Svr Mgr says "cold start delay built in"

[ironwill5]

Hi - new to Toyota and the forum. I have an '08 Yaris, 4 dr, auto.

2 months ago I started noticing a shift delay from 3rd to 4th. B/f driving it one day with me and said, "what's that noise?" "oh, you notice it too? car's been doing that lately. Sounds like a high pitch hum because I don't think it's shifting properly."

Last week decided to take it to the dealer down the road here in Texas. Service manager went for a ride with me and I asked him to listen and feel for the delay in shift between 3rd and 4th. He noticed. Said bring it in one one evening, leave it and they'd run tests on it first thing in the morning when it was cold. He told me car is "designed for a 10 - 15 minute cold start delay in shifting til ambient temperature warms up."

This is Texas. Not Alaska. I bought the car in January. No issues til late summer/early fall with this delay in shifting. A quick fact check on weather history shows avg temperature in Jan was 61 degrees, in Sept 90 degrees. I think what he's saying is BS. Talked to my old mechanic a ways up the road and he says a new car (still under warranty btw) like mine might have a solenoid issue or chip not communicating properly, but doubtful on the transmission.

I have high mileage on car from long commute (highway), and service it regularly.

What to do/say if service manager comes back with, 'yep, it's the cold start delay designed into the car.' I realize he may not be able to immitate what I experience out on the road (car still in 3rd at 60+mph after 10 minutes of driving), but I don't think the ambient temperature (or the oil? fluids? outside temperature?) has anything to do with it.

Thoughts please!!

Sadly, there is a hint of old-boy-network-male-hierarchy going on here I suspect and because I am female I know nothing other than how to turn the key and make the car go.

[ironwill5]

Update - service manager just called. Said he could not replicate my problem. NO codes, diagnostics reveals nothing. Said once the temperature of the fluids go to operating temperature a) the little light on the dashboard went off (i've seen this happen) and b) can't fix what can't diagnose. Says the literature in the owners manual talks about this very thing and this is what's happening.

Then we got into an argument about how the outdoor temperature affects the metals and fluids and can cause a longer delay in proper temperature of the fluids. I said I bought the car in January and this was not an issue. It started becoming an issue 2 months ago in September. He said, "yes ma'am, I understand." We went round for 20 minutes and then, "I've just go to get off the phone because I've got another client." First he said the outdoor weather temperature was an factor, then when I gave him specifics he said it wasn't a factor.

I asked him if this would all be written up and documented as the car is still under warranty. He said of course. 3 years from now they won't fix it, but "I imagine if it becomes a problem in the next 30 - 60 days they'd take care of it." They being Toyota.

Upshot is, and I can understand this, they can't fix what they can't diagnose. So I said the collective wisdom of Toyota mechanics will be overridden and my own sense and experience of the car will be overridden if the computer cannot find a problem. He didn't reply to this.

[n00b]

Is the shifter in 3 or D? 3 and D are side by side so maybe you are accidently placing it in 3?

If that's not it then there is a problem.