Joseph77

I have a 99 Nissan Maxima with an automatic transmission. I always leave it with O/D on, and sometimes from a dead start it really responds well without much throtle pressure. Other times from a dead start it seems like I have to coax it alot more to get it going? I have checked the transmission fluid while running, and it seems to be topped off fine, with a nice red color. What could possibly be causing this off the line hessitation? It is really starting to worry me because I just got the car and it only has 43K on it, but I am not sure what the previous owner may or may not have done? If any one has some advice I would greatly appreciat it. I am wondering if I should go ahead and buy an extended warranty cause Trannys are really expensive to get fixed or work on for that matter. Thanx

asianpr3082

All I'll say is that it's a autmagic welcome to the club

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

You have to be at at a complete stop for the car to go into 1st gear. If your rolling just 1 or 2 MPH, the automagic trans. stays in 2nd gear and is a dog off the line. Stepping on the gas harder will cause it to downshift with a slight slam into 1st and woooooowaa you take off.

Just one of the features of the Nissan Automagic tranmission.

mzmtg

iTrader: (11)

Should we consider ourselves lucky to have such nice "features"?

maximachad

A couple of suggestions...

The point that was made about having to almost STOP before the car shifts into first gear is true - it used to annoy the hell out of me. The only benefit is that it makes you come to a complete stop at stop signs, which will help you avoid tickets

I don't know if your fuel filter has ever been replaced, but this could also cause your hesitation. I noticed more responsiveness when I replaced my fuel filter. Your plugs, throttle body,etc should all be too new to cause any problems.

Another possibility is temperature. When it's cold out, the engine feels a lot more responsive because it's idling a little higher. My first Maxima was an auto and I remember it feeling slower in the warm weather.

Hope this helps...just a couple ideas!

Cumalot

iTrader: (8)

lol...darn automagic! I know how you feel. I got one too. Sometime when I hit the gas, the car feel powerful. However, other time when I hit the gas, the car seem to be confused and lags. I just leave OD on, OD off/on doesn't feel any different to me. So now I just leave it in Drive with OD on most of the time. If it lags, there's nothing I can do. Just simply accept it and remind myself to get a 5spd the next time around.

Mark Reilly

Exactly...you guys have hit it right on the head. I never noticed the tranny lag off a rolling stop till I got my cat-back and high flo intake installed so I could match up the tranny performance with engine and exhaust noise. Sometimes when I roll slowly around a corner and need to give it the boot, I can usually find a sweet spot on the accelerator when this happens my 2nd gear is really strong and pulls hard....if I don't find the sweet spot with the accelerator and I'm in 2nd I inevitably get a hard downshift to 1st and all hell breaks loose.

Does anyone think a Valve Body mode will help minimize these inconsistant magical moments?

mtrai760

iTrader: (19)

VB's only improve upshifts...

Joseph77

Thanx for all the info. I guess its just that darn automatic, I knew I should have gotten the 5 speed, but I a like having an automatic for a change. Had a 86 VW Gti 5spd, that was a hell of a fun car, but shifting really got old after a while. Peace

Cumalot

iTrader: (8)

Yeah, the VB doesn't seem to help much on the downshifts. The lag will still be there from time to time even with the VB upgrade. However, it's better than nothing.