I hope this gets to someone soon. I have a 2001 Nissan Maxima GXE automatic, 128k miles. I'll be specific. 116k miles, baby maintained, but I don't drive it much (Arizona), maybe 100 miles a month. Up until one week ago (8-5-22), it would shift and run very smooth (typical VQ30). Synthetic Vavoline transmission oil change (as usual for Arizona every 3 years, maybe a year ago now).
Now, literally within 2 days of shifting and running like glass, it dies in gear! It still starts and runs in park and neutral perfectly. When you put it to R or D or any drive gear it stalls the engine!
Based on my research, it is probably still a solenoid in the valve body. Possibly, a torque converter solenoid?? Keep in mind...this car shifted strong/normal up until it decided to die when you shift into gear.

Question: Can someone tell me if the solenoids are the issue?? My best guess is the valve body is also "old"...low pressure.
I would love it if someone could give me some answers. AND tell me if there is a shop in Phoenix that knows this problem. ???

It did pull a DTC code suggesting "intermittent electrical solenoid" about a week ago. I'm sorry, I didn't remember the code or the description properly.
Jeff

 

I find it very odd that it would stick on. But, I guess anything is possible. You can swap the whole valve body easily in your driveway or just replace the solenoids. Cost would be the determining factor.

 

I agree with everything you said. The fact that it did, at one time in the past, show a DTC for the solenoids leads me to start with that. I've never been a "professional" mechanic, but as an engineer, I've almost always done my own mechanic work including rebuilding a few transmissions on my own cars over the last 40 years. I know exactly what the job entails because I've done it before on a neighbors 5th gen Maxima (actually, I just instructed him as he did the job). Sadly, I don't have the luxury of a driveway in my apartment complex. I know it could be done in a few hours overnight, but I'm getting too old to do it easily by myself and I have no one else to help. That is why I was really hoping someone could recommend a transmission shop in Phoenix that knows this 5th gen Maxima specifically. Because I have literally never taken my cars to a shop in the last 30 years (accept for tires, alignment, and muffler work), I just don't know any.

The manager (for 20+ years) at Network Alignment suggested a transmission shop he trusts (Adolph's Auto Transmission), but after talking to them, it's obvious they don't have specific knowledge of 5th gen Maximas. I've had personal experience with the nightmare of towing your car to a transmission shop and them telling you they have to replace or rebuild the transmission. My girlfriend in 1982 took her Oldmobile Cutlass to AAMCO and they qouted her $1700 dollars. I looked at the car and found a broken vacuum "T" connector and fixed all the shifting problems for about .79 cents !! Trust me...I have heard many more ripoff stories and I can't afford to throw money away.

A solenoid "pack" ranges from $50 (Amazon) to $200 (Autozone). Two hours of labor should be less than $200 dolllars. I wouldn't have a big problem spending $400 to $500 if it was done right.

Even if you don't know a trusted shop in Phoenix, possibly you can tell me how to post to a thread, or create a new thread that will get me in touch with someone who ACTUALLY has experience with a shop that knows the 5th gen Maxima.

Thank you in advance for any further help you can provide.

 

Read the personal guarantee for using the recommended shops https://salemboysauto.com/marksalem/...pair/index.php and then consider taking your vehicle to the shop Mark Salem recommends.