02 Camry Harsh Shift into Drive When Cold

[Rpov]

02 Camry V6 with 47,000 mi. clunks in drive when cold. Yet smooth shift into reverse when cold. When car warms up shift into drive becomes smooth. Also when driving cold engine shifts at 3,000 rpm under very mild acceleration. Any solutions?

[Zviator]

Let it idle longer before u drive, soft on gas until the engine and tranny warm up.

I have the common issue and i dont think it's really a problem.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

get the EGR valve checked....mine was doing this..and it was the EGR valve.

[MrSo0h0o]

Originally Posted by Camricer

Let it idle longer before u drive, soft on gas until the engine and tranny warm up.

I have the common issue and i dont think it's really a problem.

x2... let the car warm up before you drive away. the car idles at a higher RPM when cold to get the car up to running temp. quicker. also, if you have been doing this all of your 47k miles, i would get your engine mounts checked, as they may be broken, hence the clunking sound.

[new echo owner]

Have you try resetting the memory to see if that helps?

N.E.O.

[jermyjerm]

my wife complains of the same issues but it's normal.it goes into gear hard 'cause of the high idle and Toyota automatics shift funny when cold for improved longevity.let it warm up a bit,but extended idling isnt best.5 minutes takes most of the chill out.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

doesn't sound normal...mine shifts smoothly when cold or warm...

[Gellenole]

mine too -- 2003 btw.

I usually just make sure that when I park, the car doesn't shift forward or backwards beforehand. That's usually my cause -- after that it's all smooth sailing.

[enochc17]

this happens for me as well. 2002 auto.

in the morning i have the time to warm it but in the afternoon leaving the parking lot is rushed to avoid the lineup out of it. so i don't have the time to warm it....

is this damaging to the tranny?...

we should do a thread for tranny maintenence measures. that would be helpful.

[BlackCamSe]

the clunking might be a warn motor mount. And it shifts at a higher RPM when cold because the Camry's auto trans will not shift into over drive until the car is at normal operating temp.

[Zviator]

It's not recommended to rev when the parts ain't warmed up anyways.

[MrSo0h0o]

Bottom Line:

Let the car warm up until at least 1/3 up your temp. gauge. Make sure your RPMs are 1100 or lower before shifting into gear. If it still continues even when the engine is warm, get your motor/engine mounts checked out.

[workerant]

What's the worst that could happen?

[danorthface]

or just have your brakes depressed when shifting into drive. Once in drive, slowly let go of the brakes

[scolist]

On my 1990 and 2002 Camrys, I just turned off the OD until the car warmed up. It's stopped the same problem.