Transmission lags when cold

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Aug 23, 2009 | 03:35 PM

dzwiss

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Transmission lags when cold

When I first start out with a cold engine the transmission seems to take a long time to shift into second and third. When it does shift it shifts hard, or jerky. After a couple of cycles like this it smooths out and shifts normally. I checked the fluid and it is full. Any ideas as to what might cause this and is it a problem?

Aug 23, 2009 | 05:25 PM

pjwoolw

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From: San Ramon Ca.

Pretty sure mine does that too if I start off cold. Always has. I don't take off cold often. Every time I suspect something odd with the tranny fresh fluid has seemed to take care of it.

Dec 16, 2009 | 04:37 PM

dzwiss

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Problem solved

I had a starting issue when the temps dropped to 2 degrees the other morning. The PSD was hard starting and blew a lot of black smoke, then stopped running. Restarted fine, but I had a check engine light. Took it in and the fix was to reprogram the computer, apparently there was a TSB on the situation. So, it now starts great and the transmission doesn't lag when starting out cold. It only took about six months to get that straightened out, but it's all good now.

Dec 16, 2009 | 06:08 PM

69cj

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From: Middle Tn.

how many miles are on it and has the tranny and ext. filter been serviced?

Dec 17, 2009 | 01:06 PM

dzwiss

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There are 53,000 miles on it and I have had the transmission serviced twice, the last time less than a month ago. It's running great now.

Dec 17, 2009 | 02:35 PM

rodolan

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From: south louisiana

Mine does same thing only when it's cold otherwise perfectly normal..

Dec 17, 2009 | 04:50 PM

powerstroke72

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From: SW Virginia

Mine has done it since it was new. The transmission always shifts like that until it gets warmed up a bit. You can feather the throttle and get almost out of it completely before it will shift but after it warms up it's fine. The latest flash took care of some of it but the rest I've chalked up to being normal. It doesn't do it nearly as bad in the warmer months but it's been in the single digits overnight here lately and I've noticed it doing it a little more.

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Dec 18, 2009 | 06:50 AM

Rob.D

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From: Cedar Springs,MI

You would be suprises at how long it takes for the tranny fluid to get upto normal operating temps. Since I've installed the Spartan Phalanx I can now monitor temps. When it's cold here, it may take 20+ miles before I see normal temp, 145F if I remember correctly. The oil/coolant temps come up much quicker.