1999 Lexus es300 shifting problem when cold

[phil trapen]

I have a 1999 lexus es300,when i first start the car for the day,or after the car sits for hours when i go down the road the car will not shift the gears out right.It will stay in gear longer than it is suppose to before it shifts to the 2nd gear,and the same thing from second to third gear.Once i get to my first stop sign which is 6 miles down the road from that point it will shift smooth and fine.This only happens when the car sits for hours,or first time in the morning when the engine is cold.I have no diog lights.thanks phil

[jdmccright]

This is fairly typical as the ECM will delay upshifting to help warm up the engine, thus warm up the coolant, thus warming up the transmission fluid. The onset of a colder season may have exacerbated this since your engine is even colder now.

The radiator is a "dual core" unit where the engine cooland AND the transmission fluid circulate through it at the same time but in separate cooling loops.

HOWEVER, I will sugest checking your transmission fluid for proper level and color. If it is low, top it off. If it is not red or smells burned, then it hsould be changed. If it is opaque or milky, then you may have coolant mixing in with it through leak in the radiator. Hope this helps!

[phil trapen]

Ok Thanks,i will check the fluid level,although i changed the fluid due to the slipping,but i need to double check the level,i will let you know thanks phil

Originally Posted by jdmccright

This is fairly typical as the ECM will delay upshifting to help warm up the engine, thus warm up the coolant, thus warming up the transmission fluid. The onset of a colder season may have exacerbated this since your engine is even colder now.

The radiator is a "dual core" unit where the engine cooland AND the transmission fluid circulate through it at the same time but in separate cooling loops.

HOWEVER, I will sugest checking your transmission fluid for proper level and color. If it is low, top it off. If it is not red or smells burned, then it hsould be changed. If it is opaque or milky, then you may have coolant mixing in with it through leak in the radiator. Hope this helps!

[phil trapen]

Ok i checked the fluid,seems to be at full level.Can a sensor be causing me problems,like a speed sensor.I read some other post that had a bad speed sensor.The lexus is showing no codes,if it was a sensor wouldn't i see codes.thanks phil

[lasersturbo]

i have that same problem on mine and when i start it the idle lopes then smooths out as it warms weird