So I have a 2005 TL with 117k miles. My transmission is acting up, recently. The problem is that when I drive cold the first gear won't engage at all. I would have to put it in second gear and accelerate then push it to D and drive from there. After the car warms up and drives for a bit then the 1 gear starts engaging and I can accelerate from a dead stop without a problem. What could be the problem? I know the transmission is good because if it does engage after warmin up and it shifts smoothly.

 

Doesn't necessarily mean your trans is good because it shifts ok when warm. First thing is the cond of the fluid. How does it look? Been changed recently? You should probably start with a 3qt change with Honda DW1. Then do 2 more changes over the course of a week. Also do a search for the 3rd/4th gear pressure switches changeout.

 

I have changed the fluid 3 times in the past year and the recent one was last week.