My first post here

So I am trying to get my familys Maxima to work better and any help is wellcome. Problem is as following: It has been running on old atf-oils for long time, and then this problem started (father did not know oils have to be changed )

It has been driven 350 000km (217479.91728295 miles )

Last year when first full oil change was made problem got LOT worse

When I accelerate, it changes really rough from 1-->2, 2-->3 and so on. When shifting down, there is no problem. I must use it with snowflake setting, when trying to put to normal or sport setting, it yanks the whole car so much that I feel parts will be falling soon.

It does NOT do at all this when transmission is cold, but when you drive like under 2 kilometers (about a mile), it starts acting up.

Someone told me it could be turbine locking solenoid, had same symptoms in his Volvo and that was the fault. I am not willing to open up these parts just yet. I bet that is inside the oil pan.

There was a LOT of very very small metal powder over the oil pan magnets, so something is obviously wrong
After second oil change it was a little better, after third maybe a tiny amount better.. well, did not go worse. Latest ATF-ois is Valvolines Nissan Matic-D Approved (as it should be)

Is there anything I can do my self? I am trying to find a program that can test the transmission electronics and solenoids, do you have any in mind that I can use? It has to be free or very cheap
I have a free program for my Subaru that can change settings for the transmission, like so --> http://developer.berlios.de/dbimage.php?id=4248
IS there something similar to this for Nissan? (and where to download it?)

Currently I have Laptop + ELM327 (ver 1.5a)-box and the correct consult-plug cable for it.

Please help

 

What's the "snowflake" setting? There was only one auto transmission available on the 97 maxima and there are no settings for it. There is no adjustabililty.

If you've got over 200K Miles on your original transmission I'd be happy...but I'd also start looking at a new one.

What country are you in?

How long has it been since the transmission fluid was changed?

You can get something called a "shift kit" that is a piece of hardware that changes how the transmission shifts, but that's about it.

 

Oh, you might not have this setting switch there, it is located at right of the gear stick. I Live in Finland, so it might be part of "winter packet". snowflake-setting is the opposite of sport-setting, (if I understand correctly) it starts with second gear and skips 1st all to gether.

Fluid was changed two times last year and once this year. And before those there was like at least 6-8 years since the last one, if any.

Is this shift kit some electrical part?

 

Check the drop resistor. It's on the left inner fender, by the air filter box. If its gone bad the transmission will shift at full line pressure.

 

Oh, thanks. Any idea how many ohms it should show?

 

The range is between 11.2 - 12.8 ohms.

 

This is

Thanks

 

That resistor IS broken! I will report back when I get a replacement part

 

The problem was the resistor! It works now perfectly, thank you njmaxseltd and jholley!