Tranny won't shift into 5th gear when cold?

buddy357 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:52 am

I took my Excursion on my Thanksgiving road trip so the Liberty has been sitting since late Wednesday. It was a brisk 34 degrees this morning when I started the liberty. I had no issues with starting it or warming it up for about 5 minutes,especially as I needed to clear the windows. But a few miles later when I got on the interstate it would not shift into 5th gear(65 was around 2k rpm). After about 10 miles on the highway it finally shifted into 5th. I have never had a vehicle do that before and was wondering if that is normal or does it sound like a sign of a failure coming?

GreenDieselEngineering · **Joined:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1111

Absolutely normal for the CRD. The trans will not engage lock-up until the tranny fluid temps reach a certain limit. During winter months the first 5-10 minutes of driving a slightly different shift strategy is utilized to help increase fluid temps faster.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 11:46 am

Most Chrysler trucks/SUVs are this way. No overdrive until fluid is up to a certain temp.

buddy357 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 1:44 pm

Thanks. I have been on the ship sweating how I was gonna get home tomorrow after duty if it was the tranny going out. The only Chryler products I have owned were older dodge trucks and a charger w a 3pd auto.

shelbydz · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 2:32 pm

I know that most auto Chrysler transmissions don't pump the trans fluid when they're in park. I'm not sure if this is true of our trannys, but I had some similar hard shifting issues on cold mornings.

Now, when I'm warming my CRD, I typically put the transmission into neutral then put the parking brake on. This should engage the pump and get the fluid where it should be before you take off.

I'm on a flat driveway, I would advise against this if you're on a slope (:

. . .Shawn

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 4:33 pm

shelbydz wrote:

I know that most auto Chrysler transmissions don't pump the trans fluid when they're in park. I'm not sure if this is true of our trannys, but I had some similar hard shifting issues on cold mornings.

Now, when I'm warming my CRD, I typically put the transmission into neutral then put the parking brake on. This should engage the pump and get the fluid where it should be before you take off.

I'm on a flat driveway, I would advise against this if you're on a slope (:

. . .Shawn

I heard about this just this past weekend. From what I was told, fleets that use Chryslers are going through trannys like crazy because of all the idling the vehicles do. It's wiping out the trans. since no fluid is flowing. There is a mod you can supposedly do and get the fluid moving around even in park.

Big Montana · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:16 pm

Mine is the same. My Subaru was the same too. I live in Michigan with a ten mile commute to work. I almost never hit 5th gear in the winter mornings.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:29 pm

Normal

striperman36 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 9:30 pm

It's normal, happens to me every winter.

Going to try the block heater this winter to see it improves. I normally don't shift into 5th for a few mi on the interstate and I almost get run over waiting to shift down.

buddy357 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:08 pm

I guess I was worried because my old mustang lx did that after racing one night in 1999. Maybe 30 miles after overdrive quit, third went out. The last couple miles or so before I got home i was doing 30 @ about 2000rpms on side roads late at night. I am sure the whole neighborhood loved me. But that was a good excuse to install a TCI tranny.

irollgen4s · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 11:48 pm

Been looking for an answer as to why it felt that it was never in top gear when completely cold. Had me worried pretty good until i read this. Thanks guys :BANANA:

OldSkull · **Posted:** Tue Nov 30, 2010 12:18 am

Well got exactly the same problem in summer! Keith have done a test ride with me. is DBRIII was plug to my OBD2 port and we never seen anything like this before, I check every wiring like Joe Romas has suggest me and never find anything wrong, after trying every option and even change my selonoid pack because of a false reading from the $4000 scanner of my friend "DAN" I decide to change my TCM.... BINGO! Problem resolve!

My tranny never hesitate to shift in 5th gear even at -26C here in my icerberg cowntry but there no magic trick ....I got a block heater and I alway's let my truck run at least 10 minutes before departure in winter.

