Car starts but has absolutely no "power" when it's cold

[psilence]

Hello

Really this is just more of a curiousity than anything else. My 95 v6 camry has run great for me for the time that I've owned it, but I have noticed some strange (or, maybe not so strange) behavior from it.

When it is bitterly cold out, like 10 to 20 degrees below 0, the car will start up just fine on the first turn of the key, but it has to sit a while, because if you put it in gear and try to move, it will not move at all.

Even reversing down the driveway is pretty slow, and putting it in drive and pressing the gas just causes the engine to rev, and it doesn't move at all. However, just letting it sit for 3 minutes or so allows it to warm up and then it has full power.

Is this something to be concerned about in the future? Or does the car just not like bitter, bitter cold like anyone else?

[Stillrunning]

Sounds like automatic transmission problem where pressure is slow to build. If auto then flush/change the trans fluid to start.

Isn't it a little late for -10/20 below zero, even for Illinois?

[psilence]

Originally Posted by Stillrunning

Sounds like automatic transmission problem where pressure is slow to build. If auto then flush/change the trans fluid to start.

Isn't it a little late for -10/20 below zero, even for Illinois?

Hah, yes, I was just posting this as an afterthought from this past winter.

The car has 209k miles on it at this point, and I haven't changed the trans fluid since I've owned it (bought it at ~156k miles). I don't know that it's ever been changed.

Isn't that something where if it's not broken, it's better off left alone? It works okay after just a couple minutes of running, like I said. Just a curiosity.

[fenixus]

you may need new transmission in a few months, that is based on the fact that fluid has (probably) never been changed, no kidding.

you could try doing a few drain & refills at short intervals (.e.g. 3 times every 100 miles or so) on transmission and see if it helps.

might be worth to drop the trans pan, clean the mess up, clean magnets and replace strainer, then re-install pan using new gasket and torque wrench on bolts.