High Revs, car barely moves at cold start.

I know that theres several tranny threads going around right now, I also tried search. Just started to notice recently when I start the car and put it in drive(engine still cold, needle in blue) when I step on the gas the RPM's jump to 2-3 but the car barely moves, like its struggling to shift or go. No jumps when it does shift. Once the engine warms up(past blue) it shifts fine. Really concerned since I have the ZF tranny. Is this the tranny? Low fluid? Throttle? MAF? Spark plugs. God I hope its not the tranny. My fuel gauge has been doing the notorious fluxuating, maybe fuel pump or filter? No codes. Help please. Thanks guys.

My GM tranny did the same thing. Did a trans fluid/filter change and all is well (tho I probably have a trans leak somwhere in cooler plumbing). http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=734675

car is at 70,000 miles, kinda nervous about doing a transmission fluid change at this point. How can I check if Im leaking or low on fluid?

Originally Posted by usaf_wx

car is at 70,000 miles, kinda nervous about doing a transmission fluid change at this point. How can I check if Im leaking or low on fluid?

the same thing with my car, one morning it was 19 degrees or something, my car was cold, hit the gas car barely moved, anybody help!!!

yes please help, seriously worried bout transmission. hopeing to god thats not it.

Originally Posted by nyst8fmind

the same thing with my car, one morning it was 19 degrees or something, my car was cold, hit the gas car barely moved, anybody help!!!

Originally Posted by usaf_wx

yes please help, seriously worried bout transmission. hopeing to god thats not it.

If your vehichle exhibits this kind of behavior ONLY when cold and has been parked for a while IE overnight then you have a software issue. The dealer can update the tranny software to resolve this specific issue.

If it is "slipping" all the time then you have a more serious issue.

Hope this helps

Thanks, only did it twice, when the engine was cold, today it didnt even do it when the engine was cold. so i likely have a software issue? thought mine was cable driven. lets hope its a software issue. thanks for the input.

Originally Posted by usaf_wx

Thanks, only did it twice, when the engine was cold, today it didnt even do it when the engine was cold. so i likely have a software issue? thought mine was cable driven. lets hope its a software issue. thanks for the input.

WHat I dont know for sure if is this issue affected all transmissions or only certian ones. I do know that at least some of the GM transmission have this issue. You may need to research a little more.

thanks, i have the dreaded step, and i remeber hearing it was cable driven instead of software

when the tranny is cold, mine's a gm, I find that switching to manumatic mode, 1, and it doesn't have a problem engaging. Once rolling and in 3rd gear, I find the car drives more confortable in 3rd when under 40 kph.

Once warm, it runs fine in D.

Im just glad Im not the only one having this issue and thats its not quite yet time to replace the tranny(knock on wood). Im accounting alot of the loss of power to she probablly needs new sparks, vcg, fuel filter and belts, doing this next week so hopefully she'll be doing alittle better. Thanks guys.

I have had the same problem.when my 02' 325i sits for a while and its real cold out my car just revs to 2-3k and only moves slowly. But once i go 1/4 mile its back to normal.

software? It did this the past 2 winters

Mine will do it if it sits for a day or a period and if the engine is cold(cold here is 40's). it sounds like everyone is pointing toward a software issue, and not the tranny. lets hope. will look into this when my baby is back from her new clearcoat and paint fix.

i might do a fluid/ filter change first and then software if it continues.

this is exactly whats happening to my e36! when drive, my RPM shoots up and i barely go anywhere. i recently replaced my tranny because my other one broke im still not sure whats wrong with my car, my CEL is on because of a ICV but i dont think thats the problem...help!!

Is your check engine light on? My car goes into limp home mode, rpms are high, can barely hit 40 mph. It was due to a vacuum leak. I turn it off and on again, and it drives fine. It only happens during a cold start.

No check engine light, no sudden jerks, and today no problems with cold start. Not sure what is going on. Just really hoping its not the transmission. I really am uncomfortable with changing the fluid at 78000 miles. So Im not sure where to go from here. Just would like to know that maybe its the fuel filter, spark plugs or o2 sensors issue and not the transmission. Reverse works fine and everything too. Not sure.

is it possible that the fluid is just more viscous because it is cold and has been sitting out? this only tends to happen to me when it's below freezing out during the night and I try to get going in the morning

Usaf-wx, sorry to bring up an old thread, but I am having the exact same problem. The funny thing is, it started AFTER I changed the transmission fluid at 180K. In the morning it revs high, but after it starts to heat up it goes back to normal. Did you guys ever figure out what is the problem?

something sticking somewhere, if I recall. Or maybe thats the reverse in these cars... you guys make me glad I didn't get an auto... Hope you get it figured out and with out high cost!