won't shift into 5th gear when cold outside

[kacper]

I have posted my question before but I didn't get an answer.
My 4runner having a weird behavior during cold days here in canada. For example when I start my car at the morning I let my truck idle for about 10 minutes than I drive thru neighborhood and than highway with 60mph speed limit. During first 10 kilometers my transmission won't shift into 5th gear no matter how fast I drive..It's a pain when doing 100km/h on the highway with 2500 rpm on the cluster. 5th gear engages usually after 10-15 kilometers. This happens only when temperature drops to -10 or more degree Celsius.
I did 1st drain and fill transmission fluid last week but nothing changed.
I'm going to repeat that next week.
Does anyone having similar situation ?
My 4runner is from 2004 and has V8 motor.

 

[Bama_Runner]

I think the engine coolant temp has to reach 120 degrees before the transmission will shift into OD. That's why you are having the problem in severe cold.

 

[m85476585]

Does it depend on engine coolant temp or transmission fluid temp?

The V8 has an extra transmission fluid cooler. If shifting to 5th depends on transmission fluid temp you could try blocking off the cooler for the winter. It's a small radiator in front of the main radiator. There is no risk because the transmission is still cooled (and heated) by engine coolant in the bottom of the main radiator. If the transmission has a thermostat for the cooling loop, it's possible that that is bad, but it sounds like what you are experiencing is normal. I've seen the behavior with mine, but I haven't had it long enough to know the gearing really well.

Partially blocking the main radiator may help, too. The engine coolant should get hot enough via the thermostat, but if that's not working or if the transmission needs to get to a certain temp, covering the radiator a bit might help.

 

[Jeremy556]

 

[kacper]

Hmm
Looks like I'm having some issues with transmission.
I'm 100% sure that when I do 100km/h on a highway transmission is on 4th gear. 5th gear engages after couple kilometers than after that overdrive goes on.
My previous car 05 mustang gt was shifting into 5th really fast even when the temperature was about -32 Celsius. I don't have any problems during the warmer days

 

[nevada]

I think the engine coolant temp has to reach 120 degrees before the transmission will shift into OD. That's why you are having the problem in severe cold.

im not sure that is correct. does anyone know at what temperature does the gauge start to read/move?

mine will for sure hit 5th when driving, even in town at 35-40 mph when cold. perhaps only 20-30 seconds after starting the engine.

 

[kacper]

im not sure that is correct. does anyone know at what temperature does the gauge start to read/move?

mine will for sure hit 5th when driving, even in town at 35-40 mph when cold. perhaps only 20-30 seconds after starting the engine.

When my car is warmed up 5th goes on while I'm doing about 55km/h. When it's cold i can do even 120km/h and transmission is stuck at 4th gear

 

[Jeremy556]

Hmm
Looks like I'm having some issues with transmission.
I'm 100% sure that when I do 100km/h on a highway transmission is on 4th gear. 5th gear engages after couple kilometers than after that overdrive goes on.
My previous car 05 mustang gt was shifting into 5th really fast even when the temperature was about -32 Celsius. I don't have any problems during the warmer days

I just noticed you said 04, I think it was a different trans from 03-04 to 05+, so my info above is likely not correct. Sorry about that.

 

[chitown40]

Generally vehicles will not shift to an overdrive gear until the vehicle is warm. By running higher RPMs it allows the vehicle to warm up quicker thereby increasing economy and efficiency. Toyotas have been programmed in this manner ever since I can ever remember...

 

[kacper]

Exactly you're right - overdrive
But why my truck won't shift to 5th gear. 5th gear isn't overdrive.after couple kilometers I can feel when shifts from 4th to 5th and than goes to overdrive lock up.

 

[kacper]

I was thinking that old fluid is causing that problems but I did drain and fill but nothing really changed. I'm going to do that one more time on Saturday to see if it helps. I've had 4 cars with auto transmission and they were shifting to 5th gear on the cold engine (they won't shift into overdrive)

 

[t-man]

Do you by chance have bigger tires? Mine does this but it is because I have bigger tires and haven't regeared yet. I usually move the shifter into 4th gear and then back into overdrive and it will shift right away. Also if I turn on the cruise control and set the speed it will make it shift too. I've always attributed it to my tires as it didn't do it when I went back to stock tires size for a week while waiting on new tires.

 

[kacper]

No I don't. Stock tires and suspension. I have cold intake K&N plus flowmaster cat back . No more mods.
I bought this truck last year and it's been always like that.
Not big deal but driving a 100km/h on 4th gear for about 10 km is annoying. I thought maybe some other people having same problem but it looks like I'm the only one

 

[m85476585]

5th gear is overdrive. Overdrive is an antiquated term that just means that the output turns slower than the input. Maybe you are thinking of torque converter lockup?

5-speed ECT automatic
1st 3.520
2nd 2.042
3rd 1.400
4th 1.000
5th 0.716 <--Overdrive
Reverse 3.224
Differential Ratio 3.727

 

[Jeremy556]

Exactly you're right - overdrive
But why my truck won't shift to 5th gear. 5th gear isn't overdrive.after couple kilometers I can feel when shifts from 4th to 5th and than goes to overdrive lock up.

5th gear is "overdrive." 4th gear is a 1:1 ratio

 

[kacper]

In that case that make sense

 

[t-man]

No I don't. Stock tires and suspension. I have cold intake K&N plus flowmaster cat back . No more mods.
I bought this truck last year and it's been always like that.
Not big deal but driving a 100km/h on 4th gear for about 10 km is annoying. I thought maybe some other people having same problem but it looks like I'm the only one

Try flipping the great selector like I said and see if it makes it shift.
Seeming you are stock is have it looked at eventually. Just to be safe.

 

[Nyc-Runner]

I've actually been noticing this in mine lately as well, I would say i first noticed it within the last month or two. Always getting on the highway as you described above going from 4th it takes a little bit to shift into 5th gear. At first i thought maybe it was due to a slight incline on some highways because it didn't do it all the time but i've been noticing it more and more, of course it's probably also because i'm aware of it now and am constantly listening to anything that sounds or feels a little off. It has been colder than normal lately so maybe that has something to do with it? It's interesting that you said that about the tire's [MENTION=101553]t-man[/MENTION] because i didn't notice this at all last winter but i was only running 32's and this is the first winter i've ran the 33's so that could be playing a part also, I didn't think 33's would make that big of a difference? I was also thinking of doing a transmission flush just to see if that would help at all.

Also on that note, do you guys think i should just do a drain and fill or do a flush? I've heard mixed reviews on having somewhere do a pressurized flush?

 

[kacper]

Drain and fill is quite easy way,fast and safe IMO.
I did it once and I'm going to repeat that this weekend. I'll keep posting.

Exactly I'm having same situation as you. Thru 1 2 3 4 gears is going fast than I need to drive long time to get on 5th. When it's warm outside transmission goes well thru all the gears. When car is fully warmed up transmission is super smooth.

I don't really understand how people are using this tricky method of checking the fluid level. I have read people are using a wire to jump from 4 to 13 pin on obd conector than they are moving a gear selector until AT lit up on dash.
I did 15 minutes of normal driving than went back to my garage and take off the drip plug. Since fluid start dripping i just put drip plug back.

 

[Waterdog3]

I have noticed my V8 2003 taking some time to shift to 5th also. It happens even going down the slightest hill. Then the other day when we had a true air temp of -12F and I was heading into a 20mph N Wind it did not want to shift to 5th even while doing 65-70 MPH on the interstate. I do believe that was due to cold. My guess is that one of the shift solenoids is starting to stick causing it to happen the rest of the time?