I have to say I am glad to finally start posting on this site, too bad it is an unhappy post. I have an 85 Maxima, automatic, cream with brown interior, very nice condition, with only 96,xxx miles. Heres my problem. When i am driving the car likes to stay in each gear for longer than it should, then will shift hard into the next gear. sometimes during this shift the car makes an unplesant chirping kind of noise. Also sometimes when I start out in first gear and get on it a little, it makes shuddering movements, almost like tire hop, but the tires are not hopping. I need some advice on what to do. What the problem could be. And what alternatives to fixing the problem are there. How hard is a tranny swap? I just want my max running good again. Thanks!
-Rich

 

Hmmm, how is the tranny fluid level. It sounds characteristic of being low on fluid. When was the last time it was changed? I'd look into that and see if there is any improvement.

S

 

Welcome to the ORG ! I agree with Sarin, If the tranny does indeed shift and drive, the first thing I would check is fluid. Also make sure that it is nice and pinkish/clear on the dipstick and not brown or metallic looking. It should smell clean and not burnt. Check it out and let us know how it goes.

 

The fluid is kinda brownish, so im gonna change the fluid right now. Thanks for the replies. Hopefully my next post will be a happy one...

 

Probably smells burnt too. Change the fluid and besure you fill it with the proper amount. Don't overfill. I bet that will help a lot.

S

 

atleast it isnt black

 

Or purple with yellow poke-a-dots for that matter.

 

Well i changer the fluid yesterday and it was very dark. Also, there was a bit of the metal build up around the magnet on the drain plug. It wasn't lookin too good for me. I got some of the special high mileage fluid and a bottle of the Lucas tranny restorer, put it in and so far things are almost back to normal. I drove it around a bit yesterday and it seems to get increasingly better. Hopefully I wont be buying another tranny anytime soon...

 

How much metal build up? A lot? It's normal to have some....and judging by how long the fluid was in your tranny....it's probably going to be quite a bit of metal.

S

 

i've got rubber bits in my fluid