask around about some place that knows about transmission problems.

Thanks again.

They are wrong. It should engage immediately. See a tranny place very soon.

This is good advice as was his first post. Delaying this will only increase the cost of the repair.

 

[Demo24]

ah, I was expecting colder temps than just 20f. In that case take it in somewhere and get the fluid changed.

 

[alfa147x]

is this caused by the fluid thinking because it a cold? if so im surprised it makes such an impact

 

[natto fire]

While ATF (going to assume it is a Dexron/Mercon tpye, probably series III) is still an oil and will fall prey to problems all oils face at extremely low temps, like pacfan said, we are talking subzero temps here. My Jeep starts hard in 20-30 degree weather, and uses a 10-30 motor oil, but it is also a big pushrod engine. The tranny is always much more responsive than the engine, so I would be worried myself if the transmission is acting up more than the engine in Virginia's fairly mild winters

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: montanafan
Thanks for all the advice guys. I just got the truck back and they said they checked the fluid and everything looked alright, and they didn't use the additive. They said that it might just be that when it's cold it takes longer to pick up the fluid and to just let it warm up a little first.

It still bothers me though because I haven't had this problem before in even colder temperatures. The three times this happened lately the temperatures were in the 20s. I guess I'll just take the advice to let it warm up first for now and ask around about some place that knows about transmission problems.

Thanks again.

They are wrong. It should engage immediately. See a tranny place very soon.

They are definitely wrong so don't even take you car there again to have the tire pressure checked. If this car was older I would say that some seals are starting to go bad and it takes the warmer fluid to make them start to seal again but I have not experienced this in newer vehicles with only 80K on the ticker.