AT Transmission Slipping, 2nd to 3rd
02-11-2014, 08:37 AM
#1
Da Roller Coaster!
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AT Transmission Slipping, 2nd to 3rd
Ok, so I have a 2k auto and the transmission has started to slip. Here's the background...
Question...in doing the research it seems there are three possibilities:
1. Bad speedo sensor. Although I'm not showing a code?
2. Bad solenoids. Last changed at 20K during dealer TSB service.
3. Tranny is dying.
I'd like some input because all I am seeing is $$$ at this point. I haven't had to buy a car in over a decade and really don't want to start taking on any payments. In the current condition the Maxima is probably worth what? $500? Both rear main seal and front main seal are leaking, steering rack is leaking, suspension making all kinds of noise, and I have some bad axles or hubs giving a vibration.
I don't want to throw a bunch of dough at the car and thought if I could just get it to last till the end of the year we'd be good. Can I still drive it like this?
Listen up boys...this is why you never let women drive your car! I let my wife drive it for a few weeks and it seems the Maxima is going to ****. I asked her last night if she noticed anything funny when the Maxima shifts and she said, "No, why should I have?" Sooo...it either JUST happened when I drove it last night or she was completely oblivious so it could have been happening for a few weeks.
CLIFF NOTES: tranny slipping from 2nd to 3rd. Had low fluid, filled up and it fixed 1st to 2nd slip. No engine codes (read them). Next steps?
As always any input is appreciated...except from PlaneCrash.
- 257,000 miles. I've been the sole owner.
- Never had any slipping problems before, except originally TSB recall very early on at about 20,000 miles (taken care of by dealer). They changed out solenoids.
- Installed a VB mod from Maximum Tuning and tranny cooler. Switched to synthetic at about 30,000 miles.
- Only previous issues were "sticking" in 3rd without going into OD. I found this was due to overheating in those cases, only about 15 minutes at a time for both times it happened.
- Serviced regularly. Last time I dropped the pan and flushed was about 2 years ago. Did not find any shaved metal and only has metal dust stuck to the magnets.
Question...in doing the research it seems there are three possibilities:
1. Bad speedo sensor. Although I'm not showing a code?
2. Bad solenoids. Last changed at 20K during dealer TSB service.
3. Tranny is dying.
I'd like some input because all I am seeing is $$$ at this point. I haven't had to buy a car in over a decade and really don't want to start taking on any payments. In the current condition the Maxima is probably worth what? $500? Both rear main seal and front main seal are leaking, steering rack is leaking, suspension making all kinds of noise, and I have some bad axles or hubs giving a vibration.
I don't want to throw a bunch of dough at the car and thought if I could just get it to last till the end of the year we'd be good. Can I still drive it like this?
Listen up boys...this is why you never let women drive your car! I let my wife drive it for a few weeks and it seems the Maxima is going to ****. I asked her last night if she noticed anything funny when the Maxima shifts and she said, "No, why should I have?" Sooo...it either JUST happened when I drove it last night or she was completely oblivious so it could have been happening for a few weeks.
CLIFF NOTES: tranny slipping from 2nd to 3rd. Had low fluid, filled up and it fixed 1st to 2nd slip. No engine codes (read them). Next steps?
As always any input is appreciated...except from PlaneCrash.
02-11-2014, 10:51 AM
#2
Transmission Slipping
I had the same problem with my 2002 maxima SE with 104,000 miles that time. I drop down the transmission pan, around 1/4 thick of sludge are attached to the pan and magnet. Spray the solenoid with contact cleaner, let it drain for 30 minutes. Install a new oem transmission pan and bolts with red loctite on the tip. . I used the Amsoil OE Synthetic around 7 quarts. (Equivalent to Nissan D ATF). After two days of driving slipping of transmission resolved.
DO NOT FLUSH the transmission because some of the sludge from the trasmission pan will reach the torque converter.
DO NOT FLUSH the transmission because some of the sludge from the trasmission pan will reach the torque converter.
02-11-2014, 11:34 AM
#3
Da Roller Coaster!
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Thanks Colt, appreciate the response. Do you think I would have that much of a sludge problem given the history of my transmission and my service intervals? I don't want to put anymore money into this car than I have to at this point to keep it running. Synthetic ATF isn't cheap and dropping the pan will take anywhere from 3 to 4 quarts which is $30 to $40, plus the pan gasket. I won't change the tranny bolts since those were changed last time and again...don't want to dump anymore money than I have to.
