tranny + cold weather??? - Maintenance and Repair Forum

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tranny + cold weather???
Thursday, January 31, 2008 8:34 AM
lately its been getting really cold and since ive been living in an apartment my car has to sit out in the elements (used to be garaged). well the other day when the winds chill was around -15 and the highs were in the single digits ive noticed that when i start my car and put it in reverse that it may take a second before it actually starts goin backwards...

what could be causing this? could this be related to the tranny fluid and cold weather? im thinking about getting the tranny fluid flushed at my next oil change; its been awhile.

thanks for looking/helping!






Re: tranny + cold weather???
Thursday, January 31, 2008 8:34 AM
OH... i have a 3spd automatic too btw





Re: tranny + cold weather???
Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:21 AM
Don't know but my car has sat ouside since 1999 and my tranny slips whens its HOT outside...And my car sees every element you could think, live in CHI, IL
Re: tranny + cold weather???
Thursday, January 31, 2008 6:56 PM
I don't have one of these 3-speeds to experiment with, but on any of the older Chrysler units I've owned, if you let it idle in Neutral for a few seconds first, then it will drop into gear more quickly.
The fluid is likely thickening up somewhat in the cold and not flowing as fast through the valve body as usual. I would think that this is likely normal. My 5 speed is a real bear to shift in the cold, even with synthetic ATF in it, so I'm sure that it will affect your auto as well.
If the fluid is due for a flush, you may as well get it done, but unless it's unusually bad, I wouldn't expect it to make too much of a difference. Just take it easy on it until it gets a chance to warm up the fluid.
John
Re: tranny + cold weather???
Friday, February 01, 2008 12:13 PM
Fluid's just getting thick from the cold, nothing to worry about.
Try shifting a 5 spd at 6AM in -40C Canada weather
Re: tranny + cold weather???
Friday, February 01, 2008 5:26 PM
just let your car warm up for about 5 to 10 min before you go anywhere. the reason i believe it is doing that is that is because of the weather. the cold does this sort of thing to oil.
Re: tranny + cold weather???
Friday, February 01, 2008 7:00 PM
The problem is that Global Warming is not kicking in yet.
uhmm...maybe WE are slowing it down after all
(just joking ha ha ha...)

Anyway,
After driving your vehicle for an hour or 2, does it still take a second before it starts moving backwards?
Try it! just for the giggles hehe

Good luck dude!


Re: tranny + cold weather???
Saturday, February 02, 2008 10:33 PM
Unrelated but I switched my pu a mazda to royal purple for the man trans and rear end and the cold does not seem to affect it nearly as bad as the synthetic I ran.I am not sure the auto tran fluid is offered by royal purple but,there product is superior in my book.And letting the car run to warm up 10 min or more significantly does make a difference in really cold weather.



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