Transmission changing odd when cold

Hey Dave,
how cold is there right now? I'm leaning toward slow fluid movement due to temperature outside. Does it happen when it's say above 35 degrees out side and you just started it?

I park in a closed garage and its usually in the 50s based on the outside temp gauge in the car.

Dave,
it would help to know how your driving it when you feel it "slip" to determine if there is a true problem or not. Also if your in "sport" mode or not as that will change how it shifts also. I don't recall reading any post's with that problem. But, if someone has experienced it, we will soon find out. The IS-F has a locked up converter in 2nd through 8th gear and should provide a pretty solid shift especially in sport mode. There are a lot of fail safes built into the "F" to protect itself, so you might be experiencing a soft shift when cold due to transmission control unit programming saying "I'm not warm enough yet".

I usually let it run for about 30 secs (or until I hear the exhaust note change after starting the engine) before I place it in reverse and back out. I'm not in sport mode (even though its more fun) . I back out of my garage and into the street. I go about 30 feet and then stop at a stop sign. When I leave the stop sign, I start off slowly and thats when I feel the strange shift. To be honest, I tend to drive my car fairly easy on a day to day basis avg about 20 to 21mpg. I have a little over 2k miles on it. I bought it from the dealer and had about 200 miles. I'm sure all those were people taking it out and having fun on test drives so has be a little worried.

WoW! with that kind of MPG, I'd say your pretty easy on the go pedal. If it seems out of the ordinary to you based on how its been since you first got it, make an appointment at the dealer. Just remember that the car "learns" how you drive, so if your tendency has been to drive it gently, then that is how it will drive for you. And you are at a mileage point where I'd say it's learned ya.

Thanks so much for the info. I will keep a eye on it and if it seems to get worse, I'll take it in to have it checked. BTW, I don't always get that type of mileage... have to let the horses out sometimes.

dave8132 said:

Thanks so much for the info. I will keep a eye on it and if it seems to get worse, I'll take it in to have it checked. BTW, I don't always get that type of mileage... have to let the horses out sometimes.

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Let em' rip. You're earned it and paid for it!

Doug

dave,

I think I have experienced what happened to you once. It was maybe 1.5 to 2 months ago, I got on it a little hard when it was cold out, and the engine was cold. It seemed to rev a bit going into second or third (not sure which one, or if sport mode was on) without the gear really catching. I backed off and everything was fine. Now I wait until at least two bars on the oil temp is reached before driving hard, and it has never happened again. If it seems to be happening constantly during easy shifting, I would bring it to the dealer.

it happens to me... where the gears shift kinda weird... i notice it happens when i haven't warmed up the car enough... usually after it warms up, it shifts normal

This typically happens when the engine is cold and the fluids aren't flowing to their full potential and ability. Every once in a while I notice a hard shift from 1st to 2nd and even less often do I notice one from 2nd to 3rd although they have happened.

Like phootdr said, I let mine warm up before pushing it hard at all. After the first or second time it shifts once it's cold, the roughness goes away.

Dave8132, does yours shift hard once or twice when first going through the gears on a cold morning or does it do it for a while (5-6 shifts)? If it's just once or twice I'd say no worries, you might want to let it warm up a little more when starting it.

yes it happened to me also .as soon as it happened i took it in too lexus saying i think second gear is slipping, they said everything was ok. Not to worry as soon as the car is warmed up it is fine. again there is nothing wrong with your car.

I think this horse has been beaten to death, but I will quickly reiterate that I have had this happen as well....once the car warms up she puuuuursss.

It does only happen like once or twice and then goes away.

Thanks everyone, this makes me feel better. I was a little worried that some crazy person on a test drive may have caused some damage that I ended up with. You guys are great, have a good evening.

every automatic transmission in every vehicle does not shift "normal" when it is cold. every manual transmission is much harder to get into gear when it is cold. these are just normal occurrences.

when its -40 celcius and i go to put my truck into gear it does not always engage right away.

but yes once you warm up the transmission (letting a vehicle idle only warms up the engine not the gearbox) everything returns to normal as the transmission fluid can flow more freely.

i dont know if u've ever seen the inside of an automatic transmission but all gear selection is basically controlled through the movement of the transmission fluid through a giant maze.

Same Problem

my car does it all the time when its cold, its almost like the electronic shifter isnt responding. i have had so many problem with my f.

brandonnorrisisf said:

my car does it all the time when its cold, its almost like the electronic shifter isnt responding. i have had so many problem with my f.

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I'm sorry to hear that you are having problems with your F. What sort have things have been causing trouble?

Good Luck,

Jeff
08 Smoky Granite Mica IS-F

Jeff Taylor said:

I'm sorry to hear that you are having problems with your F. What sort have things have been causing trouble?

Good Luck,

Jeff
08 Smoky Granite Mica IS-F

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Yes, I agree with Jeff. Please share your problems with all of us. Maybe we can find solutions for you!

Doug