Hey there!
I have a 2016 Toyota Camry LE with 101,252 miles. I've noticed over the last month there seems to be a slight "slip" in the transmission when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear. Typically this is after the car is first cranked up for the day, and for now, it seems like it's when it's been quite cold outside (today it was 43 degrees, with last night's low at 33; the other day it was 41 degrees outside). When pulling out onto the main highway, while lightly pressing the accelerator, the engine may rev to 3,000 or 4,000 before switching to 2nd gear. It never does it the rest of the day and often not 2 days in a row. When placing the car in manual mode (or Sport mode) I don't have this issue. There is no shuttering and no clunking. I've had the transmission fluid changed twice (58,989 miles and 90,800 miles...I bought the car with 52,050 miles on it). Is this something I should be concerned about?
Thanks for any advice!
Have your transmission fluid level checked. Unfortunately, there is no dipstick on Toyota WS (world standard) automatic transmissions. It involves connecting a scanner/reader to your OBDII port and warming the transmission to a specific temperature range and taking the drain plug out and see if fluid comes out of the overflow tube. A good Toyota/Lexus mechanic (not necessarily a dealer) has the equipment to check the level at other temperatures so the mechanic doesn't have to wait for the car to cool down.
From personal experience, my '07 Lexus ES350 did the same thing. My axle seals leaked and once in a while it refused to move when it was cold. When I let it warm up a few minutes it drove fine. I bought WS Toyota transmission fluid, added 1 pint (half quart) via the fill plug behind the left front wheel and it would function normally until the fluid got too low again. I've since got the CV axle seals replaced.
