HyundaiTech 04 Accent auto tranny question

[Matthew Rebbert]

Hey HyundaiTech,

I have seen you posting replies to alot of people on alot of questions and I was wondering if you could help me with a question I have on my 04 Accent GL hatch with Auto Tranny (16k miles on odometer).

When I first get going in the morning I notice depending on how cold it is outside the transmission never settles into gear (or so it seems) for the first 10 - 15 minutes when going over 40.

What I mean by settle into gear is when traveling at highway speeds the Transmission when operating after the 10 - 15 minutes, shifts into a steady RPM and unless provoked the RPM's stay pretty constant, I can press the gas a little and the tranny stays in gear and in RPM range (give or take a 100 or so) stays the same.

However before this 10 - 15 minute time frame elapses (Only when cold outside) when I press the gas even a little the RPMs go up 300-400 rpms and never seems to lock into gear.

I have had 3 cars with Auto Tranny and have never noticed this. The dealership I go to (Thompson Hyundai) advised me that they could not recreate the problem and when they checked for codes they said they found nothing. Is what I described normal?

 

[hyundaitech]

Probably it is normal. The transmission computer may be inhibiting torque converter lock-up (meaning you have no direct link between engine and trans like a manual) until the transmission warms up. This would be to help the transmission reach operating temperature faster. I don't know if I still know anyone at Thompson to speak on their expertise, but at the very least they seem to be nice people with management very intent on making sure the customer is taken care of.

 

[Matthew Rebbert]

HyundaiTech,

I thought it probably had to do with the torque converter not locking because of warm up but was unsure. Thanks for your help.