hard shift when cold

[troutbum]

Hi, I just bought a 2012 Liberty, truck runs great, no problems with putting 500 miles on her. Not being familiar with Chry auto transmissions, When i start the liberty up , let the engine warm up a bit. When I first move and take her slow to warm trans up, Some times I get a hard shift from 1st to 2nd gear, Once trans is warm it shifts great and smooth. She don't do it all the time, seem to do it if i rush her a little. Is this normal, rest of gear shift's are fine and smooth. I really like the truck, I had a 2004 Tacoma and gas mileage is about the same. Ooopp's just realized i'm in the K J forum. Next time I'll remember it's a K K . Sorry.

 

[uss2defiant]

that has been my experience as well

 

[tommudd]

We have a 03-04 and 05 in the fleet and never noticed any really hard shifts when cold ? Maybe what I consider good and normal is hard shifting to some??
But how many miles, has maintenance etc been kept up?
I know you just bought it but any service records, checked for service reports?

 

[troutbum]

Maintenance

I bought it with 37 k on her. Dealer serviced truck, Oil , filter. When I got here , I had new plugs put in her, Had trans fluid checked, full and clean.Fluid in rears, full and clean. as far as i can see the oil and filter was changed every 3k to 4k on here. Next oil change i'm switching to a syntech oil . Like i said she won't do it every time . If i drive it easy and slow at first she shifts smooth, after that she is as smooth as silk. It's like a little clunk when she shifts , other than that she is quite. Couple of guys that have Rams said there truck will do it when cold. I'm glad i bought an extended warranty with it. Thank's all.

 

[Hockeygoon]

When you say "cold" do you mean cold as in 20-30 degrees or cold as in it just hasn't warmed up yet? The viscosity of the transmission fluid is quite a bit higher at start up - especially in lower ambient temperatures than it is when its near or at operating temperature (around 170 degrees). Shifting is effected by this.

Best thing is to let it idle for 10 minutes before actually driving it but no one is going to do that (especially on a regular basis), so taking it easy until the engine (and transmission) are at operating temperature is the next best thing. If it didn't go away at operating temperature I'd be much more worried.

 

[troutbum]

Thank's Hockygoon. That,s exactly is what's happening . temps here in MD have been around the mid 30's -low 40's in the a.m.. I figured it had something to do with the oil temp in the morning. Just wanted to make sure. Thank's again to all .