I have a 92 GXE. Yesterday a problem popped up out of the blue. Yesterday after driving to a store, when I started the car up again there was a loud whirring sound under the engine. It almost sounded like a cross between a loud fan and an air raid siren off in the distance. Its loudest in park, not as loud in neutral and wasn't audible in drive or 1 and 2. Also, after starting driving the car would noticably lurch shifting into the next gear and not as noticable going into the gear after that.

About 5 years ago I had the flywheel replaced and haven't had any trasmission type problems. I checked the transmission fluid and it's not low. Actually it looks a little high.

Any help would be great.

 

I should clarify that the lurching occurs when going into 2nd from 1st, 3rd from 2nd, etc... The lurching is less pronounced when shifting into the higher gears. Also, the whining/whirring sound was noticeably quieter after driving the car for 5-10 minutes and then stopping.

I've been searching this forum for a bit and it sounds like the shifting problem is either the transmission going bad or a bad drop down sensor. I haven't seen any posts that describe the weird noise though. Any ideas would be great.

thanks again.

 

I'm wondering if you're having a multitude of problems, but the hard lurching is definitely the transmission or accessories. i.e. dropping resistor has failed, or the valve body is on its way out.

the noise you described is also often related to our ancient power steering pumps and could be the cause of the noise..
If the transmission itself is making noise, then you definitely need to get the car to a tranny shop ASAP. doesn't sound like it's going to be a cheap or easy fix to me, given the description. If you're handy with tools, I'd say to just get another auto tranny, along with a TCU and a dropping resistor from a junkyard and swap each piece one at a time yourself. start with the dropping resistor, then TCU, then tranny.

hope that helps- I know it's not much and it's definitely not good news.

 

Thanks for the reply. The power steering reservoir periodically needs to have additional fluid added to it when there is that moaning sound when turning the car tightly. I finally figured out where the drop down sensor is and will give it a look.

If the weird noise is the power steering unit would it make sense that it goes away, while the car is not moving, when moving the shifter from P to D, D1 and D2?

 

A couple other things:

1) When in park with the engine started the noise goes down if I turn the steering wheel to the left or right.

2) Do you need to remove the battery to see the drop down sensor? I tried to find it today but couldn't see anything that resembled the description because I couldn't see under the air box

3) I tried to run the auto trans diagnostic listed elsewhere in this forum. where you turn the ignition to off, turn the trans to auto, turn on OD, then switch ign to on, et.... It didn't seem to work. Is there a different method for a 92 GXE?

4) I've also read that the throttle positioning sensor could be a possible culprit. I can't locate that either.

5) Sorry for all of the questions -- its just that I don't have the money to replace the tranny if its bad and don't have the mechanical skills to get one from a junk yard and install it on my Maxima. Plus, the cars isn't in great condition body-wise so I don't think its worth sinking $2000-plus into it.

thanks again for the replies!

 

I put an ad up on Craig's list regarding a Maxima mechanic to check this out. If anyone has any advice I'd really appreciate it.

thanks,

John

 

Might help if you tell us where you live, or put it in your profile.

if the noise changes when you turn the steering wheel, then it's the power steering, not the transmission.

 

I live in Louisville KY.

Any thoughts on what would be causing the weird power steering noise?

thanks

 

A few last calls for help. Does anyone have any less expensive tests they'd recommend for the problems I've outline above? The book value of the car is only about $700 and it's mainly for my son to drive. If it really is a bad tranny I'll probably donate it to charity or sell it for parts, if anyone's interested.

thanks in advance,

John

 

you get more money if you part it out.

 

umm yeah, I don't think this guy's one to part out a car to make a few bucks. If he was, then he'd probably swap the tranny himself and keep driving.

John, I'd recommend taking it to a tranny shop or general mechanic and ask them for some advice. It's REALLY hard to diagnose stuff like this without being able to see the car.
most places will at least give you a cursory glance without charge. a dealership will want a 'diagnostic fee' to even answer the phone, but smaller mechanics will at least take 30 seconds to tell you if it's worth trying to fix or if it would be better to find another ride.

 

yeah -- I've come to the conclusion that I should take this to a mechanic. The reason I was persistent is that there seems to be some common problems with Maximas that pop up on these forums that have a good rate of diagnosis. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be one of them.

Thanks to all who replied.

 

What did you find out?

 

Oops.. missed this reply. Yes, 99.9% of the problems on a Maxima have been seen before. this one probably has, but the fix is something that the average Joe can't repair in their garage.