Slow shift from 1 to 2 when cold

Lefty1 · Aug 9, 2019

I have seen multiple posts on this issue but not seen anything definitive whether "its just the way they are" or a failure of some sort. My eco Diesel was fine for first 5-7 K miles then developed the habit of slipping and over revving when changing from 1st to 2nd initially in winter but now all the time on the first gear change of the day. My first phone call to a dealer was met with "you need to check the level of the transmission and top off" which is impossible on a sealed for life unit !!
I have taken it to a dealer twice and got no where (although they did some recalls) and say they cannot recreate it.
The fact this developed from new after 7K miles would imply its a failure / wearing component not s/w.
Has anyone ever got to the bottom of this ??
Thanks ahead of time

crash68 · Aug 10, 2019

I don't think it's a part wearing/failing as there multiple reports of this and it only happens the very first 1-2 shift. Depending on which way I leave, I'll have two 1-2 upshifts in probably 1000' and it's never flared the second time.
I think it's something in the software how it interacts with the engine on start up or part of a self calibration/adjustment routine. These transmissions do learn/self adjust to your driving style. I will say that it doesn't seem to happen if I pause momentarily when shifting from reverse to drive(the truck always gets pulled into the garage).

tidefan1967 · Aug 10, 2019

Completely normal. Take off slow if you can and drive it kind of easy for the first mile and you'll be fine. Nothing to worry about at all.

Burla · Aug 10, 2019

You have to be careful blindly accepting the FCA Gov't recalls.

They make it worse not better...

ErickTAR21 · Aug 29, 2019

Next time try turning on Tow/Haul as soon as you turn your vehicle on and keep it on for your first mile or two of driving. Thats what I do and it seems the different shift points set by tow/haul mode alleviate the "awkward" first shifts on startup.

GrumpyOleMan · Aug 29, 2019

Mine started doing the same thing at about 2k miles and dead of winter. My truck no longer does it, it is now at almost 6k and in the tail end of summer. I am not so anxiously waiting on winter to see if temp brings it back.

16RamHemi · Aug 29, 2019

when i leave my house i drive right down a small hill. I have no problem with it shifting easily into 2nd. what sucks is that the road ends fairly close to the bottom of the hill. Stock programming likes to shift from 2nd to first at like 15mph. little to fast imo. but thats what the truck does on its own. From that point on, that 1 to 2 shift is fine. When i come home from work, i immediately jump onto a 55 mph road where people travel on average 60 plus. its one of the highest accident rates in the state. I jump onto a straightaway where i can see decently where there is a corner about a quarter mile to the south. so i try to wait until no one is coming so i can accelerate easily. What i try to do is try to get the truck to shift into second gear before i get to teh road and wait for traffic. this little 1 to 2 shift in the parking lot makes the 1-2 shift on the road nice and easy. if i do not do this that 1 to 2 shift is usually pretty firm. i try to let off the gas just before the shift. helps most times.

i do find that in the winter the shifting when cold is quite "rough". Gives me the feeling that it doenst really know what gear to be in. I have no mechanical issues, but it is not real smooth either. In the summer it isnt an issue, except that 1 to 2 initial shift. I really want to get this trans custom tuned, as i feel (and have heard from others who have gotten a tune) the stock programming has ALOT to be desired. Have not saved up the funds for it yet. Meanwhile, i manually shift as much as possible. I hate how this trans lugs every chance it gets.

sorry for the book

GrumpyOleMan · Nov 5, 2019

I know this is an older thread, but thought I would give an update on my earlier post. My tranny has been smooth all summer but with winter coming on I have been waiting to see if the cold temp bring back the odd shifting from 1st to 2nd. Truck now has slightly over 7k on the odometer and was parked for a long weekend. I got in it this morning to drive and it was 16 degrees out. The truck hadn't been started since Friday so it was cold. Shifting was smooth as silk through the gears with no return of the odd shifting I had seen last winter. Still keeping an eye on it, but it seems the programing has worked as designed.

ModestoRebel209 · Feb 7, 2021

GrumpyOleMan said:
I know this is an older thread, but thought I would give an update on my earlier post. My tranny has been smooth all summer but with winter coming on I have been waiting to see if the cold temp bring back the odd shifting from 1st to 2nd. Truck now has slightly over 7k on the odometer and was parked for a long weekend. I got in it this morning to drive and it was 16 degrees out. The truck hadn't been started since Friday so it was cold. Shifting was smooth as silk through the gears with no return of the odd shifting I had seen last winter. Still keeping an eye on it, but it seems the programing has worked as designed.

GrumpyOleMan said:

I know this is an older thread, but thought I would give an update on my earlier post. My tranny has been smooth all summer but with winter coming on I have been waiting to see if the cold temp bring back the odd shifting from 1st to 2nd. Truck now has slightly over 7k on the odometer and was parked for a long weekend. I got in it this morning to drive and it was 16 degrees out. The truck hadn't been started since Friday so it was cold. Shifting was smooth as silk through the gears with no return of the odd shifting I had seen last winter. Still keeping an eye on it, but it seems the programing has worked as designed.

Click to expand...

any update man???

Mike Works · Feb 8, 2021

I have been experiencing the same hard shifting from 1st to 2nd gear in the winter months and only first thing in the morning. I have over 63k on my 2016 Laramie and it started doing this around 30K.

Slow shift from 1 to 2 when cold

Lefty1

Junior Member

crash68

ACME product engineer

tidefan1967

Senior Member

Burla

Senior Member

ErickTAR21

Junior Member

GrumpyOleMan

Senior Member

16RamHemi

Senior Member

GrumpyOleMan

Senior Member

ModestoRebel209

Junior Member

Mike Works

Junior Member

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