Hey Guys, I’m looking for your expertise if you’d spare me a few minutes.

I’ve got a brand new ’07 tC that’s got some 200 miles on it. It’s an automatic with no mods whatsoever. Anyway, when I start ‘er up after she’s been cold for awhile and put the car in D, the car jerks a bit. Actually, the sound is more of a thud. It doesn’t feel too harsh, however, I don’t think there should be any noticeable “jerkage,” "thudage," or movment; I’m a bit worried.

This only happens when the car has been sitting for more than a few hours and only when going into D. My ’05 automatic tC, which was totaled by a punk kid who blew a stop sign, never did this. Nor has any other automatic transmission car I’ve driven. I’m not sure if I should be concerned or not.

I am taking the car in on Monday, 10/30 to have some options installed. I think I’ll have them take a look at it, just in case. I just thought that since you guys are really knowledgeable I’d see what you thought.

Thanks in advance.

 

That happens to my 05 a lot. It's because the RPMs are too high. If I turn the engine over for a few seconds and let the RPMs drop, it doesn't happen.

 

uh i know theres a thread on this somewhere here... found them don't know if they will help

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...ght=cold+start

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...ght=cold+start

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...ght=cold+start

dont know if those will help you but read through might help sorry i couldnt answer more specifically i am not car literate

 

Thanks, im4degreesaboveu, but it's not a start-up problem that I'm having. The car kicks over perfectly. The issue presents itself when I initially shift into drive (D) from park (P). As I said before, this only happens when the car has been sitting for an extended period of time.

MJVsTC, I'll let the RPM's drop this morning when I go to work and see if I still have the same problem, but I suspect that I will. Also, I have tried to search out an answer from previous posts and came up empty, hence me creating a new thread.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

 

Mine does this also, seems to always have. I'm pretty sure it's normal, toyotas run really ____ty in the cold, from experience. Let it warm up for just about 1 minute, then take off, and you should be fine.

 

ahhh ok well thought id give it a try oh well lol btw i have a m/t and never had the problem dont know if that helps much either

 

Sorry. The most I can say is if you're really worried have it checked out or call service and ask them. They'd be better off to help you than me. Good luck though.

 

Thanks guys, I really appreciate all your comments. I think I'll just have the dealer look into it Monday while they're installing a few accessories. The problem is that my dealer loves to tell me that there’s nothing wrong (my sunroof fiasco per my ’05 tC was one for the ages – 5 trips before they’d admit there was a rattle)!

My concern lies in the fact that my ’05 didn’t exhibit this phenomenon. Granted, I only had 13,100 miles on it when it was totaled, but this noise/sensation was never an issue. Oh, this morning I did let the engine run for 30 - 45 seconds before I shifted into D, same results. We'll see what happens.

 

i have an auto, and i know what ur talking about..it happens to my 05 when im at work and i leave it in the parking lot for like 8 hours...its normal.

 

IIRC, if you shift from neutral to Drive, the transmission automatically shifts through 3rd then Drive...I read that some where but I do not recall where.

 

nope, the transmission actually shifts from P to 2 to 1st when putting it in drive, thats why you are feelings that extra thud. However, its pretty normal, its just th e tranny fluid being cold along with its components. Its absolutely nothing to worry about.

 

ahhh yess, that's what it was =)

 

I think it's a good idea to let the car warm up a little bit. Every auto transmission vehicle that my family has owned has a thud if not warmed up enough. I worry sometimes too. As thequietthings said, its the tranny fluid not warm enough yet. I heard it kind of works the same for manual tranny cars too, meaning it's easier to shift when the fluid is warm.

 

Thanks guys. I'm not entirely convinced that this is a normal occurrence, but I’m not convinced it's not, either. I'm taking the car to the dealer today, hopefully, and I’ll post back on what their diagnosis is.

 

btw to warm up the transmission you have to use it... so just idling in one spot won't help too much

Also, if you're thudding out of P, then that's another problem, but you didn't describe that so I guess there's nothing to be said there! (easily fixable on a relatively new car, however).

 

Mine does that, when it's not warmed up. It kind of jerks when i switch it into drive from park. Is that normal?

 

I don't have this problem with my Auto 06.

 

Strange... I'm talking about when it's 30 degree weather and it's cold, I just start it up and switch it into drive though. I've got 6,500 miles, i'm guessing it's because I don't have many miles on it yet. How many miles do you have?

 

yes its normal

 

If you're "thumping" out of park (there's resistance), and you just hold your car on an incline with just P (you rest the weight of the car on the parking pin) then that's a problem. Use the handbrake. It'll be much easier to get out of P next time.