Givens

So back in December I noticed the car was lazy shifting between 2nd and 3rd, even under hard acceleration. One day while driving it acted like it slipped out of gear in first and then jumped back in. I checked the oil and it was low, I stopped and added fluid, which I thought was strange cause its never leaked a drop.

It never slipped out of gear again but still shifted lazy never any hard shifting. So I decided to change the trans filter, I ordered one from Part Geek and picked up some Valvoline trans oil.

After removing the transmission pan I didn't see the filter so I decided to dig deeper. Bare with me, first front wheel drive car I've owned. I decided to pull the valve body, but once I got it out, I knew the filter I had was not the right one for this car. Because it was way to big and no possible way it would fit.

I reinstalled the valve body, pan, and added new fluid. When I put the car in reverse it was nice and smooth, then when I shifted to first it about ripped my head off. I let the car warm up some more and the same thing happened not as bad but still way harder than ever before.

I take it for a drive and it shifts erratic from 2nd to 3rd everything else seems fine. The under harder acceleration it jerked hard during the same 2nd to 3rd I thought something was gonna break. I eased back to the shop.

Is there a wire I could have switched around, or what could I have done? The car has 150k I've never changed the trans oil before and I bought it with 25k on it.

Cotozic

Well, your car's 5 speed auto transmission is notorious for having shifting problems, so there's a good chance that you have the same problem... assuming yours has never been fixed. There's a thread stickied in the 6th gen section with transmission info. I'd definitely look into that thread which normally suggest replacing your valve body with a rebuilt model since that's usually what the problem has been in these cars, and I'd also swap in some new trans fluid.

wingnut2006

1.To remove the valve body you have to unplug 3 each solenoids. They are color coded and I do not know if connections are the same but they be. Something to check. 2.
2.There are 2 each "O" rings that may have fail out when you removed the valvebody. Only way to check is to remove the valvebody and look.
3. Moving the valvebody around may have caused one the solenoids to stick. Sticking solenoids are a major problem with this transmission.

Givens

I'm with you, I've read on those for years and was scared it would eventually come up. The only problem I'm having is it acted fine till I removed it and reinstalled it except for a lazy **** or clutch slipping from 2nd to 3rd.

There's something really going on now it shifts hard like it could possibly break something.

Givens

I left the solenoids hooked up, because I couldn't unplug them and I was afraid I would break a connection. The O rings your referring to stayed on the trans and one fell out. It wasn't an O ring more of a rubber washer and there were two and I placed the other one right below the one that stayed in there.

What can I do about the sticking solenoids? Pour a little B12 in and see if that frees them up?

wingnut2006

Givens: What transmission fluid did you use? The 5 speed transmission is very critical when it comes to transmission fluid type. Only use Nissan type "K", Toyota type-IV or Mobil type 3309 fluids. Several are numerous videos on the internet that may help you. Hiram Gutierrez has several as does TuroFM's channel.

Givens

When I added fluid the first time it was Nissan fluid, but when I decided to change the trans filter it was different. I used Valvoline for imports and it had Nissan listed on the back of the bottle. I can run to my shop and see exactly what it is.

Also while I was driving it today real easy trying to do a relearn, it set a code P0780 and got stuck in 5th gear. This just keeps getting better I should have left it alone.

wingnut2006

Per Nissan, Code P0780 is: Detected when the A/T does not shift as instructed by the TCM. This is not caused byelectrical malfunction (circuits open or shorted) but by mechanical malfunction such as control valve sticking,improper solenoid valve operation, etc. Do not know your mechanical ability but if you do not believe that you can remove and rebuild the valve body and solenoids then you need to take the vehicle to transmission specialist before you do some major damage to the transmission, if you have not already done so.