By cold start, I mean both the car hasn't been started/driven in several hours and temps < 45F. It has never done this before. I was trying to back it out and it was shaking so bad I was like "Which direction am I going?" and then it gradually got quieter as it started to warm up. Bizarre. I hope this is not indicative of a worse, more expensive issue. Car has been fine, except for the loss of the heater, and just passed state inspection on Friday. I know it's due for an oil change and needs an air filter, fuel filter, and maybe some spark plugs. could that play an issue? Hopefully this was just a random thing because of not being driven in several days and the friggin' cold weather.

 

sounds like you may know the problem.

do the tune up,it cant hurt..

 

it could possibly be the tranny not having fluid pumped throughtout too, if you didnt let it warm up to op temp the fluid could have not been in all the right places for the tranny to act correctly.

 

My Max makes all sorts of noises when cold in >45deg weather. Chain rattle, popping suspension when turning, etc etc. All of which go away completely once the car has been moving and is at normal operating temperature. Just food for thought, a 12year+ car is bound to make noises after lots of miles and use. Doesn't always mean something serious is wrong with it.

I'd do a tune up and see if it helps.

 

I need more info. What u mean by shaking?

Do u mean the car was misfiring? Did it feel engine or suspension related? Did the steering wheel vibrate? Did the cabin vibrate but the steering wheel remained straight? Did the noise sound like chain rattle? did the noise go away completely?

 

yah lol once the 4th gen warms up after 30 miles it runs good. the more miles i drive mine the better it runs. but when cold it makes noises and acts funny lol.

 

Same here, I live in Minnesota so the car is almost always cold in the morning and it just shifts weird, a little jerky sometimes. But it's all good when warm.