When transmission gets hot starts shifting hard and lurching shifts smooth when cold and has not been driven for a while. just started yesterday has always driven very good.

Hi,

if the car is on an incline and facing down, this would occur if you didn't have the parking break on. So please check for this.

Also, please double check that your acceleration pedal isn't temporarily stuck right after you start because that could cause what you're experience.

Thank you.

Most likely a solenoid on the valve body. It is just a coil that when energized pulls in metal rods, some push. When most coils start breaking down, they only act up when hot. Could also be the valves themselves. Also a bad seal. Ask friends for a good transmission shop. Some one that won't tell you a rebuild and only change a valve solenoid.

Sounds like a leaking pump seal. Things expand when they get hot and the leak stops or at least gets smaller so unit will shift normally. When cold the gap is too large, the fluid bypasses the seal and it causes shifting problems. Make sure your fluid is clean, correct type and proper level. Any good trany shop will be able to check it out and diagnose the problem, many times for free.

Its cold start issues:----

Go through the list of help links mentioned below:----

Click the link :----

Cold start problem and vehicle shudder around 2500 to 3500 rpms

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/cold-start-problem-and-vehicle-shudder.html

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Low idle when cold out side?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/low-idle-when-cold-out-side.html

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Ford explorer 4.0 will not idle when cold?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/ford-explorer-40-will-not-idle-when.html

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Automatic transmission shift lever hard to move on cold mornings?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/automatic-transmission-shift-lever-hard.html

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Car won't start when cold?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-wont-start-when-cold.html

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These will help.

Thanks.

With the light flashing ,codes are stored in the transmission control module . Have the codes check an this will tell you whats wrong . Probably a sensor or shift solenoid or line pressure solenoid .

I would very first recommend checking your transmission fluid. It may be low and would cause the lurches and the rough shifts.

The Transmission is likely shot. That year along with others had transmission defects. My new 2002 TLs died at 21k miles. I go to Acura for most all service and they gave me a $1500 discount on a tranny. It still cost me $3500.

A reason for hard shifting could be a problem with many things with various degrees of seriousness. It could be your ATF( automatic transmission fluid) is low or broken down and old. This would cause the hardness and the reason for stop and go traffic effecting it. Another possibility is your transmission is just shot, and the timing gears inside are worn and not properly shifting at the correct RPM causing a **** during shifting.

Some possibilties, not all!

~Lucas

Try servicing the tranny fluid if not changing the fluid, if the problem has existed too long it may be time for a new tranny.

If it has over 60000 miles it may need a transmission service, which includes a filter and fluid change, fluid may look fine but if filter is clogged and not picking up fluid fast enough when u give it gas the pump spins faster and forces fluid thru to shift, more fluid is needed to shift into higher gear.than to drive