I notice that when it is really cold out, all my auto transmission up and down shifts are pretty hard. I am always easy on the gas and the acceleration and it seems do make uncomfortable shifts every time, even after the a good 20 mins of driving. The temps here are around -20C ( -4F ) The 2006 LT has 86000 miles on it and I have just bought it. The dealer has included a 3000 mile transmission warranty and I still have 2000 miles to go on it. Should I be concerned? How are your change ups when it's cold out?

Thanks.

 

Hydra-Matics can get rough when its very cold but they usually warm up pretty quickly. Maybe you should see about a flush and refill if the dealer would handle that under the warranty. Anybody have other thoughts on this?

 

Judging by the temp you just mentioned, I'm guessing you are in the Fargo-Moorhead area like myself. I also have an 06 LT but I only have about 53000 on it. I haven't really noticed any hard shifting, but I also haven't been paying attention to it today. I'll be out driving again tomorrow, I'll let you know if I notice anything.

My guess though is that the trany fluid might just need a flushing. If you just bought it, you never know what kind of abuse the prior owner put it through for 80k+ miles.

 

In cold weather (here) I let it warm up quite a bit. But shifting is still good.

2 mentions of trans flushing. If you do a search here on this, you would find plenty that had more problems after a flush.. Like seal leaks, etc..

If tranny fluid is due for change, I would just have it drained & replaced. IMO.

 

This!

 

sticky servo,s.....? Yeah, old oil, viscosity getting thick,..

 

I took my HHR in for service around 50K miles and was told it was time for trannie service, so they changed the fluid. What do I know.. The manual says a change at 100K unless driven under severe conditions. An old guy driving an HHR in Florida (me) isn't doing hard driving. I saw no differences in the way the HHR drove or how the trannie shifted. If the dealer covers transmission service, it could be worthwhile for a change.

 

I just start her up and roll down the street without any acceleration for a warm up.
My driveway's far enough from the main road that it's warm enough by the time I get there.
No accel = no beating

I nurse it once I'm going on the main road for a couple of minutes and there it is

It's nowhere near Fargo caliber cold here but it did get below zero a few times last Winter with no problem shifting.

 

Well it was -5 all day here today, including about -10 last night, and I didn't really notice anything different with the shifting, just that the engine was cold and needed to warm up. I would take it in and have them take a look. If its still covered it can't hurt anything to have it checked.

 

Thanks for that.

Now this is wierd - I just took it over to Lowes and on the way there the tranny was shifting hard again, accelerating and then changing down when braking for the traffic light, even after getting pretty warm. I was in Lowes for 30 mins or so. It then drove like a dream on the way back. Anyone??