Sorry if I am beating a dead horse here! I bought my 2003 TL-S about 3 1/2 months ago and already have over 11k miles on it!! I'm expecting to drive this baby about 30-35k miles a year.

When I first start the car (after it has been sitting a while) and I start to drive, the car seems to "rush" forward when switching from 1st to 2nd and then again from 2nd to 3rd. It is hard to explain, but I am barely hitting the gas and the car just shoots forward when changing gears. It happens everytime!! There is no change in depression of the gas pedal and it probably started happening about a month ago. I never even thought to mention it to the dealer in my last service because I thought it was nothing, but now, for some reason, I am second guessing that decision!! I am not scheduled for service for close to 4k miles, so I don't want to have to take it in before I have to. I am on the road all the time, so it is hard for me to get to the dealer.

Is this just a simple adjustment or is this a sign of tranny problems to come? There is not a day that it does not happen. When the car has warmed up, I don't have the problem at all. Sometimes on the highway, the car feels like it downshifts and then upshifts very quickly, but I have read about others on this board having that and that it was normal, so I have not questioned that!

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks, and sorry for the long post!

 

is this only before the car warms up? this might very well be due to a cold transmission not having enough lubrication

has this been the case from the beginning or it started recently? maybe you need a transmission fluid change? go check the fluid condition

but since it's hard to describe, your best bet is to take it to a dealer??

 

Yeah, it only seems to happen when the car has been sitting for a while. As far as when it started, I don't think it was happening from the start....It is so noticeable to me that I probably would have mentioned it (but, then again, I did not mention it on my last visit ) I think it started about a month ago, maybe 2.

I did check the tranny fluid, but it looked fine to me (which really does not mean much, since I don't really know what to look for!!) It looked clean though.

Unfortunately, that is the best I can explain it. I figured if you guys/gals understood what I meant then the dealer would! I will definitely mention it to the dealer but wanted to make sure I was safe to wait another 3-4k miles.

 

Hey man,

As far as I could tell from your description, this is normal, and I agree (to the extent of my knowledge) that your tranny needs to warm up to proper operating temps in order for the "unusual" shifting pattern to go away.

Best of luck, as you mentioned, talk to the dealer anyways...

Pete