What is the purpose of the electrical part located on the drivers side strut wall?

It looks like some kind of resistor. I may have damaged mine by accident.

How can I check to make sure it is working properly?

Thanks

Nick

 

This description fits the automatic transmission dropping resistor. If it is broken you will experience very noticeable "hard" shifts. According to the '99 factory service manual the resistance is 11.4-12.6 ohms.

 

It is a dropping resistor for transmission control. I measured mine which is about 12 Ohm. Daniel and some other people know much better. I just learned from them. Kind of remember someone tried unplug the connector and found the transmission shifts abruptly.

 

Thanks for the info gentlemen.

Car shifts OK, but a little too soft for my taste. I will check the resistance when I get a chance.

I assume that when the shop manual states, that if this dropping resistor is broken, a "hard" shift is noticed. They mean that there is no resistance(0 ohms)on the transmission circuit.

Theroetically if this is true, then a higher resistance of this resistor above the 12.6 ohms, should produce a softer shift.

Has anyone encounter or verified such a phenomeon?

Its such a strange place to put such a electrical component in the engine compartment, it almost looks like it was an after thought.

Thanks

Nick

 

Read "How To Make A Shift Control for Your Auto Transmission" to see what Ben Garner did.

http://bgarner.tripod.com/1995nissanmaxima/id3.html

 

Yes, go see what I did. Also, the resistance should be 12 Kilo-Ohms not just 12 Ohms.

You would definitely know if it was messed up. The thing shifts HARD.

 

Can someone tell me what the MIL is??

 

I'm not certain, but I think you may have this backwards. If an electrical connection is broken, then the resistance across it is infinite, like a billion ohms. So the broken resistor increased resistance from 12 kilo-ohms to a billion.

Since you may have damaged your unit, given your observations, you may have reduced your resistance, equivalent to replacing the resistor with a straight wire, letting the electricity flow freely. In that case your resistance went down from 12 kilo-ohms to zero.

DW

 

MIL = Malfunction Indicator Light.
In other words, the 'Check Engine' light

 

When I posted the first message my PC seemed stuck so I didn't see Daniel's reply before I submitted. Sorry for the unecessary repeat.

I measured my dropping resistor. It is 12 Ohm, not 12 KOhm.
Perhaps some day I'll replace it with a potentiometer, adjust its value and check the shifting. Or make it on the dash board for "programmable" shifting (just kidding).

 

how about a MILF?

 

Mom I'd Like to F.....hehe

 

has anyone tried the mod the daniel b. posted a link too...is it safe.....please let me know.....thanks.....

 

Thank you, what can I say, I'm new. I must say that this is
the best d*** site. I'm all juiced up about doing some mods.

 

Thanks for this feedback. There has been some confusion on this subject. Now we know.

 

but does anyone know if making that shift control thingy for the autos' is safe....any side effects????? and the directions on the site are a little confusing...more info please