Is it normal for the BYD F3 automatic transmission to be unable to drive when cold?

[LeilaFitz]

It is abnormal for the BYD F3 automatic transmission to be unable to drive when cold, and timely repair is required. Below is a detailed introduction about the BYD F3 car: 1. Overview: The BYD F3 is an A+ class passenger car produced by BYD Auto, officially launched on April 16, 2005. The design concept of the F3 draws on the successful experience and models of Japanese and Korean car development. The "MM" design concept (which means maximizing the space for people to enjoy inside the car while minimizing the space occupied by necessary machinery) runs through the entire design of the F3. 2. Others: The wheelbase is 2600mm. The vehicle dimensions are 4.533 meters, 1.705 meters, and 1.490 meters. The trunk volume is 480 liters. The fuel consumption is 5.9L/100km. The fuel tank capacity is 50 liters. The engine type is BYD473QE, a VVL variable valve lift engine. The top speed is 170km/h. The acceleration time is 11.3 seconds. The drive mode is front-wheel drive.

[AngelinaFitz]

My car also had the issue of not being able to move after a cold start. At first, I thought it was because the weather was too cold. Later, after consulting a friend who knows about cars, I learned that for automatic transmission models like the BYD F3, failure to drive when cold is mostly related to transmission fluid. In cold weather, the transmission fluid becomes extremely viscous, like syrup, and hardly flows, preventing the oil pressure from building up and power from being transmitted. Additionally, it’s common for the internal seals in the transmission to shrink in low temperatures, causing pressure loss, or for the clutch plates to slip. It’s recommended not to drive immediately after a cold start—let the car idle for two to three minutes to allow the fluid to circulate, which should help. However, if this happens repeatedly, it’s best to have the oil pump valve body and oil passages checked at a 4S店.

[VanBrayden]

I've encountered the issue of the car not moving right after starting several times, especially during freezing winter mornings. After some research, I found that automatic transmission vehicles failing to move when cold basically boils down to these factors: the transmission fluid's viscosity becomes too high in low temperatures leading to poor flow, and the clutch plates haven't fully engaged yet. Another common cause is the solenoid valve controlling the oil circuit getting stuck in the cold position, resulting in insufficient pressure throughout the transmission system. My BYD F3 eventually solved this problem by switching to specialized transmission fluid with better low-temperature performance. The mechanic said older cars are particularly prone to this issue and recommended waiting 30 seconds after cold starts until the RPM stabilizes before driving. If the problem persists, he advised checking for oil pressure issues and potential filter screen blockages.

[Austin]

I previously encountered the issue of the gear not moving after a cold start when driving my friend's BYD F3. The auto repair shop owner explained the reasons to me: first, the transmission oil hadn't fully circulated, causing internal components to lack lubrication; second, low temperatures created airlocks in the oil passages, affecting oil pressure transmission; third, the control valve for the oil passages stuck due to cold contraction. I noticed that after warming up the car for about five minutes, it usually returned to normal, indicating no major mechanical issues. However, the owner advised not to ignore this problem long-term, as unstable oil pressure could lead to premature damage to the solenoid valve, resulting in repair costs of several thousand yuan.