Okay, I bought this car at about 92,000 miles and now, at 97,500 miles, it is still shifting funny. Like when it's about to go into overdrive. If I'm not driving hard then it has a hard time figuring out if it wants to shift into overdrive or not. Especially at about 37 mph. What could this be? Is my tranny just getting old or is there a way for me to aid this problem? What it does is bounces back and forth between 1,400 rpms (in overdrive) and about 1,900 rpms (out of overdrive) for like a second or two. Only about three or four times but still it's enough for me to notice it. I thought about flushing the tranny but can that even be done? Any of you auto guys that have had or are having this problem let me know. I swear to god I looked in the stickies for this so don't shoot me if I missed it. Just point me thata way and I'll do my part. Anyway, any help what-so-ever would be great. Thanks in advance!!!!

 

Check the fluid. See what color it is. It might have never been changed. Tranny fluid should be a clean red color. If its too dark or brown then you have to change it. I would recommend doing a complete flush first to see if that solves your problem. Also dont forget to check the level of fluid.

 

Is it when you are barely on the gas that it goes back and forth? I know when Im cruising on the freeway with the gas down just enough for the car to keep speed and then push a little harder the rpms will jump up a little into 4th gear is seems, almost like I didn't have my foot on the gas at all and it was just in neutral. Does the car shift smooth otherwise?

 

Mine hunts between 3rd/4th on some hills around my house going relatively slowly (~40ish). It's normal, my Olds would do it, and my Camry did it. The TCM just can't make up it's mind as to which gear is the best for that speed and conditions.

Turning OD off until you need it is basically what I do.

 

The max and my former taurus used to do this but the 4runner does not. Check out this thread: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=463067

 

Thanks for the help ya'll. That is really good stuff. The whole OD thing is still kind of confusing but I think I'll just keep it going like it is. What I will do is flush the trancmission. That is a really great idea. Does anyone know if this can be done by myself? Or does this need professional attention? Thanks again for everything.

 

with OD your locking your 4th in or out. So like around town ill turn it off and then when on back roads and highways.

 

That sounds good. I like the idea but why would Nissan make it to where you have to hit the OD button everytime you start the car if most of the driving this car was directed towards was for in-town driving for a family type of sedan? That's what I don't understand. It just seems too unrealistic.