It happened just this morning when I was driving to work. I have an automatic 2000 SE with a little over 20000 miles on it. My drive to work is mostly highway ( about 45 miles ) so I usually travel at high speeds ( 65-110, trying to cruse at about 90, depends on the road condition ). And when I drive like this a lot of times I accelerate pushing the gas pedal to the floor to pass someone. Sometimes I turn off the Over Drive so the car can respond more quickly. So today at about 7 last miles of my drive something weird happened. It looks like now when I drive 65+ my RPMs are high as I would drive with Over Drive off, but it’s on. And when I turn it on or off – I can see the light switching on or off on the dashboard, but it does not do anything. And when I stop accelerating and after a while it drops to the higher gear and lowers the RPMs, as soon as I push the gas just a little bit – it automatically kicks in to the lower gear. When I drop lower than 40 the car seems to perform as usually. So I’m a bit confused on what’s going on with my car.
If somebody has or had the same problem, or have any suggestions - I would really appreciate a reply.
BTW – about two weeks ago I took my Maxima to the dealer for 15000miles check up ( better late then never ;) and they told me that it’s in excellent condition ( they changed the front braking pads and something else for free ). So I am wondering how can something like this happens less then in two weeks after the dealer says that the car is fine.

Thank you for your attention.

 

Disconnect your battery for about 30 minutes to reset everything and try driving again to see if it happens. If not take it back to the dealership since its still under warranty. I, personally never use the overdrive button. It's always off even around town for better gas mileage.

Maximadave

 

Do these auto's have a "learning" tranny.. if so that could be it... if so maybe it's gotten used to being in a certain gear at at certain speed.. drive slow for a while and see if goes back to normal..

odd

 

Could you please explain what exactly would happen when I disconnect the battery?
And you probably mean that you have your over drive always on ( there is no light on dashboard ) so your RPMs are lower and better gas mileage? I have it always ON too, it's just when you want to pass someone on the highway, I turn it OFF so the car can respond much quickly ( it shifts itself to a lower gear ), but when I'm done with passing - I turn it back on. But I definitely don't do that for every time I pass someone, just in rare instances.

Actually today I accidentally turned off the over drive when I was doing about 105 and then turned it back on. I think that the car it started to behave weirdly after it.

 

DRIVE SLOW!? In a Maxima? Please explain how this is done - I'm sure that the other members of this forum would like to be enlightened as this odd technique and how it is performed in a Maxima.

 

The flashing O/D light means that your tranny should be in 'limp home mode'. In the 4th gens you could pull the error code, but I don't think this is possible with the 5th gens.

 

OD? Online ****?

 

Keep the spamming in the 5th gen forum. Oh wait... I used to own a Prizm BTW.

 

It's not flashing. The button that turns Over Drive On/OFF - works fine - you press it and you see the light saying that OD is OFF on the dashboard. You press it once again - the light is no longer on the dashboard. The problem is that no matter what it's says on the dashboard it looks like the Over Drive is always off judging by the high RPMs.

And 'DRIVE SLOW' - sorry but I can't, I seem to fall asleep when I drive slow on the highway Seriously.

 

Well, ya got me then.

 

try resetting the ECU. If it doesn't help, then I guess you would have to take it to the dealer.... to reset the ECU, just leave the battery unplugged for a few hours or overnight.

 

Step1 :Find a two-lane road with a long stretch of no-pass zones.
Step 2:Find an Acura-TL and go behind it

Hey - no flames

 

I disconnected the battery for a few hours and then connected it back. On my 50 miles trip home everything was fine when I was driving at different speeds (0-110).
I didn't touched the OD button though ;) Probably won't touch it again for a while ;)

Thanks for advice everybody (especially to maximadave). Appreciate it.

 

I'm glad you said it and not me 'cause I was tempted to write something veeeery similar. I didn't because; (a) I didn't think it was too cool to bring up the subject of a Maxima being behind a TL in any way, shape or form on this forum, and (b), I didn't want to incite another round of Flame Wars!

Hey - no flames here, either

'cept this one over here->

 

I'm glad you said it and not me 'cause I was tempted to write something veeeery similar. I didn't because; (a) I didn't think it was too cool to bring up the subject of a Maxima being behind a TL in any way, shape or form on this forum, and (b), I didn't want to incite another round of Flame Wars!

Hey - no flames here, either

'cept this one over here->

 

My 2k se had a similar problem only on the highway the car felt like it was shifting in and out of OD. The dealer kept the car for a day and adjusted the throttle position sensor and performed the TCM TSB and now all is OK.

 

Alright.. then instead of drive slow.. how about stay in one gear ....

Anyway.. this is kind of an old post, how's the car now? Is it worse? Better? Have you sold it?

 

Yeah, thank you - no thank you

The car seems fine now. The second day and 150 miles later it's performing as usuall.

 

ok i have a 97 maxima with224xxx on it and it just now started giving me an issue the o/d light flashes about 16 times and the cel flashes a too. when you accelerate quickly it hesitates alil bit and bogs down the motor what could be the issue???? was told there was possibly a short between tcu and ecu anyone had this issue before??? if you could help please call me or email me asap 860 373 4514 or madracer152@hotmail.com need help asap

 

first of all, if you drive a 97 post in the 4th gen section. and second don't bump a post from 8 years ago. come on now use some common sense

 

Just as a precaution, check your trans fluid, making sure it's red/pink and at the proper level.

 

Agreed that this is a 4th gen question and a new thread. That being said it sounds like a solenoid/switch problem that is either sticking or not engaging.

Try to check the CEL code. It could point you right to it.

For sure check the level of the fluid. Low fluid or a clogged passage can cause all kinds of issues.

Good Luck