Big Montana · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2010 9:47 am

OldSkull wrote:

My tranny never hesitate to shift in 5th gear even at -26C here in my icerberg cowntry but there no magic trick ....I got a block heater and I alway's let my truck run at least 10 minutes before departure in winter.

I would think the temp of the trans fluid is the key. Once it hits temp the computer allows it to shift. If your block is kind of warm and you run it for a while, I would think the fluid gets warm enough. I could be wrong though. I plug mine in, and I let it run a bit before I leave for work, and it will not shift into 5th until I get to over a quarter on the temp gauge. It takes a while for me to get there in Michigan winters.

equipt31 · **Joined:** Thu Jul 08, 2010 5:02 pm **Posts:** 27

glad to see this topic, ive noticed this recently but figured it was normal. i let the jeep warm up for at least a couple mins but the highway is RIGHT there so if its a cold start i experience this for a few miles. should i just spend the extra few mins and let it continue to warm? is there tranny damage being done or longevity issues?

flman · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2010 12:29 pm

I get sick of this thread every winter, can they make it a sticky, or something you must know before you join the forum?

audiboy86 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2010 12:50 pm

I can agree somewhat but people need to know about this and the only was is for them to ask if they can't find it with the search function. But I am glad it came up because i was wondering it any one has tried and in pan heater for the transmission. Or could that possible cause problems?

TJ2 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2010 2:13 pm

This is my first winter and I turn the OD off for about ten miles to get the engine temp up more quickly.

You chase away the new guys and this board will die. Why don't those who are tired of viewing topics. . . simply not view them?

flman · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2010 3:21 pm

audiboy86 wrote:

I can agree somewhat but people need to know about this and the only was is for them to ask if they can't find it with the search function. But I am glad it came up because i was wondering it any one has tried and in pan heater for the transmission. Or could that possible cause problems?

It should work, what is the difference warmed fluid is warm fluid?

TJ2 wrote:

This is my first winter and I turn the OD off for about ten miles to get the engine temp up more quickly.

You chase away the new guys and this board will die. Why don't those who are tired of viewing topics. . . simply not view them?

How is a sticky, or informing some one that there tranny needs to warm up in the winter chasing them away?

OldSkull · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2010 3:25 pm

Big Montana wrote:

I would think the temp of the trans fluid is the key. Once it hits temp the computer allows it to shift. If you're block is kind of warm and you run it for a while, I would think the fluid gets warm enough. I could be wrong though. I pug mine in, and I let it run a bit before I leave for work, and it will not shift into 5th until I get to over a quarter on the temp gauge. It takes a while for me to get there in Michigan winters.

Well I mention I remote start my Jeep and let him run 10 minutes but It can be 30 minutes sometime and he is plug overnight in a shelter logic garage! The trans protection system only get in action at -4F so if your engine radiator get hot he will heat by "Induction" the trans cooler and warm your tranny, no magic there :wink:

Transmission fluid temp is the key I'm pretty sure, a trans temp gauge can confirm my thought

I have seen worse .....Like my brother old 1967 Renauld 8 electric shift tranny... A real pita to get in gear in winter. The first car I drive on the road and I was 12 years old! :mrgreen:

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:17 pm

Turning the OD off for the first few minutes has no effect on the speed that the trans oil heats up - The computer has already locked-out the overdrive gears, and prevented the torque converter from locking until the fluid warms up.

This is controlled by a transmission temperature sensor, and it is perfectly normal because it protects the transmission. Too cold fluid won't flow properly and lubricate things, and when the torque converter is locked up, the fluid is not picking up extra heat from the friction.

A stick-on pan heater would be great, or an in-pan heater if you were so inclined. I don't believe that either would be needed however, if you were to (instead) install a TDI Heater http://www.tdiheater.com onto the transmission cooler lines to warm up the fluid before even leaving. This is a 1000 watt option (and what I will install if my block heater ever fails) but I know from experience with my TDI - They work GREAT.

Tranny won't shift into 5th gear when cold?

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