Cold, won't shift

Last couple mornings have been in the low 40's where I live, and when the trans is cold in the morning, it will NOT shift into any gear. It takes me a minute or so to get it into first, then its really tough in all gears till I go a couple miles. This morning, I had to start in second, because first was completely inaccessible. After it warms up, shifts perfectly. Clutch does not slip, 100,000 miles on truck. Taking truck into shop on monday to replace front cv boot, Guess I will have them check the tranny too.

 

Drain the trans and go with a synetheic, gear oil, would be my first move.

 

x2 redline mt-90

 

I do have a gallon of mt-90 that just showed up yesterday, do you really think it will make that drastic of a change? Seems like a mechanical issue to me, Feels like I don't even have the clutch in. Just will not go in.

 

well the fact that it does fine when warm makes me think changing to mt-90 will help a lot.

def check all the clutch components though (pedal free play, fluid level).

 

I had the same problem when I changed the gear oil in my 1st gen one time. I changed it with regular gear oil, couldn't shift just as you describe. Drained it again and went with Amsoil Severe Gear.....ouila problem solved and shifted better than ever.

 

Im having the exact same issue, only mine has only been happening up in the mountains. I thought it had to do with the altitude, but now that you mention it, it's been in the low 40's both times when it happened to me... are you any higher than 7500 ft or so?

 

Nope, I'm in Kansas. My clutch is fine, I can hear my kanky input bearing come to a stop when I put my clutch in. I will dump my MT90 in and see what happens. Thanks guys!

 

cool deal, mine shifts great even when its 15* out with the synthetic.

 

Ima give that shot too... thanks guys.

 

It is the fluid!!! When trans warms up, oil gets more viscus(sp).

 

Great old post! I just bought my truck and they must of warmed it up REAL good before I came over to test drive it and buy it. The next morning it wouldn't go into gear until hot!

Do I have to do the transfer case too when I do the trans? I can only find 3 quarts of Redline MT90 locally. That's enough to do the transmission but I need another 1.2qts to do the transfer case.

Oh yeah my current transmission fluid in the dark grey/black! Yuck!

 

ive gotta change my trans fluid because every time i start my truck cold and go for a drive it doenst wanna shift gears, it drags them out but once it warms up it shifts fine but gets annoying after awhile.

 

Had the same issue myself. Often skipped second gear on cold mornings due to impossible shift. Changed the fluid to something from Advance Auto and it was just as bad. Ordered Amsoil Sever Gear and that has helped significantly, although on mornings in the teens it can still be a little rough. After the first shift into second, from there out all shifts are smooth as silk.

 

so the amsoil sever gear is what i would need

 

I have mobile 1

$30 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75w-90 in the transfer case and both diffs. The only thing with mt-90 is the tranny.

 

Seems weird 40 degrees isnt that cold. My manual transmission gets a little hard to shift when its below 0 but once it runs for a few mins and I start driving it loosens up.

 

x2, its my battery that has trouble at those temps lol

 

yea but autos are a little diffrent i think.