I have a 2002 maxima gle it has 162000 miles bought it with 141000 drained the transmission fluid when I first bought it. the engine hesitates when I first take off, when I accelorate and I feel the auto transmission down shift when I slow down and when I'm driving steady speed and give it gas the rpm gauge revs about 500 rpms or so before I feel it speed up I bought a new mass air flow sensor and change oil every 3500 miles any ideas on what could be causing this

 

You said you drained the tranny fluid. How much came out and how much did you put back in? How long has this been happening and are there any codes? when you say hesitate, does it feel like it wants to stall THEN picks up, OR does it just take a second or two to accept the input from the pedal?

 

I had a shop drain the tranny fluid i beleive the level shows it is ok but the tranny fluid is really light and hard to see and there are no codes showing I hooked the obdII up to it it doesn't act like it wants to stall just takes a second to accept the input its been happening for a month or so and it feels like it does not have as much power now as when I first got it

 

Tranny fluid should be reddish depending on what they used. Which MAF did you purchase? These cars are extremely picky. Sounds almost like you're having a throttle body issue BUT I could be dead wrong and it's something to do with the transmission.

 

I bought the mass air flow sensor from autozone I used nissan matic d from dealership I will clean the throttle body out what is the best way to clean that

 

Thats why I ask what MAF. If it's an autozone branded maf I would just take it back and get the Hitachi branded OEM MAF. The 02-03's are extremely picky about what part goes on them. Same with coils and sensors and anything else that actually makes the engine run. I would purchase a true MAF first. IF that doesn't help the situation I would then clean the TB.

 

+1 on the Hitachi MAF only.

Cleaning the TB is a dicey affair on these cars. Reading through the mega-threads on here, it can either go fine or you could end up needing a new TB since the idle's all jacked up. I've cleaned electronic TB's on other cars as prev. maintenance but I'm not going to touch this one unless I get a CEL or some hot stall issue.

 

Thanks man I'm probably not going to attempt to clean it do you think this could be a transmission problem, spark plugs, what are your thoughts

 

Without codes to go off, I'm just spitballing here. Hesitation on a 14 yr old car could be due to a lot of things. Try the following:

- First, install a Hitachi MAF.
- Use only premium gas and run a bottle of Techron at the next fill up.
- Tune up isn't a bad idea but will be expensive if done at a shop. Only use OEM NGK plugs. Good time to also check for valve cover leaks and replace the PCV valve.
- Replace air filter
- Shine a light into the oil filler hole and check for sludge or deposits.