Do you think the speedo sensor could be the culprit? I think I'll try cleaning that first and see what happens since that costs nothing.
Do you think the speedo sensor could be the culprit? I think I'll try cleaning that first and see what happens since that costs nothing.
02-11-2014, 12:31 PM
#5
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Yes...soon, but I want to try and hang onto this till at least the end of the summer or end of the year when the best car deals happen. We are coming up on the worst time to buy a new car...spring.
Looks like I'll be cleaning the speedo sensor and if that doesn't work dropping the pan.
Looks like I'll be cleaning the speedo sensor and if that doesn't work dropping the pan.
02-11-2014, 01:51 PM
#6
IMO a tranny doesn't warrant a new car. Owner malfunction maybe.
In any case, and for what it's worth, my 95's transmission is pretty gone, slips, and has pretty much lost 2nd and 4th (OD), but it has been this way since 2006, and still rides just fine and you can only tell if you're really getting on it.
In any case, and for what it's worth, my 95's transmission is pretty gone, slips, and has pretty much lost 2nd and 4th (OD), but it has been this way since 2006, and still rides just fine and you can only tell if you're really getting on it.
02-12-2014, 08:27 AM
#7
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IMO a tranny doesn't warrant a new car. Owner malfunction maybe.
In any case, and for what it's worth, my 95's transmission is pretty gone, slips, and has pretty much lost 2nd and 4th (OD), but it has been this way since 2006, and still rides just fine and you can only tell if you're really getting on it.
In any case, and for what it's worth, my 95's transmission is pretty gone, slips, and has pretty much lost 2nd and 4th (OD), but it has been this way since 2006, and still rides just fine and you can only tell if you're really getting on it.
02-12-2014, 08:31 AM
#8
02-12-2014, 09:16 PM
#11
The tranny will be fine. Clearly you - like the rest of us, are conscious of your car and its operation. Most women won't notice unless its significant. Even my wife is on the BETTER end of that scale and (just for example) came home in our van the other day and was like "the check engine light is flashing." Yeah, cyl. 5 misfire. She got the light but NOT the misfire!!
In any case, you notice cause that's how us .orgers operate. So, keep driving, don't trash on it, and it'll be fine.
BTW, I would have noticed the misfire. But be danged if I would had noticed my wife wearing a new blouse!!
In any case, you notice cause that's how us .orgers operate. So, keep driving, don't trash on it, and it'll be fine.
BTW, I would have noticed the misfire. But be danged if I would had noticed my wife wearing a new blouse!!
02-12-2014, 10:23 PM
#12
The tranny will be fine. Clearly you - like the rest of us, are conscious of your car and its operation. Most women won't notice unless its significant. Even my wife is on the BETTER end of that scale and (just for example) came home in our van the other day and was like "the check engine light is flashing." Yeah, cyl. 5 misfire. She got the light but NOT the misfire!!
In any case, you notice cause that's how us .orgers operate. So, keep driving, don't trash on it, and it'll be fine.
BTW, I would have noticed the misfire. But be danged if I would had noticed my wife wearing a new blouse!!
In any case, you notice cause that's how us .orgers operate. So, keep driving, don't trash on it, and it'll be fine.
BTW, I would have noticed the misfire. But be danged if I would had noticed my wife wearing a new blouse!!
Truth right there, same way...
And to the OP good luck on the Transmission just be easy on it. Me I didn't have good luck on mine Previous Owner must of Dogged the **** out of t...
