Have any of you people experienced this?

Just this morning, I noticed that after I cranked my car, the "overdrive" (O/D) light blinked like 3 or 4 times. This completely freaked me out. Is there any explanation for this?

Just recently I planned on doing a tranny service, but could this be tranny related? Lately my shifts from 3rd to O/D have been gettin sloppy, and shiftin from O/D to 3rd by itself, causes it to slip a little. Is it just overdue for a fluid change?

Any opinions/advice would be appreciated. Daniel? Bill? Anyone?

 

This Transmission Control Module self-diagnostic procedure information
was abstracted from the '99 Maxima factory service manual. It applies
to '98 and '99 models. Plain Jane (my '99 GXE) is a 5-speed so this
procedure has not been personally tested.

1) Move the shift selector to Park.
Start the engine and let it run until it reaches normal operating temperature.

2) Turn the ignition switch OFF.

3) Wait at least five seconds.

4) Turn the ignition switch ON but do not start the engine.

5) The O/D OFF indicator lamp should turn on for about two seconds.
If it does not, stop here because the rest of this procedure won't work.

6) Turn the ignition switch OFF.

7) Turn the ignition switch to ACC.

8) Move the shift selector from Park to Drive.

9) Turn the ignition switch ON but do not start the engine.

10) Press and hold the O/D OFF button.
Continue to press the O/D OFF button until step 13 (below).
The O/D OFF indicator lamp should be on.
If not, stop here because the rest of this procedure won't work.

11) Turn the ignition switch OFF.

12) Turn the ignition switch ON but do not start the engine.

13) Release the OD/OFF button.
The O/D OFF indicator lamp will be off.

14) Wait two seconds.

15) Move the shift selector from Drive to 2.

16) Press and release the O/D OFF button.
The O/D OFF indicator lamp will be on.

17) Press and hold the O/D OFF button.
Continue to press the O/D OFF button until step 19 (below).
The O/D OFF indicator lamp should be off.

18) Move the shift selector from 2 to 1.

19) Release the OD/OFF button.

20) Press and release the O/D OFF button.
The O/D OFF indicator lamp will be on.

21) Press and release the O/D OFF button.
The O/D OFF indicator lamp will be off.

22) Press and hold the O/D OFF button.
Continue to press the O/D OFF button until step 24 (below).
The O/D OFF indicator lamp should be on.

23) Press the gas pedal to the floor and then release it.

24) Release the OD/OFF button.

25) The O/D OFF indicator lamp will exhibit a sequence of flashes.
The first flash is distinctly longer than the others.
Subsequent flashes are very short and these are called Judgement
Flickers.
Count those JFs and watch for one which is twice as long as the others.

Interpreting Judgement Flickers...

JF0) All JFs are short.
All circuits which can be confirmed by this self-diagnosis procedure are okay.

JF1) The 1st JF is longer than the others.
The Revolution Sensor is short-circuited or disconnected.

JF2) The 2nd JF is longer than the others.
The Vehicle Speed Sensor is short-circuited or disconnected.

JF3) The 3rd JF is longer than the others.
The Throttle Position Sensor is short-circuited or disconnected.

JF4) The 4th JF is longer than the others.
The Shift Solenoid A circuit is short-circuited or disconnected.

JF5) The 5th JF is longer than the others.
The Shift Solenoid B circuit is short-circuited or disconnected.

JF6) The 6th JF is longer than the others.
The Overrun Clutch Solenoid Valve circuit is short-circuited or disconnected.

JF7) The 7th JF is longer than the others.
The Torque Converter Solenoid Valve circuit is short-circuited or disconnected.

JF8) The 8th JF is longer than the others.
The ATF Temperature Sensor is disconnected or the TCM power source circuit is damaged.

JF9) The 9th JF is longer than the others.
The Engine Speed circuit is short-circuited or disconnected.

JF10) The 10th JF is longer than the others.
The Line Pressure Solenoid Valve circuit is short-circuited or disconnected.


