1987 Maxima, 192,000 Miles, Transmission Fluid changed every 30,000 miles.

When I first drive the car in the mornings after a cold night (15-30 degrees), the car will not shift to 2nd gear until the engine is fully warmed up. After the car is at normal operating temperature, the car shifts just fine, smooth shift from 1-2, 2-3, and then overdrive. No slipping at all. All shifts occur at normal rpm/mph.

If I let the car idle for 15 minutes in the morning until the thermostat opens, the transmission will shift fine.

I fully understand the transmission will not shift into overdrive until it reaches a certain operating temperature. What is puzzling why the transmission will not upshift at all when cold. I didn't think gears 2 and 3 were temperature controlled.

Any help will be appreciated.

 

The y should not be normally but sounds as if something may be frozen shut that allows the gear change. Does it do it in the warmer afternoons?

SuDZ

 

When the outdoor temperatures were in the 60-80's the car did not have this problem.

After driving the car in the morning and then letting it sit say for a couple of hours, the transmission may have a delayed 1st shift, but it seems to clear quickly after driving a block or 2.

I agree seems like something maybe sticking which doesn't allow the transmission to change gears, esp. after the car sits overnight outside in the colder temperatures.

 

My car sort of does the same thing. When temperature outside is below freezing, it takes a while for the car to shift out of 2nd. After it gets above 3500-4000 rpm, it does shift, but if I slow down to where it shifts into first and then speed up again, it still takes that long to shift out of 2nd. I think that the tranny fluid probably needs changed. I have no idea if or when it was last changed and I'm assuming that it gets too thick when it's cold outside. After the car warms up it shifts fine too and it doesn't do it in warm weather either. Also, I only have to let the car sit for about 3-4 hours and it starts shifting like that again. Of course, my car only has 100K on it, so it may be something with your tranny, although I've never had any other car experience anything like this before.

-C-

 

I also have this problem in the morning, However,
My car does not want to shift to first.... Reverse works fine.
I'm thinking maybe valves are stuck.. I'm going to try some PTFE silicone.