I was wondering if this is an issue with just my Max or all 4th gens. My transmission is extremely reluctant to downshift from 3rd to 2nd, especially like when, say, you are slowing down for a redlight and it turns green all the sudden so you mash the gas, or when you are trying to accelerate out of a corner. Mine just bogs in 3rd(you can hear the engine straining) until about 3000-4000 where it starts picking up power again. The only way to kick it down to 2nd is to floor it, which seems rather unnecessary. It's strange because it quickly shifts from 4th(OD) to 3rd with just a slight press of the gas pedal. I have no codes or anything. If it isn't my car, the only thing I can figure is it may be the 3rd gear ratio isn't aggressive enough, or maybe the computer is slow to figure out when to go to 2nd, because the newer Maxima I drove and my dad's Altima (both four speeds) don't have this problem.

 

Very common, just shift it manually. 1st and 2nd and overdrive off for 3rd (but turn over drive on above 55mph or you will be slower.)

 

Put some Seafoam Trans Tune in your trans.
It helps a lot!

 

Seafoam or any trans treatment will not effect the shift points of our electronically controlled transmissions. It's how Nissan programmed it, so you can thank them for that tranny cookie.

On a side note, mashing the gas to get it to downshift into 2nd all the time is going to shorten the life of your tranny.

 

Don't know if this is true but I was looking at the grounding kit on www.mattblehm.com (org name matt93se or something) and it said it helped with that. Might be something to look into.

 

I understand the shift points are programmed in. However, the tranny gets sluggish after a while. Putting the Seafoam in was the ONLY A/T additive that showed any positive result.

While it won't change the programmed shift points it will make the tranny respond properly and shift when it is suppose to; like during mild acceleration.
My tranny was slow to downshift from the upper gears when I would do a quick acceleration.
After a couple hundred miles of running Seafoam I noticed a definite quickness in response from downshifts. I'd press on the gas a little more than normal acceleration and get a downshift. Before that I would have to do some radical acceleration to get a downshift.

Try it. If it doesn't work the worst thing that you get is longer life out of your tranny.