02-17-2014, 05:20 PM
#13
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 17
Ok, so I have a 2k auto and the transmission has started to slip. Here's the background...[*]257,000 miles. I've been the sole owner.[*]Never had any slipping problems before, except originally TSB recall very early on at about 20,000 miles (taken care of by dealer). They changed out solenoids.[*]Installed a VB mod from Maximum Tuning and tranny cooler. Switched to synthetic at about 30,000 miles.[*]Only previous issues were "sticking" in 3rd without going into OD. I found this was due to overheating in those cases, only about 15 minutes at a time for both times it happened.[*]Serviced regularly. Last time I dropped the pan and flushed was about 2 years ago. Did not find any shaved metal and only has metal dust stuck to the magnets. I noticed the slipping it first happening last night. It was bad from first to second and second to third. I checked the fluid and it was 1.5 quarts low. Put some seafoam transmission treatment in and filled it to proper level. Slip from first to second was gone (very rare now) and it slips from second to third almost every time. I checked for any engine codes and don't have anything transmission related, only the P0430 which I will take care of at some point. Question...in doing the research it seems there are three possibilities: 1. Bad speedo sensor. Although I'm not showing a code? 2. Bad solenoids. Last changed at 20K during dealer TSB service. 3. Tranny is dying. I'd like some input because all I am seeing is $$$ at this point. I haven't had to buy a car in over a decade and really don't want to start taking on any payments. In the current condition the Maxima is probably worth what? $500? Both rear main seal and front main seal are leaking, steering rack is leaking, suspension making all kinds of noise, and I have some bad axles or hubs giving a vibration. I don't want to throw a bunch of dough at the car and thought if I could just get it to last till the end of the year we'd be good. Can I still drive it like this? Listen up boys...this is why you never let women drive your car! I let my wife drive it for a few weeks and it seems the Maxima is going to ****. I asked her last night if she noticed anything funny when the Maxima shifts and she said, "No, why should I have?" Sooo...it either JUST happened when I drove it last night or she was completely oblivious so it could have been happening for a few weeks. CLIFF NOTES: tranny slipping from 2nd to 3rd. Had low fluid, filled up and it fixed 1st to 2nd slip. No engine codes (read them). Next steps? As always any input is appreciated...except from PlaneCrash.
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02-17-2014, 11:34 PM
#14
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Location: Johnson City, TN
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Wow, if the trans lost 1.5 qts in the short time SHE was driving it, you must REALLY have a problem. Did you tell her that from now on that she must check the engine vitals before she takes off? Looks to me like you dropped the ball.
It sounds to me that with the items that you have listed that need attention, you have done very little to maintain the car. I think you should just put some more trans fluid in it and finish running in into the ground.
Good luck on the next car you get and I hope it serves you as good as your Maxima.
It sounds to me that with the items that you have listed that need attention, you have done very little to maintain the car. I think you should just put some more trans fluid in it and finish running in into the ground.
Good luck on the next car you get and I hope it serves you as good as your Maxima.
02-18-2014, 05:39 AM
#15
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Wow, if the trans lost 1.5 qts in the short time SHE was driving it, you must REALLY have a problem. Did you tell her that from now on that she must check the engine vitals before she takes off? Looks to me like you dropped the ball. It sounds to me that with the items that you have listed that need attention, you have done very little to maintain the car. I think you should just put some more trans fluid in it and finish running in into the ground. Good luck on the next car you get and I hope it serves you as good as your Maxima.
As far as the Trans fluid level it had not been checked in a few months or so...don't know where the fluid may have gone, maybe from RMS leak.
But...thanks for your useless input.
02-18-2014, 05:58 AM
#16
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[QUOTE=foodmanry;8913914]
Listen up boys...this is why you never let women drive your car! I let my wife drive it for a few weeks and it seems the Maxima is going to ****. QUOTE]
Yes, I understand that the car is high mileage and that is one of the great things about a Maxima. I sold an 88 Maxima with 295,000 miles on it years ago that still did not use oil. I wish I could say that about my I35 with half those miles.
It just sounded like you wanted to blame your wife when it also sounded like there were a lot of maintenance items that had piled up.
Sometimes, that is the way I get in the middle of the night when I can not sleep, I give useless inputs.
Listen up boys...this is why you never let women drive your car! I let my wife drive it for a few weeks and it seems the Maxima is going to ****. QUOTE]
Yes, I understand that the car is high mileage and that is one of the great things about a Maxima. I sold an 88 Maxima with 295,000 miles on it years ago that still did not use oil. I wish I could say that about my I35 with half those miles.
It just sounded like you wanted to blame your wife when it also sounded like there were a lot of maintenance items that had piled up.
Sometimes, that is the way I get in the middle of the night when I can not sleep, I give useless inputs.
Last edited by venturous; 02-18-2014 at 06:00 AM.
