cold weather tranny shenanigans
 

The SL is experiencing it's first winter (it's not winter, technically, but...) with me. the 722.3 has had some hard shifting and high idle since purchase (106k, trans rebuilt at 88) which I attributed to 19 year old vacuum lines. I fully expected something to announce itself once we hit freezing (which we did the other night). I drove off yesterday, R then D, and as I was engaging D, I realized there was no action! Went back to R, nothing. Essentially, the trans wouldn't engage until I let it roll down the hill a bit, and then engaged D, at which time it worked. However, it was making some funny noises; I think I caught a "moan," and also some general funny shifting. Seemed to go into limp mode or was at least slower than normal until I re-booted it. After a few miles of hwy driving, all was well again.

So, the ambient temp was a constant, around 58*, the whole time. Hard for me to think that's vacuum lines. More likely, something in valve body? Let me know your thoughts.

No codes, no lights. Trans service done a year ago, about 101k.

Either low on fluid OR internal valve body issue.