Has anyone else noticed the transmission on the LS460 bucking from 1st to 2nd gear after a cold start when they drive in the morning?

The past few days have been about 40 degress in the morning, and after the car has sat all night, responds with an abrupt lurch when shifting from 1st to 2nd.

I'm just curious if any of my fellow owners have noticed the same thing?

I switch from the "power" switch to "normal" a few times, but I still get the jumpiness in either mode.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

i dont own the car, but from experience from lexus cars, this is completely normal. the cold start really decreases performance, and also keeps the car on OD off in order to keep the emissions low.

 

Out of the four Lexus I have owned, none shift abruptly when the engine is cold started. The temperature in the garage during the recent cold spell was around 45 degrees first thing in the morning when starting the car. The shifts are virtually imperceptible on the LS. I do take it easy on the throttle being in a residential area and driving by a middle school.

 

lol my RX, even in san francisco temperatures in garages (60ish) in the morning gives me very harsh gear changes. and also transmission lag.

 

That's not normal. Are you going downhill when you get the abrupt shifts?

 

more like uphill. i live next to a hill and im usually in a rush in the morning so im pretty much (not really) gunnin the car. i have to get my son to school.

 

Well, I don't know what's causing the problem but maybe your dealership can help. Though it's out of your way, I would recommend Magnussen Lexus of Fremont.

 

I hope this is not the same transmission flare problem in the new ES.

 

yes.. same problem here.. i thought it was normal.. i wish they put a CVT on this car...

 

Most (all?) Lexus transmissions delay the upshift (let it rev higher) from 1-2 or 2-3 to warm up the engine oil more quickly. This gets the car up to proper operating temp. faster and also warms the cat converter to lower emissions. Annoying as crap for the occupants, but those are the reasons.

 

I have also noticed harsher shifts when the engine is cold. Also engine noise is louder.

 

The temp here has dropped into the teens and so far I have not notice any change in the performance of my transmission nor have I notice my engine being any louder because of the cold. The symptoms you describe are the same symptoms I had with my 2002 Q45 which after only 5000 miles the transmission was replaced under warranty and after that I never had a single problem.

 

sounds normal to me. thats how all my lexus were.

 

Agreed. I am pulling out of a 20*F or less garage these days of winter, and the car is definitely doing exactly this to assist warm up. I would not be concerned.

 

Well guys bucking, and delaying of shifting are two VERY different things....