Not shifting into overdrive when cold....

[Nick3.0L]

my 2000 taurus is not going into overdrive when cold on the highway. since the cold weather in Jersey came, i have started to notice this. I start the car up in the morning let it run for a minute or 2 then drive 2 blocks to go on local Highway to then merge onto the Turnpike. it won't go into overdrive for a little while then it will finally kick in. once it warms up it's fine. why is it doing this? it has 57,700 miles and I change the transmission fluid and filter at 54,000 miles. this problem is only started recently. is it normal just because it's cold?

[04 SEL]

Do you mean not shifting into 4th or not locking the TC? It won't lock the TC until it reaches a certain temperature (to get everything warmed up quicker)

[Breeves002]

Listen for it to shift through 4 gears. Once you are at cruising speed, move your shifter down to 3, and see if it downshifts. If it doesn't, then it isn't going into 4th gear. If it does, then the TC isn't locking. That's normal for a cold start. The trans wants to warm up before letting the Torque Converter lockup.

You should be changing the fluid and filter every 30,000 miles. I would go ahead and change the fluid (not filter) again very soon if you didn't flush all of the old fluid out. Then at 80k miles change the fluid and filter again.

[Bull Geek]

What are you feeling is not the lack of 4th gear, but torque converter lockup.

Tauruses have 4 forward gears, plus a lockup torque converter.

Until the transmission fluid reaches a certain temperature, your vehicle will not have torque converter lockup. When it does, you'll notice a soft "half shift" when the RPMs drop finally. I forget the exact figure, I think it's somewhere in the 60-80F range from what SHOZ123 said awhile back.

[Breeves002]

Nick, I'm pretty sure it depends on many things. I thought it was a calculation by the computer that includes ambient temp as well as ECT and trans temp.

[soundu]

Originally Posted by Nick3.0L

my 2000 taurus is not going into overdrive when cold on the highway. since the cold weather in Jersey came, i have started to notice this. I start the car up in the morning let it run for a minute or 2 then drive 2 blocks to go on local Highway to then merge onto the Turnpike. it won't go into overdrive for a little while then it will finally kick in. once it warms up it's fine. why is it doing this? it has 57,700 miles and I change the transmission fluid and filter at 54,000 miles. this problem is only started recently. is it normal just because it's cold?

Normal behavior until the car warms up. Actually, the TC slipping at
hwy speeds helps the car warm up faster due to the heat generated
in the TC slip friction. In cold months, i have a 10 minute drive down
the freeway to work. I am lucky if i achieve lockup before it get off
the Freeway when its really cold out. The cars PCM looks at trannie
fluid temp, water temp, and throttle position and load to determine
when to lock up the TC.

[Nick3.0L]

Thanks guys. It does go into 4th, but i can tell the TC didn't lock up, then eventually i feel it shift in. It makes sense now. I just wanted to make sure my trans. wasn't acting up or anything, but its normal according to all you guys.

Thanks again!

[sfhess]

Originally Posted by Nick3.0L

I just wanted to make sure my trans. wasn't acting up or anything.

Don't worry. It will, sooner or later.

[Breeves002]

Originally Posted by sfhess

Don't worry. It will, sooner or later.

Hah! Truth! Just take care of it and it will last a while!