Hello all, I have 58,000 miles on the maxima and just took it in for the 60,000 mile service about a week ago. Yesterday the transmission has started slipping from 1st to 2nd. When I take off such that the RPMs are about 3000-4000 RPMs, the max will act like its going to shift then all of a sudden will abruptly snap into 2nd. Once in 2nd, it shifts really soon into 3rd, not staying in 2nd for more than about 10-15 seconds. Anyone have any idea? Or should I just take it into the dealer and hope they do something before the powertrain is up in 1500 miles? Thanks!

 

Check to see if the computer is throwing transmission codes. This happened 'after' you took in for servicing? Could it be you are low on trans fliud? Hope the best and Good hunting

 

To check transmission fluid would I check when the car is hot or cold? N00bie question I guess. And I know that there is a method out there to check the transmission and have the A/T Check light blink the error codes just like with the SES light...anyone have info on that procedure??

 

You check the fluid level with the car on after a normal/spirited drive. My transmission also failed a little after 60k miles. Good luck diagnosing the problem.

 

So what happend to you? Were you one of the lucky ones with the extended warranty? How much was it to put a new transmission in the maxima? Ideas anyone?

 

Powertain warranty are up to 60k miles? Mines was. i would suggest taking advantage of the warranty, take it in and have them diagnose it for you. so if you going to need a tranny they can replace it before it before the warranty is over.
Good Luck!

 

..wow I thought 6 speeds were the only ones with tranny problems. Sorry to hear that man. You have 2k miles more to go before your warranty is up, so act quick

 

My 2002 SE Automatic bumps pretty hard into 2nd gear when the car is cold and you get on it. Funny, once the car is warm there is no slip anymore. I have 85,000 miles on the car. I have not had the time to leave the car overnight with the dealer to diagnose though. I am under warranty to 100k so I have some time.

 

I don't understand why so many people on the org are having problems with their trannys. I used to own an '03 Max that my ex-wife now has and we bought it with 23K miles on it and I replaced the ATF with Mobil 1 syn. and the car now has 97K miles and it's running very strong. I normally replace the tranny fluid once a year even with synthetic b/c the price of the fluid is much less than the price and the headache of replacing a whole tranny.

 

I change mine every 13-15k

 

The AT in my mom's 2000 max shifted pretty abruptly from 1st to 2nd, but like scubat mentioned, it went away once the car was fully warmed up. This tranny had 230k on it, though

cpu, I would take it to the dealer if you're still under warranty and let them know there is a problem with your transmission. You could very well get a brand new transmission if they find a serious problem. good luck and check your AT fluid first. Make sure there aren't any leaks as well (you probably would have noticed by now if there had been a leak though)

 

My transmission was acting up since around 36k miles, but after I changed the ATF to synthetic Mobil 1, the slipping and sloppy shifts halted. It reoccurred again soon after 60k miles. I bought a transmission with only 3k miles on it for $500 plus 50 for the freight shipping. Here is a thread that might help you.

My transmission replacement thread:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=457144

 

Interesting thing I found out today. It gets worse the longer I drive it. If I start it up and go, it doesn't do it, but if I am in stop and go traffic for a while and the transmission is warm, then it does it really badly. Is this maybe just a sign that something is going out soon?

 

Checked fluid level and everything is straight there, so looks like its something else....

 

I really don't know very much about auto transmissions, but that's just weird. Every auto I've ever driven has been the opposite...things get better as it warms up

 

Get it to the dealership and have them check it out.

 

Call me crazy, but won't the dealership pretty much deny everything since it is under warranty?

 

Don't assume. In the time I've owned my car, I've had a great relationship with my local dealership, and they never doubt me when I bring my car in for issues (1st-2nd tranny slip being one of those).

 

Ok, how did you end up with your car and the tranny slip?

 

I'm not sure what you're asking exactly, but the repair was a faulty solenoid being replaced in the tranny.

 

That was my question exactly...thanks!

 

I have a solenoid pack with less than 2 miles on it for sale if you need it. I bought it from Dave B more than a year ago, and it did not fix my problem. I think it was the torque converter that was fried. My symptoms were similar to yours too.

 

How much? I gotta get it into the dealer this next week, and I'll probably get the part from you.

 

Never assume they will deny it. He will never know until he takes it in.