02-18-2014, 09:18 AM
#17
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[QUOTE=venturous;8917026]
Listen up boys...this is why you never let women drive your car! I let my wife drive it for a few weeks and it seems the Maxima is going to ****. QUOTE]
Yes, I understand that the car is high mileage and that is one of the great things about a Maxima. I sold an 88 Maxima with 295,000 miles on it years ago that still did not use oil. I wish I could say that about my I35 with half those miles.
It just sounded like you wanted to blame your wife when it also sounded like there were a lot of maintenance items that had piled up.
Sometimes, that is the way I get in the middle of the night when I can not sleep, I give useless inputs.
That statement about women was sarcasm. I wasn't blaming my wife. It was said in jest because when I drove the car after not driving it for a few weeks I immediately noticed the slipping in the tranny.
At any rate...I appreciate any valuable input or comments on the issue. Everything else is just not very useful and only commenting to comment.
At this point, I just need to get the Maxima to keep going till the end of the year. It would be nice to get my check engine light fixed and the slip issue fixed so I can at least obtain a reasonable amount of money on a trade in.
That said...I did pony up the money for the OEM solenoids and will be replacing those when I drop the tranny pan. I figured better to just change them out when dropping the pan to inspect for metal dust, filings, or debris on the magnets since I'm using Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF at $10 a quart. I'm hoping that takes care of the slipping issue.
Listen up boys...this is why you never let women drive your car! I let my wife drive it for a few weeks and it seems the Maxima is going to ****. QUOTE]
Yes, I understand that the car is high mileage and that is one of the great things about a Maxima. I sold an 88 Maxima with 295,000 miles on it years ago that still did not use oil. I wish I could say that about my I35 with half those miles.
It just sounded like you wanted to blame your wife when it also sounded like there were a lot of maintenance items that had piled up.
Sometimes, that is the way I get in the middle of the night when I can not sleep, I give useless inputs.
At any rate...I appreciate any valuable input or comments on the issue. Everything else is just not very useful and only commenting to comment.
At this point, I just need to get the Maxima to keep going till the end of the year. It would be nice to get my check engine light fixed and the slip issue fixed so I can at least obtain a reasonable amount of money on a trade in.
That said...I did pony up the money for the OEM solenoids and will be replacing those when I drop the tranny pan. I figured better to just change them out when dropping the pan to inspect for metal dust, filings, or debris on the magnets since I'm using Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF at $10 a quart. I'm hoping that takes care of the slipping issue.
02-26-2014, 11:04 AM
#18
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So I took a chance thinking it may be the solenoids and I replaced them. When I dropped the pan it looked VERY clean for the amount of miles since last time, approximately 40,000 miles. There was only some metal dust on the magnets. See attached picture.
I also replaced the filter/screen and there was only a few bits of metal filings, nothing major.
This is how my pan and filter/screen have been every time I have serviced the transmission. I have a hard time believe something suddenly happened because there is no varnish, very minimal metal residue, and it really just happened overnight.
I know someone mentioned a bad TPS can cause these types of symptoms. Worth checking into? I figured I might want to reach out to the org to see if any other 2k auto is willing to swap out a transmission control module and/or TPS to see if one of those is the culprit.
I really don't think my transmission is suddenly going downhill with the performance and service history. But maybe I'm wrong...
I also replaced the filter/screen and there was only a few bits of metal filings, nothing major.
This is how my pan and filter/screen have been every time I have serviced the transmission. I have a hard time believe something suddenly happened because there is no varnish, very minimal metal residue, and it really just happened overnight.
I know someone mentioned a bad TPS can cause these types of symptoms. Worth checking into? I figured I might want to reach out to the org to see if any other 2k auto is willing to swap out a transmission control module and/or TPS to see if one of those is the culprit.
I really don't think my transmission is suddenly going downhill with the performance and service history. But maybe I'm wrong...
Last edited by foodmanry; 06-29-2015 at 10:43 AM.
02-26-2014, 06:21 PM
#19
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Is there any correlation on the slipping with a lower MPG? My MPG has decreased about 20% since the tranny started slipping.
Also, would a clogged precat have any affect? I installed a used front precat about a month ago in hopes of taking care of my CEL.
Also, would a clogged precat have any affect? I installed a used front precat about a month ago in hopes of taking care of my CEL.
