Cold transmission question

**jmeyer** · 02-05-2007, 09:07 AM

This morning it was -1 out. I started the Titan and let it warm up for about five minutes before I left the house.

After I hit the road, the transmission was shifting extremely hard. I have been in much colder temps and this has not happened before.

Any suggestions or anybody have this happen before???

Thanks for your help guys.

cnett · 02-05-2007, 09:45 AM

I have a '07 KC SE and I noticed the same thing this morning. It was -6 and I let it idle for a few minutes. Jumped in and took off (slow). I knew the engine was getting warm but the trans was still cold. I noticed it shifted pretty hard as I picked up speed. Within a half mile it was back to normal. At first I was concerned, but later realized it was normal. Just go easy until the transmission is warmed up.

'07 KC SE (484 miles)

Yomama · 02-05-2007, 10:59 AM

I have heard that leaving your vehicle running does not heat up the trans fluid, but putting it in neutral and letting it runs does. So after the motor is warmed up you may want to sit in the vehicle and let her sit in neutral for a minute before taking off. We are -20 here today, so I'll see how she shifts this afternoon...

Gunner22 · 02-05-2007, 11:07 AM

Mine does that too on the subzero mornings. It was -20 this morning and it took a while for the tranny to start shifting smooth. I drove it around town for maybe a mile at slow speeds before I drove at highway speeds just to get some heat in the drivetrain. Not sure what can be done to help prevent the hard shifts in the cold weather.

Gunner22 · 02-05-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yomama

I have heard that leaving your vehicle running does not heat up the trans fluid, but putting it in neutral and letting it runs does. So after the motor is warmed up you may want to sit in the vehicle and let her sit in neutral for a minute before taking off. We are -20 here today, so I'll see how she shifts this afternoon...

I have never heard of doing that, but it makes sense. I'll have to try it as well this afternoon.

Bartek101 · 02-05-2007, 11:20 AM

Same thing here, it was -11F this morning and the trans felt like it had SHIFT-KIT installed until fluid has warmed up..

M_Dizzo · 02-05-2007, 02:44 PM

When it's cold out I always shift mine into neutral as soon as I start it and let it sit there for at least a minute or two to warm up. I used to do this on my Dodge Ram because the trannys on them wouldn't circulate fluid in park. I have no idea if it does on the Titan but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I always drive away with very little throttle so when it first shifts it's not under any load.

**loufish** · 02-05-2007, 05:32 PM

Quote:

I have heard that leaving your vehicle running does not heat up the trans fluid, but putting it in neutral and letting it runs does. So after the motor is warmed up you may want to sit in the vehicle and let her sit in neutral for a minute before taking off. We are -20 here today, so I'll see how she shifts this afternoon...

Did you mean leaving it in Park does not put much heat into the trans? Park/Neutral is the same far as the torque converter is concerned, if you let it sit in gear for 5 minutes you put more heat into the fluid because it loads up the converter a little. You guys are way off the normal cold temps, and could have several powertrain issues until things warm up...