4speed auto not shifting into 4th when cold

For a short period while truck is cold it seems to wanna hold 3rd gear ( at 40+ mph) when normally it would change to 4th. It only does this like the first 5 minutes of driving. Does anyone else’s 4 speed do this? Truck has 60k miles 2013 ( no hitch on when I purchased- owned by older gentleman). Hope it’s not early trans issue. Planning to do a drain and fill soon.

 

Most automatic transmission vehicles I've had would hold off locking directly, bypassing the torque convertor on the highway when it was cold. Meaning, the torque converter was still adding a higher (numerically) ratio, and a couple hundred rpm. After a few miles, the transmission would 'lock up' and rpms would go down a bit.

Is it that, or is it really staying in 3rd gear? Not sure what the Toyota 4 speeds automatics characteristics are.

 

leaving my neighborhood getting up to 40 or so (would normally be in 4th with light throttle) it holds 3rd for a while. May be normal I’ll see how it does after a drain and fill

 

Normal, its just trying to warm up quicker.

Fluid change is still a good idea.

You're more likely to have delays going into drive or reverse with fluid issues, or 1-2 shifts. 4th is rarely a concern.

 

Is this truck new to you? I remember the first 4 speed automatic I had did that and I thought something may be wrong. Like Bishop84 said, normal. Some 4 speed automatics are aggressive to downshift with any slight incline or attempt to accelerate. I'd think this automatic wouldn't tend to do that, as the 4 cylinder has a decent amount of torque for a 4.

 

Thanks that was my thought just warming up. Just an odd feeling on and off throttle when it would normally be in 4th and the truck revs out some since it’s still in 3rd going around 43 mph. Truck rarely gets above 2k rpm how I drive. No way this trans is having early issues though. this truck has been babied as far as I can tell

 

I’ve had it over a year. Once it’s warmed up it shifts to 4th early

 

Sounds like it's fine then. I'm new to Toyotas, but do a lot of research. The transmissions on these trucks seem to have a good reputation.

 

It’s doing it on flat ground but by the time I get down the road to the stoplight it’s back shifting normally. If it was doing it from 1st to 2nd I’d be more concerned. I had a maxima that did that and trans was going out

 

My 2013 4cyl automatic does it sometimes in colder weather, 85,000 miles on it.

 

Seems normal with the 4 speed automatics. Don't know if the 6 speeds have the same tendency. I've heard unless you're on a level highway for a while, they tend to stay in 5th, at least with the 4 cylinder.