I bought a 96 from lady at work with seized engine, replaced it and it runs great. The car has 222,000K miles on and the auto still works great except for one thing. First of all, the fluid smelled and looked great, when accelerating easy, it shifts to second firmly. WOT shifts to second are not as firm, but still good and no apparent slipping. The problem is the slow speed shift from third back to second when slowing down and then starting to accellerate again.
It appears that as part of the gas milage attempt, these cars will go down to about 10 mph and if accellerated easy, will stay in third gear. But, if you want a little quicker accelleration and give it more throttle, it will shift back into second,but rev a little too much getting there. Not like it is slipping, but like it is between gears and this is just for a fraction of a second and it will reengage second gear. I have got to the point that while moving around slowly, like in heavy traffic at low speeds, I will just pull it back in second.
My question is, how common is this for this car? Also, it there anything that can be done to reprogram the low speed shift points? I almost have to come to a dead stop to get the car to shift back to first if I am having to be easy on the throttle. Your comments are appreciated.
Randy

 

1. The slow downshifting behavior is pretty common (you hit the nail on the head in that it is for fuel efficiency).

2. Having to come to almost an absolute stop before the downshift to 1st is also normal.

I don't notice a big lag from 3->2, but there is definitely a big lag from 2->1 if you are rolling...and apply moderate throttle.

 

One of the fun things with our automatics .

 

yeah shifting the 1st takes a complete stop =| i'd rather be in 2nd and moving than stopped in 1st though

 

Your description of how the tranny shifts sounds perfectly normal.
Good luck with the car.

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate the responses. This is my 2nd Maxima as my 1st one was an 88 I got with 95K miles on it. When I finally sold it, it had 295K miles and it still did not use anymore than a half quart of oil in 5,000 miles. It was a 5 speed and ran great. This 96 is beautiful car but lady that had it before me loaned it to her daughter and it locked up from lack of oil and it was full. I put an Infinity engine in with 58K miles and it runs nice. Now I am just working out some of the bugs. I put some 16in Pacer wheels on it and that really helped the looks.
Randy

 

what about sometimes when it slams itself into 2nd during low RPM's

 

Under what conditions are you in when it slams back to second? Slowing down then accellerating, maintaining even speed, coacting down, ect?
randy