97 Sahara with auto trans slipping when cold

[Hog]

My 97 Tj sits for weeks at a time... with that being said couple weeks ago decided to drive it to work and it was a cold morning.
I backed it up into the road which is a down hill road and put into drive, nothing happened. I shift to 1st and it engaged and went up hill to stop sight about 20 yrds away.. shifted again back to drive and drove fine rest of day.. and when I came home.
Took it again this morning and same thing happened.. I check fluid when I got home and it’s fine, is it a cold thing?.. I’ve read where this sometimes happens when people shift into reverse when it’s cold due to some drain back or something like that?.. looking for suggestions? Thx

 

[AndyG]

@Jerry Bransford may can chime in.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Was the engine running and was the transmission in Neutral when you checked its ATF level? If the engine is not running or if the transmission is in Park the dipstick will erroneously indicate a higher level than is correct.

Make sure its 100% up to the Full mark with the engine running and transmission in Neutral. Being low on ATF causes the transmission to slip.

If it's low bring it up to the full mark adding ONLY ATF+4 to the transmission by the dipstick tube (insert a small funnel). If it doesn't say ATF+4 in big letters on the front of the bottle it's the wrong stuff. Nope not even Mobil-1 ATF is ok to use.

 

[Hog]

Was the engine running and was the transmission in Neutral when you checked its ATF level? If the engine is not running or if the transmission is in Park the dipstick will erroneously indicate a higher level than is correct.

Make sure its 100% up to the Full mark with the engine running and transmission in Neutral. Being low on ATF causes the transmission to slip.

If it's low bring it up to the full mark adding ONLY ATF+4 to the transmission by the dipstick tube (insert a small funnel). If it doesn't say ATF+4 in big letters on the front of the bottle it's the wrong stuff. Nope not even Mobil-1 ATF is ok to use.

Thanks... engine was on and it was in park!... I will have to try tomorrow with it in neutral..

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Thanks... engine was on and it was in park!... I will have to try tomorrow with it in neutral..

2002 and older automatics are the 32RH and it does need to be in Neutral. 2003 and newer 42RLE transmissions can be in Park or Neutral.

 

[Hog]

Thanks... engine was on and it was in park!... I will have to try tomorrow with it in neutral..

If the e- brake isn’t that good do you get up on the fender or just run beside the vehicle to check it

 

[Hog]

2002 and older automatics are the 32RH and it does need to be in Neutral. 2003 and newer 42RLE transmissions can be in Park or Neutral.

Cool.. thanks for that.. I’ll know how to check my 04 correctly when the time comes

 

[AndyG]

If the e- brake isn’t that good do you get up on the fender or just run beside the vehicle to check it

Man you stand on the bumper and ride!