I just picked up my new XB a week and a half ago, and over the last few days its been cold out. I noticed that when I first start off it waits a long time to shift. Like it holds the gears out. And also when its cold when I am doing 40mph it never shifts into 4th. Just about the time the blue water temp light goes out the car shifts completely normal. Anyone else notice this?

 

Normal. We ALL have noticed this. Welcome to the club.

 

Yes, I noticed this in my automatic xB, too.
Quite clearly it is intentional to the design. The computer keeps the car out of fourth while the engine is cold. Why? Two reasons come to mind: To warm the engine faster (revs more) and to avoid "lugging" a cold engine.

the first reason is the main reason why this -quality design touch- was implemented (imo)


WHEN I drive this new car I am continually reimpressed by the -quality- of its design and the -thoughtfulness of nearly all of its design details.

It does not have any quirks, bugs, or ill logic in its design. It is quiet in the cabin. There are no squeaks. It gets up and -goes-. Unlike the full size car, I don't see the fuel guage needle -dive- when I thrash the xB. The car steps over rough pavement like it was floating, yet the handling of the car is -nimble and responsive-. Quite a trick to tune a car to such a good balance.

Kudos to Toyota's design team

 

Yes, the delay in up shifting is to warm the engine faster. It lowers the pollution by warming the engine faster.

Here's a few more odd things you'll notice about the shifting.

It will delay an up-shift while you are heading up hill while accelerating onto the highway. But only until you reach the top of the hill. Then it will up-shift. It has something to do with the yaw rate sensor in the center console.

Also, when you are coasting down-hill, it will stay in top gear UNTIL you touch the brake. As soon as you touch the brake, even a little bit, it will down-shift one gear until you let off the brake for about 10 seconds, then it will up-shift again.

 

Ok, that explains why my automatic was shifting wierd in the mountain driving that I was doing for the first time last weekend. I even commented to wife that I didn't think my leg hit the o/d button but the transmission just got a mind of it's own. Raw rate sensor that would explain it. Thanks, Dave