P to R very abrupt when cold

[wimpwgn]

Hello,

I have a 95 ES300, same as gen 3.5 Camry and I have a question regarding the auto tranny. When the car is cold, even after letting it warm up for a minute or two, it's always very abrupt to shift from P to R. However, after driving it for a while, shifting has always been smooth like butter. I notice high idle when the car is cold due to its design, is this what's causing the abrupt shift when the car is cold?

TIA

[SuperGoop]

How fast (RPM) was it idling when you shifted from P to R?

[wimpwgn]

Originally Posted by SuperGoop

How fast (RPM) was it idling when you shifted from P to R?

Normal auto choke RPM, 1500-1800rpm. After shift to R, rpm drops to 800-1000, until engine fully warms up to normal 650-700rpm idle.

[CCCP]

I noticed it too on older automatic transmissions. If rpm's are high it will do it even on a brand new car.

[DarkMastyr]

Normal. Abrupt because transmission hasn't warmed up. Your engine might have warmed up a bit, but sitting there idling doesn't warm up your transmission really.

[wimpwgn]

So everybody has that issue?

[DarkMastyr]

It's not an issue. It's how it works.

[camryfour]

I know that was happening on my dad's Astro Van (haha the Pimp Van). All it needed was some transmission fluid. It changed dramatically, but then again there was still a noticeable jump from "P" to "R".

[wimpwgn]

Tranny fluid was drained and refilled 10k miles ago.

[JetspeedCamry]

It's perfectly normal... not only has the transmission not warmed up, but neither has the engine, and hence why its choke idling at 1500 or so RPM. So when your putting the transmission into a drive gear, the drop in RPM is greater, and hence you feel knock.

[wimpwgn]

Thanks for the reply.

I didn't feel that knock when the car was couple of years newer though.