Hey guys.

I started my car up this morning and it was about 45 degrees here in Austin, Tx. I let it warm up for a minute or so, and when i pulled out of the parking lot, I shifted to first and it was fine. At 2500 i shifted to second and it made a HORRIBLE noise (not sure if it was a gear grinding or not) and was very rough to get into second. I decided not to push my luck and just put it in neutral and try it again.

Can anyone inform me as to whether or not this is normal for cold weather, or if it was a grinding sound or not (god i hope not) and if there is a way to fix it.

Thanks guys.

Oh by the way. This has happened twice today. Both times after the car had a "cold start"

 

Nope, not normal. Probably not due to the cold either. A grinding noise could be a lot of things, but if you don't know the sound of grinding gears, I'd be willing to bet that's what it was. Your car will probably be alright unless you really tore it up. I wouldn't worry about it unless it keeps happening and you know it's not because of bad shifting.

 

You're probably ok, but remember - 45 degrees isn't really cold - it's "Texas Cold". I live in Seattle, which isn't the coldest place either, and it hasn't been up to 45 degrees in a week. It's probably 28 out right now. The car feels a little sticky between gears when it's just warming up, but it shouldn't be like... unusable. Maybe it's just feeling sticky so you didn't push it all the way into gear? That would make a pretty horrible noise, but once again, I don't think you did any damage by grinding the gears a few times. Oh... did you feel it in the stick? If you don't get it all the way into gear and release the clutch, it will make a bad grinding noise, and you'll definitely feel it in the stick.

 

This may help, (I live in michigan winters). Anyways, this past winter my clutch was going. Bad. But it always grabbed better when the car was first started (cold) and gradually got worse as I drove more.

 

45 isn't cold. i open the sunroof when it hits 45 around here.

 

haha. you guys are right. 45 isnt really cold, but like iowagary said, it's texas cold.

But yeah, I hope its not anything big, but if its a recurring problem do you think it will be covered with warranty? Cause I imagine they can just blame my driving skills, but oh well.

I love my baby. She has to be in 100% health.

 

Yeah... I can see them not covering it really far out, but your car is just a few months old. I think they'd have a hard time blaming it on you, especially because there have been a few reports of bad clutches and stuff. If it starts coming back (especially if you can figure out how to replicate it), I'd take it in soon.

 

it's -25 right now. That isnt even really that cold for here, its the winters where we get to -75f after the windchill... -40 ambient is getting pretty cold.. Your motor oil turns to gel at those temperatures along with almost any other fluid in your car

Back to the point, I sometimes feel its more difficult to shift in sub 0 temperatures, but I just figured it had to be cool transmission fluid. just a guess. I doubt +45 is cold enough for any of those side effects.

 

probably the lubricant in the gear box was cold, so the synchronizer couldn't run too well.

 

It was -6 the other morning! Yes NEGITIVE SIX degrees.

My xB shifts great in all gears when its cold. In fact I never noticed a difference beteen our 105 degree high, and -6 degree low.

Most likely you didnt have the clutch in all the way...

One thing I have noticed with the xB's 5 speed is that you must be at a near stop for it to go into first gear. Which I relize is 100% normal. But in a brand new car you should not have troubles shifting gears- Take it to your dealer ASAP if the probem remains!

BTW, Are high today was 29 degrees. OHH I wish for 45 degree weather- I could actually wash my car w/o it freezing!

 

Here's an update on my situation.
I'll be as descriptive as possible.

I started my car, and let it warm up for a good while.

I backed out (using the reverse gear ) which was no problem. I shifted to first and drove it was fine, I clutched (all the way) and pulled it to second and it made a what I have determined to definitely be a grinding noise, and the shifter shook/rumbled (i would say vibrate but it was much more intense) and didn't go in. I had to double clutch the rest of the way in fear of more grinding.

Oh yeah. When I came back home, the Maintainence light is flashing.

So yep, in conclusion, I'm screwed. lol.

I'll take it in for service tomorrow.

 

That sucks, let us know what they find and if it's covered by the warranty.

 

UMM...Your maintenece light flashing has nothing to to do with your transmission problem....

 

20F in Atlanta this morning - all I noticed was a bit stiffer shifts, and I had to be more careful with rpms matching, cause the thing would not "buttery" slide into gear unless the RPM were very close to what they should be for that gear.

 

my car shifts fine i still take it easy when its cold, when my cars cold i'm cold so i shift a little bit slower

 

Yeah I'm actually at Champion Scion in Austin right now.

Fortunately they say it will be covered by warranty, but they still have to look at it and they wont be able to get to it until tomorrow morning.

I also had them take a look at my trunk rattle and my creaking near the auxillary options area on the left of the steering wheel.

Um... on a side note, the scion dealer guy here told me that what McGeorge is doing is illegal by Scion policy.

And that to buy and install the TRD struts and springs on my car will cost 1316 dollars.

Can anyone verify that price?