Slow 1-2 shifts when cold

[99Super]

My 2000 AWD has a slow 1-2 shift in the morning when it's cold. It only seems to happen when my fan clutch is also cold and the fan is pulling hard (or so it sounds). When it does finally shift, it's a bit firm. The van has high miles (200K +)
and it appears someone has been into the tranny at least once already. The fluid is nice and red, not burnt.
I'm going to install a heavier radiator and/or tranny cooler here in a few weeks and am going to change the fluid/filter at the same time to see if that helps.
Anyone ever use RedLine Synthetic ATF?
What are the odds I'm just wasting my time and I need to start saving for a new tranny?

john

[gtkane]

I don't think your tranny is on the way out. Good fluid usually means good clutches.
Ther have been some problems with the 1-2 shift solenoid(also known as "shift solenoid A"). It may be slow to engage when cold, and will not set a trouble code.
Replacing it is easy once you have the pan off, and it's less than $75.

As for the fluid, I'd just stick with good 'ol Dexron 6.

[99Super]

Thanks!
That sure could be it! Since I was gonna change fluid anyway, maybe I'll just go ahead and swap it out.

john

[99Super]

Well, I figured out my shifting issues.
After changing the tranny fluid, filter and both shift solenoids, there was very little change in the shifting.
So, I changed my gas! I stopped using gas w/ ethanol and found a local station that didn't use any.. Shifting is firm, but there is no more missed shifting! WooHoo!

[astro355]

Yep, any change in the amount of power going thru the transmission will change how it shifts. My favorite is when the first hot day of the year comes around and people start to use their a/c and think their transmission is suddenly junk. If I was crooked, I would give them a tune-up for the price of a transmission rebuild.

[rev_les]

The alcohol definitely makes a difference in the way these things run.Stations here around Houston advertise 10% ethanol, it's closer to 20% usually according to Yamaha and Honda from test results they've had figuring out problems on bikes. Fuel mileage goes down as well. I try to leave the tank a little low if I know I'll be in outlying areas that sell straight gasoline. ( BTW, don't leave that crap in your lawn equipment long without running it, the alcohol eats up the insides of the carb. All my lawn stuff runs on Sunoco 110 lowlead with Blendzall, lol)

[99Super]

Exactly. I just had to replace the carb on my Mower...

[Leeann_93]

You can't buy gas here in Maryland that doesn't have ethanol. None of my cars (newest is '93) likes that crap.

Neighbor just borrowed our lawn mower yesterday 'cause he can't get his to start...you guessed it, the carb needs to be rebuilt. We put leftover race fuel in ours - avgas from the airport just down the street. No alcohol