Hey vastmax, do you know if the part in the link in post #36 is the right one? (the tranny pan gasket)

 

That's the right part for the gasket.

 

jowo9, did you get the swap done yet?

 

He shouldve gotten the solenoids monday. If he anything like my schedule, he wont get around to them until the weekend.

 

The solenoids did in fact arrive, but I live in Canada just north of the border, and I have a shipping address south in the U.S.... I usually order things there cuz it's waaaaay faster... so I just need to take a trip down there. I'll probably get around to it on Saturday, cuz I work this week.
I have a question. I ordered a tranny pan gasket from courtesyparts.com, and I'm also waiting for that... I ordered it sunday night, so hopefully it's there when I go to pick up the solenoids... they didn't give me a tracking number!!

 

Don't forget fluid .... if you haven't already got any.

 

Yep, I'll have it... I'll have all 3 so I'm ready to get it alllll done at once. Then I'll post and say whether or not it fixed my problem (fingers crossed)

 

Well good news (for me at least.) I swapped the solenoids from my old valve body into the car, and it fixed all my problems. I dropped the valve body to make sure that it was seated correctly. Hopefully, it will fix you up right.

 

That's awesome. What exact problems were you having? I REALLY hope this works for me too......

 

i want to know too
were u having any of these problems?

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...my-tranny.html

^^^^^

 

I'm picking up the solenoids today, so I'll replace them today or tomorrow. All of you with tranny problems (esp a 1-2 gear slip) watch for updates

 

Pics, pics, pics, please!

 

Ok. I'll do my best.

 

Ok, so this is long overdue, but I said I'd update once I got my new solenoids in.... so the verdict is... it's mostly better. Yeah, I haven't yet had any weird part throttle shifts, which I was getting before switching the solenoids. My full throttle shifts are sliiiightly slippy if I don't use my WOT switch with my Drop Resistor Mod. If I use it, shifts have been really good so far, especially if the tranny is warmed up for 10 min or so. So here's my theory: I think the solenoids were the problem, but while I had the bad ones in, some damage to clutch packs/gears was probably done... So the new solenoids have improved things significantly, but I don't think anything aside from a rebuild/new tranny will completely fix things. Shifts are good so far though. So I'm happy enough for now as long as this fix lasts for a good while. Does this sound like a reasonable theory???

 

^ That sounds spot on. Usually the longer you let an automatic tranny slip, the more damage is done to the clutch packs. I wonder if anyone sells replacement/upgraded clutch packs for our trannies?

 

Yeah, I don't know how that'd work exactly... it'd be nice... but probably really expensive to install cuz isn't that stuff pretty deep in there? Mine seems to be shifting really well the last couple days since I put the new solenoids in, so I'm good for now... I'm just gonna make sure I go easy on her when the tranny is cold, and always use my WOT switch with my DR Mod at WOT. I did it once today on a warm tranny and the shift was beautiful! Oh, and twice yesterday when I was getting a rough estimate of 0-60 times with my new Cattman full setup. I used to be in the 7's, and now I'm obviously in the 6's without tuning. So that's nice too
So, tranny problem solved for now with hopefully minimal damage done and hopefully a long-lasting fix...

 

Here is my theory. The problem is in the valve body, which is why when the transmission is cold you have more slip. If it were the clutch packs, it would slip worse as it warms up. There is an issue with the valve bodies that cause our transmissions to have soft/slipping 2-3 upshifts especially when cold. I found a thread a few years ago about someone who added a transmission cooler to his 5.5 gen at the 15k mile mark and it cause some pretty bad 2-3 cold shifts.

However, like you noted, the longer you drive a car with slipping shifts, the faster it wears out the clutch packs. I noticed the issue with mine just after buying it (with 113k miles) once it turned cold. Until fully warmed up, I slightly lift just prior to the 2-3 upshift and here I am now at 178,600 miles and the cold weather problem hasn't worsened and my transmission fluid it still red and smells like it should. I'd seriously consider a shift kit to take care of the vavle body for good, but with the miles on my car I might as well wait until (and if) the transmission wears out and replace it with a lower mileage used one. If that transmission shifts properly, then I'll do the shift kit to extend the transmission life.