Stuck in 2nd gear when it's cold out

[Corsulian]

I noticed that one other guy had this problem on the board--but I was wondering if it is common or if it is actually an evil and expensive problem...brewing...evilly.
I've got a 94 LE with an automatic and when it's insanely cold out and windy (enough so that I could not replace my fuel filter or clean my throttle body--stupid stupid climate) my car won't switch into third gear for a while. Now this same thing happened on my old Montero and I chalked it up to the Montero being awful and the transmission having not been serviced for five years. It works fine after driving for about five-ten minutes. I checked the fluid today and it looks all nice and bright red--so I guess the previous owners took care of that decently.
Anyone else with an automatic have this happen or is my car showing the same worn transmission signs at 77,000 miles that my previous one did at 170,000?
Thanks.

[eecc]

i think its normal since its cold. its not shifting or shifting at higher rpm because its trying to warm up ur catalytic converter.

[90CamryDx3SFE]

On my Gen 2, I get a real bad *CLUNK* and shudder when it shifts 1st to 2nd if the car is cold. Although it will occasionally do this when the car is warm as well.

*cries*

[alex]

its normal......

[Eye8Pussies]

its cuz your tranny is warming up, and it prevents it from getting damaged while its cold.....

and I could also see it keeping dumasses from going on the highway while their engine & tranny is still frozen solid....

[Corsulian]

Thanks all,

I keep it on 35mph roads at max when it's being crazy like that--but the Montero did it more often and so sometimes I would just be traveling along at 50mph in 2nd gear. It got me back though when the transmission failed at 2am on the way to a diner on a highway with 3 friends in the car.

[bronzemaxell]

i normally don't warm up the car, hop on highway right away and lately it was (is) extremely cold in NorthEast region, i was shifting into 1st gear, 2nd gear, 3rd gear,and while i shift to 4th gear, the indicator is still below C, and i kept my speed around 45 to 60 mph on 4th gear until it warm up, normally in 30 to 60 secs, then shift into 5th gear, i am wondering if there is any harm to engine or transmission by doing that.

[eecc]

as long as ur below 3000rpm u should be fine. u can rev higher than that after ur car fully warms up

[bronzemaxell]

Originally posted by eecc
as long as ur below 3000rpm u should be fine. u can rev higher than that after ur car fully warms up

oh cool, my 4th gear runs near 3000 rpm at 60mph, and drops to 2100 rpm once it is in 5th gear.

[TRDCAMRY]

I have experienced the same thing. It actually isn't a problem, it's a safety measure that Toyota uses in their automatic trannies so no one can drive past second gear with a cold tranny/engine and kill it. Don't try to force the car into overdrive or anything. Just keep the rpm's at or below 3000 until the car warms up. Eventually it will shift into third on its own, that's when you'll know that it has warmed up to normal operating temps.

[90CamryDx3SFE]

I just put it in first, and run 3K RPM around the block to warm up before hitting the streets.

[Corsulian]

Out of random curiosity, would anyone happen to know how one of those tranny fluid additives that claims to lower the fluid temp would affect all this--is the fluid what the car's computer measures to make sure things are warmed up enough?

[GEN3CAM]

The only transmission additive that I would add is LUBEGUARD...