I need to test the drop resistor to make sure if I need to buy a line pressure solenoid or not. I assume its the long, rectangular thing behind the airbox on the left strut tower if I'm right. I have a multimeter, but I don't know how to test the resistor for the ohm resistance between 11.2 and 12.8. I am at my wits end, could someone please enlighten me?

 

What symptoms do you have? is your tranny shifting hard from 1st to 2nd? do you have 1205 code?
I've had those issues and it turned out to be bad dropping resistor.
Post your symptoms, this will speed up diagnostics.

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...nsmission.html

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...till-sick.html

 

I have quite literally the same symptoms, word for word, of the second post of the second thread you provided, yes and yes to the other two questions. Here is a thread I made with more detail of my symptoms:

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...noid-help.html

The dealership wants $400+ for the line pressure solenoid so forget that if that's not the problem, now I want to test the resistor. Thing is I'm not sure how. I took it out and used a multimeter with the two little contacts inside the resistor, but got an ohm reading of 0, the reading before I even touched the contacts, so I don't think I'm doing it right.

 

If you are testing resistance, the reading on the meter should not be 0 before you touch the probes together. Make sure the selector switch on the meter is set to measure resistance. There should be a Greek capitol omega on the dial. Select that setting; the meter should display "OL" or some other symbols that denote a infinite resistance reading when the probes are not touching, and 0-1 ohm when they are. Once you have the meter on the right setting, just touch one probe to each of the terminals of the resistor.