A340e Won't Shift Until Engine Warms Up!?

[JZSupra88]

I've had this problem since March. Whenever I drive my '88 mk3 before the engine starts to warm up, the auto won't shift. Doesn't matter if I'm leaving it in D or trying to shift from L to 2, it will just rev higher and higher in first. As soon as the temp needle starts to rise, that's when it will kick into second and so on. Also, once it has started shifting, it shifts with about a second of delay between gears, and doesn't begin to shift quickly until I've driven it for about 5-10 minutes.

While it was cold I pulled the ECT connector behind the passenger's side right kickpanel and shifted through L,2,D, and R, and it shifted through all of them just fine. After I plugged it back in and drove it the a340e didn't shift until a few minutes later. This means the problem is electrical.

Any ideas where to start checking?

 

[tlo86]

normally they are delayed when cold, i would get new fluid and a new filter in there, if you have an aftermarket transmission cooler i would run it through your radiator then to the cooler.

nothing is ever wrong or bad about changing the fluid and filter

or letting your car warm up before you drive it hehe

 

[JZSupra88]

Yeah, forgot to mention I had changed the fluid and filter about a month ago, hoping it would fix the problem, but it did not. And no aftermarket tranny cooler here. :wavey:

 

[Davismj711]

If you pulled the ECT, and manually made it shift, then wouldn't you think you found the problem ? Specifically the ECT Control unit. Unless I read your OP wrong ^^

 

[tlo86]

Yeah, forgot to mention I had changed the fluid and filter about a month ago, hoping it would fix the problem, but it did not. And no aftermarket tranny cooler here. :wavey:

:biglaugh: knowing that would've helped

how did the wear on the trans look btw when you pulled the pan? probably not related but well you never know

 

[jdub]

When you changed the fluid, did you just drain and add make up ATF?

Is your O/D light blinking? Might want to check for tranny codes:
http://www.cygnusx1.net/supra/Library/TSRM/MK3/manual.aspx?Section=AT&P=13

Might want to take a look at the troubleshooting chart as well:
http://www.cygnusx1.net/supra/Library/TSRM/MK3/manual.aspx?Section=AT&P=10

 

[JZSupra88]

^ Yeah, when I replaced the transmission filter I drained the fluid and added more to the correct level. There are no transmission codes, and did look over the online TSRM. I might not have looked through it as thoroughly as I might be doing in the future, but from what I saw it points me in the vague direction of something like "problem in ECU circuit".

Today when I drove it I realized for the first time that it WILL shift out of first when cold, it just waits until 4,500 rpm to do it. It also still does not shift when I run through L, 2, and D manually until it warms up.

Does anyone have any experience with a problem like this? HELP ME PLZ!!

 

[kingsupra]

i dont know if its the same problem as mine, but when i ended up changing my fluid it messed up my tranny. I guess the old gunk in there held the tranny together. When I changed it the tranny fried. well made it worst at least. sometime if you have never changed your tranny fluid for a while its better to not touch it.

 

[Kckazdude]

Wish I could shed more light on this issue but I havent been able to track it down myself. The cold shift issue for me diminshes when ambient temp is higher as well. Now that I have swapped the drive train over to a different shell the problem is it shifts too soon and has no down shifts. I have narrowed it down to either the ECT or trans range switch on mine for the current problem. Will finish the testing tommorrow when I can get the exhaust loose to move the range switch.

 

[jdub]

Ok...one more time. Did you drop the pan and replace the filter?

Did you flush out the old ATF per the last post in this thread:
http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3179

 

[gtsfirefighter]

Wish I could shed more light on this issue but I havent been able to track it down myself. The cold shift issue for me diminshes when ambient temp is higher as well. Now that I have swapped the drive train over to a different shell the problem is it shifts too soon and has no down shifts. I have narrowed it down to either the ECT or trans range switch on mine for the current problem. Will finish the testing tommorrow when I can get the exhaust loose to move the range switch.

My 89 NA did the exact same things you stated. After I got the engine replaced it didn't do it anymore. I have no idea what they did to fix it and I don't know that they knew they fixed anything. I often wondered if it had something to do with the line pressure cable being out of adjustment or bad connections from the engine to tranny harness.

 

[Zumtizzle]

the line pressure cable being out of adjustment or bad connections from the engine to tranny harness

Check that, and also see if the car starts in neutral, i have a feeling the gear sensor on the side is a little off.

 

[Kckazdude]

For my problem it was the adjustment of the trans range switch. Had it set good for the start signal in park but it was out in all other ranges. Once i had it properly set it shifts into all gear and kicks down properly.

For the cold shift problem, it is too warm outside to tell if I have it not anymore.