If the O/D OFF indicator lamp exhibits a series of long flashes, these
are not Judgement Flickers.
This condition indicates a problem with the battery.
The battery may ...
- be discharged
- have been disconnected for a long time
- be connected with reversed polarity

If the O/D OFF indicator lamp stays on continuously, this is not a Judgement Flicker. This condition indicates any of these conditions ...
- PNP switch is disconnected
- O/D OFF button circuit is damaged
- Throttle Position Sensor circuit is disconnected
- Transmission Control Unit is damaged






I would be worried about your tranny.....I hope you have less than 60k on it.

This will be made a sticky soon.....

 

Damn, and dance a little jig while touching your nose and facing a new moon in the third month of the eighth year of the maxima gods...

 

 

I really appreciate all that you have done, maintenance wise. The Sticky's really helped me do my own work in my garage.

I am going to perform the self diagnosis, and let you know whats going on. I am definately worried about it. It has less than 60k, in fact, it has 54k. How would this matter in relation to my car? I bought it used, without a warranty at 45k miles back in January.

 

This Transmission Control Module diagnostic readout procedure is unreasonably complicated when compared to the "one twist of the screwdriver" method for the Engine Control Module. I expect that at some time in the future the TCM function will be integrated into the ECM.

 

Like DBM said.

 

My O/D light does the little kooky dance and my MIL comes on every time I use the ghetto VB mod. I usually only use it a couple of times when i go tot he track.

I tried getting the code and clearing it...once...a long time ago. It didnt work. I probably missed a step somewhere.

 

Glad somebody appreciates the work, although our resident Maxima "God", Daniel B., deserves the credit.

We need a procedure for the 95 to 97 models.....maybe someone with a FSM can hook us up with the details.

Your "powertrain" warranty is 5 years/60,000 miles. After that, Nissan laughs real loud if you have something wrong with the motor, driveline, or tranny. I'm glad you're under the 60k.

I wouldn't wait more than a month or so to get that to a dealer......

 

The '98-'99 Transmission Control Module "Judgement Flicker" diagnostic procedure cited above was abstracted from the '99 Maxima factory service manual. The same kind of information for '95-'97 and (separately) '98-'99 models appears in the Haynes repair manual, page 7B-3. I was unable to find coverage of this subject in the Chilton repair manual.

 

Tried the self diagnosis, and this problem came up, "Vehicle Speed Sensor". All was fine for 30 minutes, then my check engine light came on. I figured, "What the **** else could it be?".

I then proceed to read my check engine light, and the same problem, "Vehicle Speed Sensor". I could only have imagined one thing.
[A while back I bought Indiglo gauges for my car. It was at that point, I didn't realize the 98-99's are different. Fuel Gauge is reversed, and the odometer is digital. Well I took my insturment cluster out, attempted to install the gauges, until I came on the board and found the problem. Well I plugged everything back in.....so I thought.]

I took the dash apart last night to fix my aftermarket stereo, (wire my antenna back up), and decided to check and make sure all the connections were secure behind the cluster. Apparently not. The one harness behind the speedo was a lil out of place. I plugged it all the way in. Put it back together, and all is fine now.

Well, I thought that was it. Tranny decided to slip a little more going into O/D to where I felt a "shock"/"thump". I know this is normal for alot of cars with O/D, but not this bad.

I am taking it to the Nissan Dealer here in Austin, Town North, or South Point. Good thing you pointed out the Powertrain Warranty Bill. I would have never known.

To Bill and Daniel, I really appreciate EVERYTHING. You don't know how much you have saved my a$$ on several occasions while thinking of gettin it to a dealer and perhaps them rippin my head off.

THANK YOU.

 

Interesting....two separate problems. It's good to know that your TCM diagnoses the "bad" speed sensor problem.

Kind of ironic that each prob is unrelated........definitely get that to a dealer.

BTW, you are a perfect Minima club candidate.