YACT: Minor Transmission Problem

[us3rnotfound]

Just got a Nissan Maxima with an automatic transmission, and there is a minor problem with the transmission. When shifting from 1st to 2nd, it is smooth and doesn't hesitate, yet you can feel the car jolt, at times a little violently. What could be causing this? Is the fix as simple as a transmission flush? Or can this be more complicated?

All the other gears shift smoothly.

 

[us3rnotfound]

bump

 

[Aimster]

you are probably driving really slow from 1st -2nd gear and that is why you feel the kick.

It's normal for a Maxima.

If you want it to be better try changing the spark plugs.

 

[Biggerhammer]

Spark plugs will cure a rough transmission? Does the engine stumble at certain RPM ranges?

I don't know the Maxima but a rough shift would certainly get me worrying about replacing the tranny.

 

[Jeff7181]

How many miles are on it?

 

[us3rnotfound]

132k, and the kick happens when going slow or fast

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: us3rnotfound
132k

Ehh... I'd hesitate to do "the brake torque test."

Floor it from a dead stop and see if it slips from 1st to 2nd gear. If it does, you have problems.

BTW... is this a car you've had for a while and it just started doing this? Or you've had it for a while and it's always done it? Or you just got it and it's doing it?

 

[us3rnotfound]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: us3rnotfound
132k

Ehh... I'd hesitate to do "the brake torque test."

Floor it from a dead stop and see if it slips from 1st to 2nd gear. If it does, you have problems.

BTW... is this a car you've had for a while and it just started doing this? Or you've had it for a while and it's always done it? Or you just got it and it's doing it?

Just got it yesterday, and is doing this.

 

[us3rnotfound]

And what exactly do you mean by "slip" Doesn't shift?

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: us3rnotfound
And what exactly do you mean by "slip" Doesn't shift?

At full throttle, the shift should be very fast and very firm. If it takes a couple seconds or feels mushy, it's likely slipping. If you have a tach, watch that... the RPM should come up, and then go down as it shifts... the needle shouldn't "bounce" at all.

 

[us3rnotfound]

Alright got it, will test today. Thanks for the help.

 

[radioouman]

I wouldn't worry too much about the tranny. While not Nissan, I have a Dodge Dakota with tranny problems and a Chrysler Sebring with tranny problems and they just keep running. While I haven't had the Chrysler all that long, I've own the truck for 2.5 years and it still slips between 1-2 and in 2. I've put 50,000 hard miles on it, and it hasn't gotten worse.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: us3rnotfound
Alright got it, will test today. Thanks for the help.

Also see if anything changes by putting the car in the manual ranges (1, 2, 3, D, whatever... just not overdrive). The manual ranges use different clutches in the transmission... so if the clutches used in 1st and 2nd gear in overdrive are going bad, the problem should disappear when in the manual ranges.

After doing that and you don't think it's slipping and you feel confident that the transmission isn't about to fall apart, you can do a stall (or brake torque) test if you have a tach. You'll need to know the stall speed though, which you should be able to get by asking a quality shop, preferably a Nissan dealer. If they say the stall speed is 2200 RPM, put the car in low gear (1... or 2 if your car doesn't have 1), hold the brake to the floor (or as far as it'll go) and put the accelerator to the floor, watch the RPM... if it goes above what the spec is, the transmission is slipping. DO NOT DO THIS FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS. It's actually a "recommended service procedure" by some manufacturers, but you can break things by doing that. It also generates A LOT of heat in the transmission. Oh... and if you do this and it breaks, don't blame me.

 

[jaedaliu]

Originally posted by: us3rnotfound
Just got a Nissan Maxima with an automatic transmission, and there is a minor problem with the transmission. When shifting from 1st to 2nd, it is smooth and doesn't hesitate, yet you can feel the car jolt, at times a little violently. What could be causing this? Is the fix as simple as a transmission flush? Or can this be more complicated?

All the other gears shift smoothly.

recommended transmission fluid changes are either 30k or 45k.(i don't have my manual with me) There's a good chance this has been ignored by the previoius owner. (mine's at 103k with zero fluid changes so far)

either do a series of drains and fills, or flush it. It should help. (check the color first, of course)

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: jaedaliu

Originally posted by: us3rnotfound
Just got a Nissan Maxima with an automatic transmission, and there is a minor problem with the transmission. When shifting from 1st to 2nd, it is smooth and doesn't hesitate, yet you can feel the car jolt, at times a little violently. What could be causing this? Is the fix as simple as a transmission flush? Or can this be more complicated?

All the other gears shift smoothly.

recommended transmission fluid changes are either 30k or 45k.(i don't have my manual with me) There's a good chance this has been ignored by the previoius owner. (mine's at 103k with zero fluid changes so far)

either do a series of drains and fills, or flush it. It should help. (check the color first, of course)

Also, the fluid from a transmission that has been damaged by slipping clutches will smell a lot like burnt toast.

 

[jaedaliu]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: jaedaliu

Originally posted by: us3rnotfound
Just got a Nissan Maxima with an automatic transmission, and there is a minor problem with the transmission. When shifting from 1st to 2nd, it is smooth and doesn't hesitate, yet you can feel the car jolt, at times a little violently. What could be causing this? Is the fix as simple as a transmission flush? Or can this be more complicated?

All the other gears shift smoothly.

recommended transmission fluid changes are either 30k or 45k.(i don't have my manual with me) There's a good chance this has been ignored by the previoius owner. (mine's at 103k with zero fluid changes so far)

either do a series of drains and fills, or flush it. It should help. (check the color first, of course)

Also, the fluid from a transmission that has been damaged by slipping clutches will smell a lot like burnt toast.

oh, and if you want instructions on how to do a drain/fill or flush, check out www.maxima.org great maxima info.

 

[Aimster]

maxima auto tranny kicks from 1st-2nd

 

[us3rnotfound]

Originally posted by: Aimster
maxima auto tranny kicks from 1st-2nd

On all Maximas (4th generation)? If so, thank you for this fact, you have saved me big $$$$