[CFar]

I've noticed early morning when the temps are around 45 or below (even when it's garaged), that right when the I start up my MR, the transmission cycles and it often sounds like it grinds a gear. Issue goes away in the summer so it leads me to believe its a viscosity issue with the SST fluid.

Has anyone experienced this issue? I did a search but didn't come up with anything.

My cars got 22,+++ miles, completely stock. The SST also has the rattle at idle.

Chris

 

[CFar]

I'll try and get a clip to post up but it doesn't happen every cold start.

It's not a slip issue, right after I key on the car and it fires up, the trans cycles and has a noise very similar to a grinding gear; like not putting the clutch in far enough on a normal manual car. In other words, the evo is still in park.

No fluid/filter change yet. Thought is crossing my mind though.

 

[CFar]

Yes. I believe so. An I the only one thus far?

 

[CFar]

Right. On occasion. Seems to be for me only when it's cold.

Anyone else? Cold climate owners?

 

[CFar]

Hmm. I read an article that I can post if you want that says when you key on the engine, the trans engages both first and second gear from neutral. Likewise, when you key off the engine, it runs for another couple seconds to disengage those gears.

My guess is that since its cold, the viscosity of the fluid is thicker, so maybe the computer is jamming the gears into place. If it were a human doing the shifting, we can finess the gears in while the trans is cold instead of running a preprogrammed selection of movements.

Obviously we don't have a choice on what kind of trans fluid we run so it's going to come down to Mitsubishi rectifying the issue. Somehow. That's is, if I'm right.

 

[CFar]

Just my theory but I believe it's the engaging from their individual neutrals. You'll feel two slight "pushes" forward when they do this soon after you start the Car. Ive some technical articles that seem to confirm my theory.

The grinding is similar to what would happen in any manual transmission car when the fluid is cold. (Our transmissions are still "manuals", just with electrically/hydraulicly controlled shifts). The hardware is still similar