jowo9

iTrader: (1)

Lately, my tranny has been slipping at WOT from 1-2 on my 5.5 4AT. I've spent the last week searching and trying to figure out what the source of my 1-2 gear slip could be. I've read so many different possibilities... I believe at least one of my car's symptoms might be unique (keep reading)...
Here's what my car does: When I go WOT, my rpms hit their maximum point, and just sit there for about a second, and then the car shifts into second. The slip only happens at WOT. The other day, I went WOT and the rpms just stopped going up around 4300 or so. They just bounced around there for a second and I had to lay off the gas (this is the unique symptom I mentioned). That only happened once, but is probably part of the same problem I would think. I did a complete drain/fill of my tranny fluid (removed radiator-to-tranny hose too and did that procedure) and it didn't help at all...
Does anyone know what a 1-2 slip could most likely be caused by? I've heard solenoids, clutch packs, etc... Should I take it to the dealer to be diagnosed? Can they replace specific parts of the tranny? (clutch packs, solenoids, etc?) This slip has gotten significantly worse since I installed my headers... could this just be the added power making an already existing problem even worse? I pretty sure that I didn't mess anything up while installing my headers. Everything with that install went without a hitch (besides rust haha). My car would slip a little before when not completely warmed up, but now does it almost every time I go WOT.
Can any of you tranny experts give me any advice as to what the most cost effective way of diagnosing/fixing my problem would be? I don't know of any transmission-specific shops in my area... can the dealer help me with this? Is there any chance this problem is throwing any codes? Any help would be really appreciated. This has me so stressed out!

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

My car did used to do that, and stopped when I changed VB's. But, your unique symptom is unique, mine has never done that.

But I did get slippage from 1-2 prior to changing the VB.

jowo9

iTrader: (1)

Which VB did you get? Did you change it, or did someone do it for you? I just don't want to spend money on a VB if that's not the problem...

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

At the time I wasn’t very smart, and did just that, changed it without fully diagnosing/troubleshooting the problem, but it did fix it

I got the Stage II.5 from maximum tuning and it fixed the problem instantly.


I took it in, but after doing some soul searching on here and hanging out in the bay where they did the work, it seems like fairly easy procedure, just like anything else take your time, etc. I just received a less aggressive unit and plan on doing the install myself in the next week or so.

ZGadson

Not as unique as you originally thought. That is EXACTLY what mine does - dealer remedied it under warranty TWICE by replacing the valve body.

jowo9

iTrader: (1)

Gah! A new vb is like $1000!!! I think I'd be better off getting a low mileage used tranny for $200-$600.

Z-Powered

Crap, I hope that's not what my tranny's coming to. When I first got my Maxima in January, it would shift nice and crisply if I gate shifted it at redline. Now, it either bounces off the redline or shifts normally if I gate shift. Good luck finding an answer!

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

Vb from maxtuning is 400

jowo9

iTrader: (1)

^^^ would I be able to install it? I did my headers, and I do other stuff along those lines, but I'm no mechanic... And where can I get a maxtuning VB?

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

http://www.maximumtuning.net/

If you did headers you could do a vb. Vqpower has a perfect little writeup.

ZGadson

I looked... can you link me?

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

On vq power its in the 4g section. As far as max tuning, call them.

jowo9

iTrader: (1)

If you've had your vb replaced twice, you might just wanna consider a used tranny. That's what I'm leaning towards. I'm seeing some for 200-600. That's not too bad IMO.

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

It was a matter of personal preference sine the 2.5 was cool 3years ago and the oem was slipping, but not anymore. So now I want a bit more mild set-up so that's why I'm opting for the 2.0. No reason to change out the whole tranny.

jowo9

iTrader: (1)

Haha oops, i wasn't referring to you... Sorry... I was reading another thread and someone had said they'd been through 2 VBs trying to fix a slip... I just don't know how to find out exactly what the problem is. Could be so many different things (VB, or just solenoids, or clutch packs...) ... Who would be able to accurately diagnose the problem? Is the dealership capable?