Cold transmission "slips"

I have a 2010 4x4 with just under a 100k on it. Have done a little towing over the years but not a lot. Recently developed this glitch where when I first start it up cold and shift into drive, it feels like the tranny is slipping and then quickly catches and off we go. Once it warms up, all is normal. Did a drain and fill and added some Lucas treatment. Fluid was definitely not clean. But that didn't help Time for a flush? Bigger problems?

 

Time for the proper diagnostics. May end up in replacing a solenoid or the full valve body (which is still cheaper than transmission or truck).

 

Roger that on the transmission cost. Have been toying with replacing the truck and this might be the deciding factor. Truck has not given me any issues thus far but the bed is a rust bucket like so many others of this vintage.

 

When you did the drain and fill did you check the final level or just put in what came out?

 

My 08 and my 21 does this as well. I just assumed it was the time it takes for the electronic signal to travel to whatever solenoid is needed to change gears.

2 trucks over a dozen years and they act the same, I'm not losing any sleep.

The '08 has 250 k miles. It's done it since new.

 

Did a level check. Since then I have seen a post about the gyrations you are supposed to do when checking the level. All I did was get it hot and check for a little bit of fluid coming out of the fill opening

 

Since the truck never used to behave this way, I assumed something was going south. Maybe not. Still makes me uncomfortable.

 

Have a local shop (or DIY) redo the valve body, for example IPT has this service: https://www.importperformancetrans.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=5423

New transmission fluid and should be ready to rock for another 14 years.

 

You need to do the correct procedure . I would guess the level is low.

 

I would agree, and that may be part of the problem, but the reason I did the drain and fill was because of that issue surfacing. If the temps moderate a bit here can certainly check it out before turning over to a dealer.

 

It could have been low for while, possibly since new.
The "check" temperature is lower than normal operating temp. When I checked my fluid level with the jumper wire method, the trans gauge was reading about 3/4 of normal operating temp. Not sure why toyota has to make this so complicated..

 

"Morning sickness". My truck locks out 5th and 6th until the trans is up to temp.

 

I hear you on the complicated check process. Whatever happened to the old days where you pull a dipstick?

 

Always heard it is a bad idea to overfill. Not so?

 

Did not. Video I watched on UTube didn't go through all the gyrations that Toyota wants. Getting too old for this nonsense!!!

 

Nothing to loose by giving it a try! Hopefully the temps will go up a bit so I don't freeze these old bones. Thanks.