A/T first gear rough shifts?

[PNW yota]

So I just bought my first 4runner a couple weeks ago and I'm getting used to the feel, sound of the motor and tranny as I drive it.

I have noticed now (didn't during the test drive), that when shifting in and out of 1st gear I really feel and hear it. I wouldn't call it a "clunk" but it's certainly more noticeable than any of the other shifts, especially downshifting. It only happens when it's cold. Once the transmission has warmed up it disappears.

I'm not sure if it's common for the A/T's to do this. Or if there is a problem brewing that I should be aware of.

Thanks

 

[PNW yota]

Forgot to mention that the transmission fluid looks clean, not burnt. And at the proper level.

Also the previous owner swore it never experienced the "milk shake" I've read about, I obviously had to take his word. And to prevent it from ever happening he already did the bypass.

 

[the great him]

when cold most trans will shift hard. its not uncommon for the trans to take longer to shift out of first when cold, or hold the shift till a higher RPM and shift noticeably harder when it does finally shift. after about 3-5min of driving though it should be smoothing out and shift "normally" after that. -this "issue" gets "worse" or more noticeable in the winter time. mine has done this from day one -i have owned it sense 2010, and put 70k on it, not a concern for me at all. i have serviced the trans once and all the fluid that came out was clean and smelled fine. i say do not worry about it, just dont drive it hard first thing and it shouldnt be an issue.

 

[kernel.panik]

When I bought my 02 it had around 92K on it. It was a Toyota Certified Pre-Owned...
Long story short, I suspect the PO had a milkshake and flushed the tranny before selling it. The fluid was new when I bought it. About 5K miles later I checked the fluid, it was near black. I took it to the dealer and had it flushed. About 1K miles after that...TOAST! Clutch packs were disintegrated.

I fought with them over the "warranty" and ended up paying about half what a rebuilt would cost and Toyota made the dealer eat the labor, but I was without my truck for about 3+ weeks waiting for a tranny to ship from Japan.

My advice, keep an eye on the fluid!

BUT, after that horror story... Mine shifts hard when cold too. Hangs on to second gear for a while when I first pull out of the driveway in the mornings.

 

[PNW yota]

Thanks for the info and advice. I'll be watching all the fluids like a hawk for a while. The perks of buying a used rig from a total stranger. Doesn't help he was owner #3.

It's much more pronounced when I'm coasting up to a stop and it downshifts back into first. Do you notice the same?

 

[kernel.panik]

I can't say that mine does that... or ever did.
I don't feel any downshift, just goes to idle.
Mine is pretty rough if I slow down enough and hit the gas again and it puts in in the right gear...