 

Ok, now this slippage only happens when the transmission shifts from 1st to 2nd ABOVE 3k RPMs. Below 3k is rough, but ok..

 

Have you made an appointment yet? Don't wait till the last minute, then have to pay for the repairs out of your pocket.

 

Taking it in right now to go get fixed...

 

and just as I suspected, dealer said it was nothing, even after test drive with sales manager AND being hooked up to the consult-II. Good news is they didn't charge me since the didn't find anything wrong.

 

Im going through the same situation too!
Im at 5yrs and 20 days, 50k miles...
They tested it twice and said there's nothing wrong... Its driving me nuts...

 

Two words - different dealership

 

another two words....none closeby...that may by hyphonated??

 

Find one(another dealership) or get He's( SEmy2K2go) not a moderator for nothing, he speaks the truth.

Double negative FTL

 

ok well this happens to me too i have 69k miles and yea i knew this was something it was doing this shifting to 1-2 and shifts into 3 quick but my dad ignored me cause im a noobie driver still and yea, but is it just tranny fluid or is it really serious? but cpu are you pushing the max hard? =D

 

3k or higher on take off when cold. I maybe shouldn't be pushing it THAT hard when its cold...BUT why did nissan give the car 255HP and torque comin out the wazou and then match a beautiful engine like the VQ35DE with a crappy POS transmission that can't handle that much power? If you can't drive it "Spirited" then what good is the 255HP?

 

Damn... I'm having this problem too. I still have not found a solid answer after searching this forum. It's obviously a common problem, as so many are describing the same issues.

When I called the dealer, I talked to a tech and described was was going on. He said it could be that the ECU needs to be reprogrammed, could be the airflow sensor due to a change in the intake system, and to get a diagnostic done on it.

I haven't been able to take it in yet...$ but I really want to know how to fix it. I really hope I don't need to replace the tranny. I really hope it's just some sensor or the programming.

Anyone else got any idea how to trouble shoot this 1st - 2nd thing?

 

Same here i also have an auto with 63,000, it use too slip bad all the time when it was really cold. when it warms up it goes away, i put some automatic transmission treatment in and it worked doesnt shift all that hard know and shifts pretty smoothly..

 

I am starting to think that maybe this rough shifting when the transmission is cold is a normal thing? I am going to call a trusted dealer this morning, if there is such a thing. I'll post what I find out.

 

Any updates on this?

 

Diary of a dying transmission:
I've got 66K on mine. I bought it new... Early on, I thought it pretty neat that my max would chirp the tires when shifting around 20-30mph. Wouldn't always do it, just sometimes. (I'm 40... what can I say.. it beat the hell out of my camry). Then, very recently, it started getting harder, and then slipping (higher rpms), and then back. Shortly after that, it became almost deadly... trying to make a left turn in traffic, I narrowly missed an oncoming truck when the transmission failed to engage immediately going from a stop. (Eventually it slammed into gear *pucker*).

With the hard shift at 20-30mph, nissan recommended a trans flush ($180) and/or valve job ($850). The week I got to the dealer after the near miss, it was also making occasional short "whines" while shifting.

Dealer dropped the pan, told me of a lot of debris, and that the trans was basically dead. I think I crapped myself when I was told it costs $3100 for a rebuilt trans for an 02max gle (auto) from the local nissan dealer. Although I really wasn't that surprised. We'll see what it's like when/if they get the rebuilt trans into it.

Cha-ching.

 

Here is the brief rundown...

Vehicle in-service date is January 2002, it was new.

October 2006 with 43,xxx miles, taken to dealership, slipping from 2nd to 3rd.
Outcome: Flush transmission ($175)
Result: Nothing changed

February of 2007 with 45,xxx, back to dealer, same issue
Outcome: Replaced transmission solenoid/sensor (under warranty)
Result: Nothing changed

April of 2007 with 48,xxx, back to dealer, same issue
Outcome: Told me I needed a new transmission and they would not cover the repair. Nissan Customer Service would not honor the repair request either, telling me it was out of warranty.

5 years was up in January of 2007, the issue started in October. Sound a little like BS to anyone else?

Result: MD Better Business Bureau and Marlyland States Attorney Generals Office reports filed and my attorney has taken over from my end.

This will be my last Nissan...and that is painful because I think they are great cars!

Anyone else ever have a trans issue like this before?