Ok, so my wife drives the Maxima, and she mentioned a few months back that on her way home from work, it felt like the car wouldn't go. She said the car would rev like it was trying to go, but it was like it just wasn't spinning the wheels. She coasted home, shut her down and called it a day. Next day, car started up fine and ran perfectly. A few months later, same thing. The car revs, but doesn't go anywhere. This time, she pulls over on the side of the freeway and gets towed to a shop. They checked it out, the trans fluid was full and everything seemed ok. Next day....all good. Last night, I'm driving and same thing. It seems like the car "slips" out of gear (car is automatic by the way). While the car is coasting, I'm trying to shift it in and out of drive, neutral, drive 1 etc... The car just seems like the trans is not engaging. After about 2 minutes of just coasting, revving, the car finally "kicks" back into gear and we make it home. WTF is going on??? Please somebody tell me that they know what is causing this and what I can do to fix it. The car had a Place Racing CAI and that was the only engine mod. Help!!!

 

try taking it to a nissan dealer, i think ur trannys dead...i had this problem on another car b4, the gears were just gone

 

Either buy a used trans and swap it out around 500-600 bucks or get it rebuilt which can run you from 1000-1600 bucks. You can try replacing the tranny fluid but i doubt that would help, the trans takes about 10 quarts of tranny fluid. You can also check the speed sensor which is on the trans, download a service manual for the max and you can find it that way

 

Most likely one of the solenoid is blocked. Might try power flushing the transmission to get the crap out. Is your Check engine light on? check the code. Good Luck!

 

Sounds to me like there is something obstructing the flow of ATF. I had a similar problem with an accord when the torque converter let loose and started clogging up the front pump. I basically had to turn the car off at every light so whatever was clogging the pump could drop back to the pan so the car would go for another few miles. Ended up being a lot cheaper putting in a low mileage used transmission than rebuilding the one I had.

 

^

However, you need to get it scanned for tcm codes first, as well as have a nissan dealer check to see if your car falls under the TSB for the grounding wire on the valve-body. IIRC it causes similiar symptoms, but I might be wrong, I'll see if I can dig it up later.

Where did they go?

FYI, Gears on an auto rarely go bad, but bands, clutches, selenoids, pumps, hydraulics, and electronics do.

 

Somebody said something about the solenoid, but I have no idea where that is, what it does, and how to check it. As for CEL's, there's none. No lights are on the dash either. I was thinking about taking the car to a transmission shop, and they said they can hook up a scanner to it, but what if there's no CEL's? What are they going to scan?

 

DOWNLOAD SERVICE MANUAL

 

How many miles on the car? My mom had an 01 Impala and it had similar symptoms to this, like backing out of the driveway the motor would be struggling like it was moving yet barely moving, then all of the sudden it would "kick" in and be ok. Ended up being a clogged cat converter and all along I was thinking something was screwed in the tranny. I think it's worth checking out atleast, could save you some money and frustration too.

 

The car is a '00 SE with 63k miles. It just really weird. It felt the same as when I broke my trans on my Accord (haha, car was too low and hit a manhole cover and busted the trans case = 0 trans fluid.) The Maxima just revs and no response from the trans. The strange thing is that it's intermittent and doesn't happen all the time.

 

When was the last time the tranny was seviced, meaning when was the last time the fluids were exchanged.

 

That's why to me it sounds like you have something clogging up the transmission. Drop the pan, clean the magnets and screen, refill and see if that helps. Maybe run a transmission treatment like TransGard through it too, could be something sticking in the valve body that it could help.

 

I'm ashamed to say..................never.

Any idea how much it costs to flush the trans?

 

I would thro in some Seafoam TransTune into the tranny and drive it for a week or two. While the TransTune is doing the magic in the tranny, I will hunt for the tranny gasket. Then drop the pan and check the soleniods and the ground that is documented in one of the TSBs.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the info. I kind of checked the TSB for the trans, but it seems like it's a slipping between gears. The problem we're having is that just out of nowhere, it just slips, not necessarily between gears.

I actually called Nissan and they recommended to check the speed sensor. I'm going to have that checked out and then the trans fluid change. Thanks again for all the help.

 

We have a 2000 Maxima. I have noticed that this only happens when it is the tranny is warm. My wife drives this car and it happened once last winter before it got cold here then none all winter. When it did happen she pulled over turned the car off then started it up and it did fine. It started happening again as soon as the temp outside started to rise. Have you gotten anywhere on yours? and any suggestions?

 

could be TCM, Selenoids or low fluid

 

I would ask to dealer to scan and drive the car at the sametime. More like a drivability scan! I think it's sometime simple , such as a solenoid but it's inside that tranny! IT'S A ELECTRONIC PROBLEM NOT MECHANICAL....the gears aren't goine, the pump's ok! Cause if they were gone you wouldn't be driving at all, it would be consistly the same any and everyday...

 

BRAN808:

I also have the same problem.....some times just driving the transmission start slipping I just turn off the car check the atf level if the atf is in range I just turned it on again and the transmission start working fine.

This is driving me crazy...I will take it to a repair shop for a check tomorow and see what they can find.


If you find the solution please let me know....I will do the same...

BRAN808 You can contact me at hdavidpr@hotmail.com

Att. Hector

 

I keep seeing these threads...

Even if there's no SES/CEL on your dash, have it scanned for latent codes.

If you get a P0720 go here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/cefiro.calsonic

My car exhibited the same problem as you describe. Initially no codes were thrown, but eventually P0720 popped up. After changing the speed sensor, the problem went away, no dash lights, and the car shifts like it should.

The sensor is magnetic, there may be residue on it that might be interfering with it's function, so you may want to wipe off the residue to see if that helps.

 

thanks for the info!!!

I check it for codes and that same code came out!

I replaced the sensor, hope it won't cause any more problems.

 

The ABS speed sensor is a freaky costly item (>$160) and all that it is a magnetic part sitting right on the axle teeth. I would take the axle off the hub, remove the sensor and clean it very well with brake cleaner and put it back (torque number should be off the service manual, never tighten this, hand tighten and use a 1/4 rachet and turn till it is snug).

Good luck.

 

don't mean to post jack but what do you mean by latent codes? do the codes not go away once the ses light goes off and the ecu has cycle thru a drive cycle? If the problem has been resolved that is. just curious

 

Back from the dead. Pinakbet, you hit it on the head! Got it scanned yesterday and sure enough, same code. Our Nissan dealer had the part in stock, so I'll be getting it changed out some time this week. Thanks again!

 

Hey Bran! Didn't know you had a problem with your max. Glad you found the problem.

 

I registered on this site specifically for this issue... Thanks for the information... The best Maxima site ever...

 

i have same problem.... upping post for future reference

 

+1. Thanks to everyone that contributed to this solution. Transmission shifts like silk now!

 

Where is this located and how much?

 

Thanks for the info...I joined this forum for this reason too! However, now I have learned much more about my 5th Gen!

Cheers!
Sam

 

I am still getting P0720 even after swapping the revolution sensor. I also am having issues with the iacv swapped everything except the computer is has STA508A Chips not STA509A chips there is nothing burnout. I think the iacv actually works at times. Running out of ideas. BTW its a 2000 Maxima GLE.

 

First off, this is an old thread.

second, this thread is about the OP's tranny problems, not IACV.


lastly, IACV is a very common problem and there are a ton of information about it. Replace your IACV with new part before you damage your computer. If you have changed out the IACV and the computer and still having the problems, then you'll need to check the plugs and the wiring and make sure your cooling system is working properly and at proper level.

Hope this helps.

 

After I run a few errands, I will start a a brand new thread.

I am encountering the same problems.