03-01-2014, 11:47 AM
#20
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Apparently, I just needed some patience because the transmission has stopped slipping. Looks like changing the solenoids worked.
I'll just have to monitor the MPG closely and see if that is a lingering problem, but I think my lower MPG was related to the transmission slipping.
I'll just have to monitor the MPG closely and see if that is a lingering problem, but I think my lower MPG was related to the transmission slipping.
03-01-2014, 12:50 PM
#21
Thank you, sir, for my new sig
About slipping transmission - my auto I35 began slipping recently, and my brother said Lucasoil Transmission Fix worked for him. He said it made his transmission in his auto '00 Sonoma grab the gears easier.
I gave it a shot since it was only $10 a bottle. I drained off the equivelant amount of tranny fluid, then added the entire contents of the bottle. It's some thick stuff, so it took a while to drain into the resevoir.
It did the trick though. Sometimes I'll have a much smaller slip when I first start the car, but after warming up it's shifting like it used to. It's more of a bandaid than a true fix, but I plan on replacing the transmission eventually (read: when I have the money freed up!)
About slipping transmission - my auto I35 began slipping recently, and my brother said Lucasoil Transmission Fix worked for him. He said it made his transmission in his auto '00 Sonoma grab the gears easier.
I gave it a shot since it was only $10 a bottle. I drained off the equivelant amount of tranny fluid, then added the entire contents of the bottle. It's some thick stuff, so it took a while to drain into the resevoir.
It did the trick though. Sometimes I'll have a much smaller slip when I first start the car, but after warming up it's shifting like it used to. It's more of a bandaid than a true fix, but I plan on replacing the transmission eventually (read: when I have the money freed up!)
03-01-2014, 01:32 PM
#22
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When I was researching my problem I saw mixed reviews on the Lucas tranny additive. There was more positive reviews on seafoam tranny treatment. I poured the seafoam in when I first noticed the slipping. It didn't seem to help, but maybe it cleaned something in the transmission that came out after I dropped the pan and changed the solenoids.
Who knows....
Who knows....
03-09-2014, 08:45 AM
#25
03-09-2014, 08:53 AM
#26
Da Roller Coaster!
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http://www.nissanpartsasap.com/?siteid=216643
03-09-2014, 02:39 PM
#27
03-09-2014, 03:06 PM
#28
George please dont try to give Advise to OG AznRyan the KungFu cat smuggler!! Any way Ryan its new trans time so pony up the $600 and get a new one.and btw if you remove the cages from the trunk you use for smuggling it will last a bit longer.
03-09-2014, 03:13 PM
#29
03-09-2014, 03:23 PM
#30
Your wrong once again george!sol pack about $250 time to change about 4 hours at a 3 beer a hour pace.just need some trans fluid,sol pack,gasket set and if he really wants to a transgo shift kit which will add about 5 beers worth of time.so were looking at $400 and a case of stella to do the job.
03-21-2014, 10:04 AM
#35
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Bolt set for AT pan?
I had the same problem with my 2002 maxima SE with 104,000 miles that time. I drop down the transmission pan, around 1/4 thick of sludge are attached to the pan and magnet. Spray the solenoid with contact cleaner, let it drain for 30 minutes. Install a new oem transmission pan and bolts with red loctite on the tip. . I used the Amsoil OE Synthetic around 7 quarts. (Equivalent to Nissan D ATF). After two days of driving slipping of transmission resolved.
DO NOT FLUSH the transmission because some of the sludge from the trasmission pan will reach the torque converter.
DO NOT FLUSH the transmission because some of the sludge from the trasmission pan will reach the torque converter.
(My understanding is that they should be replaced, not reused .... )
I am trying to drop my AT pan. Bought a new one already but can't find the bolts anywhere.
Thanks for your help!
03-21-2014, 10:18 AM
#36
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I think some members alternatively matched the bolts at a local hardware store and used their own thread sealant on them.
Word of warning...do not over torque these bolts. They only need about 70 inch pounds.
03-21-2014, 12:10 PM
#37
I've dropped my pan at least 3-5 times over the years and have yet to replace. I only replace the gasket. No leaks as of yet.
Best practice is to replace the bolts, but, I have yet to with no ill effects.
Best practice is to replace the bolts, but, I have yet to with no ill effects.
04-25-2014, 04:50 PM
#39
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