Late shifting into 3rd when cold

[alumarine]

Hi there.
I have a 2000 3.4 with an auto.

I just purchased it in December (it's winter here) and have always used my remote starter to let it warm up before driving first thing so it's always been warm before driving it.

Lately it's only 20 degrees F here so I've been driving it after it's run for maybe a minute.

I've noticed that till the temp needle starts to move it won't shift into 3rd until 3000 rpm. Once the needle starts to move it shifts at 1500-2000 if I'm light on the gas.

Anyone else notice that?
This is not the won't shift into OD till warm thing. It's 3rd.

 

[JayRolla]

Hi there.
I have a 2000 3.4 with an auto.

I just purchased it in December (it's winter here) and have always used my remote starter to let it warm up before driving first thing so it's always been warm before driving it.

Lately it's only 20 degrees F here so I've been driving it after it's run for maybe a minute.

I've noticed that till the temp needle starts to move it won't shift into 3rd until 3000 rpm. Once the needle starts to move it shifts at 1500-2000 if I'm light on the gas.

Anyone else notice that?
This is not the won't shift into OD till warm thing. It's 3rd.

Slow shift to 3rd is normal during warm up. OD is shut off during warm up. This is normal. If you rap the motor out it will shift to 3rd finally but not a good idea. So slow to 3rd and no OD till warm. Normal. Mine has done this for 5 years ive owned it.

 

[MStudt]

Mine does it too. If I drive it cold it won't shift into gear until I hit 36 mph, and then it shifts a little hard. Has always done it though.

 

[alumarine]

Thanks guys.
Good to know it's normal.

Reason I even thought about is neither of my 2cnd gens did that.

 

[GrassFed]

For what it's worth I've seen this in other Toyotas as well

 

[JayRolla]

Thanks guys.
Good to know it's normal.

Reason I even thought about is neither of my 2cnd gens did that.

Yeah I didnt like it either first time I felt it. Had to research when first purchased, thought my trans was failing.

 

[W4R123]

Just to give you more peace of mind, mine does it as well.

 

[RPS99SHO]

Mine too. I don't like to rev above 2500 while cold. There is a slight uphill leaving my neighborhood on the main road (40mph limit) and in order to not hold up traffic I have to take it to almost 3000 before shifting. I hate it.

 

[Panda96]

My '97 Land Cruiser did this too.

My '98 manual 4R doesn't lol :first:

 

[2000se]

add mine to the list..

 

[Tommy4Runner]

I've owned three 3rd Gen 4Runners with the 3.4 and they have all done this when cold so no worries. Mileage range:
2000 4Runner- 168k
1997 4Runner - 340k
1999 4Runner - 273k

 

[fblainen11]

97 207k that has this same issue. It's 1st to 2nd for me. But it can be ice cold and once it's upshifted once it won't do it again.

 

[T4R2014]

Totally normal, and totally annoying depending on where you live. Let it warm up a bit before driving so that it won't do it.

 

[RunnerandGunner]

This is done by Toyota and other vehicle manufacturers to warm up the catalytic converter quicker to reduce emissions.