Transmission shifting funny on cold morning?

I have searched but the question never seemed to get answered, the other morning the temp around 15 degrees outside. I started my 2014 Tacoma v6 auto and the transmission seemed to slip or feel like it was but it only happened for like a few minutes then it straightened itself out? it has never done this since i owned it since last spring. Any ideas?

 

How many miles on the transmission fluid? Have you ever changed it before? Not sure if it's easy to check on the 2014s but you may want to make sure it's not low, or do a drain/fill to be safe.

Also, some hard shifting when the truck is cold is normal...but "slipping" is not.

 

Sticking solenoid in the valve body when cold perhaps? It seems plausible thst it would stop sticking as soon as it gets up to a better temperature.

 

Truck just turned 80,000 and never had the transmission fluid changed but might be something to look into, but odd since it only did it on a cold morning never before? The weather will be real cold for the next few months here in upstate NY.

 

Is this something i should be worried about or just don't bother since once it gets warmed up goes away quick?

 

Depends how bad it slips. If it is a solenoid that is causing it, it could cause further damage down the road due to that slipping action.

 

So here is the story from the tech from Toyota and service manager, he said it a sealed trans and has lifetime fluid in it, never needs to be changed also its normal on cold start ups for the transmission to do that as it needs time to warm up and circulate and its designed that way? There has got to be Toyota tech on this site that has info on these transmissions?

 

@gearcruncher is the Toyota transmission guru on this forum

 

I have a different transmission ( 4 Speed, 4 banger ), but the only thing I have noticed is that it doesn't lockup until the engine temperature is at 130 degrees F. This is normal on all transmissions with a lockup clutch on the convertor, it must be at temperature and speed before lockup 1:1 will occur.

 

Ask that dumbass why it has a drain plug if it's "sealed".

FWIW, nearly every vehicle I've owned has had a bit of a 'flare' on that first 1-2 shift when cold. As long as it doesn't do it again after that first takeoff I'd say it's normal. Worn out transmissions usually do the opposite, they slip when hot.

 

Mine did same till I did this! Flush and Fill with a WS Low Viscosity 100% Fully Synthetic ATF as Pennzoil LV ATF WS approved,AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Low Visc ATF,Valvoline WS LV ATF, Amailie Low Visc WS Approved ATF! Did a Full Flush at Toyota or a Approved Tranny Shop as AAMCO or Equal ! Toyota WS ATF is BS ,crap,No such thing as Lifetime ATF at all! They want you to wait till Tranny Blows after 100k! No Warranty!If it was really Lifetime Tranny then we would have a Cadillac Warranty as a 100K or 200K Transmission and Driveline 100% Labor and Parts also ! Switch all ATF Fluid to 100% Fully Synthetic and sorry,MOBIL1 does not make a compatable LV WS Approved ATF Oil as of this moment! I am running AMSOIL Sig Ser LV WS ATF as of 10k and have 90k now,I do a drain and fill every 30k since then! Never a problem,Race and Hot and Cold weather ready and approved! Good Luck!

 

How often do you change your fluid?

 

How often would you recommend I do it?

 

So your take is somewhere after 100k if I don’t do it, Toyota is banking on my tranny blowing, so they can get me to put in a new tranny?

 

My 2014 does the same thing and has since day one. I blew up one trans with around 12k miles on the truck, Toyota replaced it. second trans has not given out but still does the same thing in cold weather when first started up.

 

Cold temps cold transmission fuild can cause a 100% perfect transmission to act funny.

 

Speaking of trans, the bill (can't remember exactly) but I think it was around 12K for everything which was covered under warranty.

 

All you can do is keep the fluid level/condition good and cross your fingers.

 

I will start by asking what gear the transmission is slipping in ?
If you start the truck cold and put the transmission into forward , lets call that first gear . Are you feeling the transmission slip in first gear when its cold ?
Are you parked on a hill or flat in your driveway ?
What happens when you select reverse when its cold ? does it go into reverse quickly or does it take a little time ?
Once the truck begins moving while cold , you feel the transmission upshift to second gear . Are you feeling the transmission slip when the transmission upshifts to second gear ?
Have a peek at this
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...th-pics-for-second-gen-4-liter-trucks.289913/

 

I didn't notice it in reverse at all and yes totally flat street and it was more like it was searching for what gear to be in, kinda hard to explain, not sure slipping is the right word. Now that the weather has been in the 30's and up it hasn't done it again.
Today I'm bringing it to Toyota so they can put it on a machine to check the levels and how the fluid looks from what they tell me?