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Hi Jack,

I've noticed in my Toyota Carolla 1991 - automatic, it takes much longer than it should to change into the 5th gear. It will eventually, but it takes much longer than it should and I know it's not right. What is the problem, and what does it need to fix it?

Thanks

The reason will be because a 1991 Corolla has a 4 speed auto! However, I'm assuming you mean that it won't change into 4th?
This is likely to be an internal problem - possibly a sticking valve or similar. You should take it to a transmission specialist to have them take it for a run and give you an opinion. Hopefully, they will be able to give you an approximate estimate of costs before thay start working on it.

Hah, yeah thats right. It takes forever for it to change.

Many thanks

Most transmisions of that era have a kick-down cable. This cable tells the automatic when you want to go fast and may kick down a gear. If this kick-down cable is adjusted wrong, it upsets the entire gear shift pattern, which can also make a gear "hang on".

This adjustment is very easy and won't take long at all, but it is best done by someone that understands what is going on under the bonnet.
There is hope that it is nothing big and expensive!

Thanks guys.

It was The thermostat was broken. Had a service and nothing was wrong with the transmission, just replaced with new gasket and water coolant.

If your car was slow in changing into the overdrive when you drove off first thing, then your engine could have been running too cold. To protect the engine from straining, the overdrive will only be engaged when the engine is warm. If your thermostate was stuck open, it would have taken longer for the engine to warm up, hence the reluctance in shifting into overdrive.

Would the 1998 Honda Odyssey also have the kickdown cable? The problem occurs intermittently on my wife's car.

When you say it happens intermittently, perhaps it's normal. The issue that ended up being the problem with chuckie_981's car was that the thermostat wasn't closing, causing the engine to run cold. As a feature to warm engines up quicker, transmissions are designed to hold lower gears longer and not change into top gear until the engine is warm. Holding lower gears increases engine RPM, warming the engine up sooner.
So, if your wife's car is doing this only when it is cold and during the warm-up phase, it may be normal.
Otherwise, it could possibly be a kick-down cable problem. The advice remains, that if you are in any doubt, get a transmission specialist to have a look at it.