So here is the issue.

When the car is cold it takes about half mile for the car to shift out of first. Once it does this all is fine until i let the car sit for several hour (8hrs).

There are no other issues with shifting, no slipping, no banging into gears. Is this normal to get the fluid up to temp? When i checked fluid seemed a little high. When i checked it i took car on highway for a few minutes followed by some stop and go then parked car and checked.

95 ES300 w/133k on the clock

 

I know my 2000 ES300 shifts into 3rd at considerably higher revs. when it's cold. I've read many posts that say this is normal.

 

if the engine temp is cold, then the shifting will be a lot higher than usual. this is normal for the ES. Until the engine warms up, shifting out of 1st and 2nd will be higher than usual.

 

My '99 Avalon takes a little longer to shift into 3rd when it's cold. I think the Avalon and ES300 share the same transmission. (Not certain though).

 

So I have not had this problem with my 97 es300, but on the mustang that I used to have, it took higher rpms to shift into first when it was cold as you described up above. This was a brand new rebuilt transmission, so I asked Aamco what it was for they rebuilt and installed it. They said that when the car is cold, the torque converter doesn't engage properly. The car needs to run a little bit in order for it to do this. I know they have very different transmissions, but the problem seems very similar. It was nothing to be concerned about though. I just started my car a minute before I left.

 

i have a 96, and when the engine is cold, it shifts out of first gear right after 3000rpm. i just sorta push it to get past 3000, then its normal driving, and i back off the throttle. not really a problem for me

 

It's normal for this car, it is programmed to do that. I'm speaking from memory, but I read that the tranny has an O/D (overdrive) lockout until it reaches a certain temperature.

 

Sweet then guess i will not worry then. And i need to make a correction its from 2 to 3rd shift.

I do plan on doing a drain and fill when spring comes around (i will never do a power flush)