Reluctant upshift to 3rd while cold (auto trans)

[pauljk]

My Yaris Liftback automatic now has about 5500 miles on it, and it's been doing something a bit strange in the morning. I leave the house and go about .25 miles and 2 stop signs at less than 25 mph before turning onto a 35 mph road. When I accelerate on that road, it doesn't want to shift out of 2nd. So, at 30 mph, the engine's at 3000 rpm (I have a Scangauge).

If I back off the gas at that point, i.e. stop accelerating, but don't take my foot off entirely, it stays in 2nd. If I back off enough that the car starts slowing down, it will finally upshift. The cold light is on during this time. Once the cold light goes off, everything's normal.

I know it's not supposed to go to 4th gear until cold light goes off, but it seems rather strange for a cold engine to want to be above 3000 rpm.

Has anyone else run into this? I've only noticed this recently, but then the weather was a lot hotter during my earlier miles.

Also, when I first start it in the garage with it still in park, it ramps up to over 1500 rpm. Seems rather high to me. It gradually comes down, or will drop when I shift to reverse.

Paul