My 99 SE seems to have a shifting problem. It doesn't downshift into 1st unless I come to a complete stop -- e.g. when slowing to a near stop, and then accelerating again (blowing a stop sign), the car stays in 2nd gear and bogs down. if I hit it, it will downshift. car has 70k. tranny flushed at 62k. fluid is very clean.

Also, in general, the shifts seem a bit abrubt (as compared to a lame Camry). this is my first Max so I don't know if this is normal for the car.

any thoughts? thanks!

 

Your tranny is behaving like every other Maxima automatic. It's just the way the TCM logic works (unfortunately).

 

i say its your torque converter (TC), if it takes a second for it to start to move in first from a stop, then it engages very fast, even with little acceleration being asked for, then it is 90% likely that it is your TC. but thats if it is for sure working not right, it could be fine like stated above, but ive never ridden in a max auto.

 

What are you talking about? He's saying that the car doesn't downshift, not that it doesn't move. What the OP is describing is exactly how EVERY Maxima I have driven behaves. You are describing a completely different symptom.

 

Let's all listen to the expert : You don't even have an auto so stop talking out of where you exit.

All auto4gs do this, it's been confirmed years ago ... Get used to it, sell the car for a 5 speed, or do a 5 speed swap, all there is to it .. it's not the TC ... More theTCM.

 

crappy tc doesnt mean it doesnt move, the transmission acts like **** all the time. and like i said, i dont know that a auto max drives like ****, cus desribed like that it does. i said ive never ridden in one

 

.....

nj said it clearly.. ...... .... ... And I layed the options out ...

 

Morning NMex

 

NOT the TC in our case.

Yep, that's how our autos are. PITA. I love auto trannies, but this Nissan tranny leaves much to be desired. Believe it or not GM's Turbo-Hydramatic transmissions are top notch, best in the world. I wish my Max shifted as nice as my old 98 K1500.

There are tweaks available, see if you can find them on the .org.

 

A great one isn't it ...



About the tranny ... It's also annoying when on the highwahy and you floor it, but then change your mind, then floor it again within 5-10 secs, and it stays in OD .. Oh well, been doing that for years now, once again oh well.

 

nmex why havent u done the 5spd swar yet? u are the biggest promoter i know of on the .org

 

probably the same reason many haven't switched over to 5spd......

having to track down every part and $$$$

 

40oz. (water bottle of course)

 

nj, nmex, soni - thanks for your help. this is a great fourm, you guys know your sh*t. saving me all kinds of $$$. I'll become a donating member soon.

 

Where are you at in Chicago? I'm local too.

 

downtown north side. I work in Schaumburg and do the commute from hell every day. just bought my Max from a guy who took it to the dealer for new wiper blades, so it's pretty tight. great car. it's an SE so the ride is a bit rough on the Chicago streets, so I might go with softer struts/springs soon. still researching which to buy.

what burb are you in? do you know any reputable shops in the area that know these cars well?

 

I've 'heard' that a ground kit will improve this

 

The best garage is right here - maxima.org - If you are handy, you'll find mostly everything you need to know here. I either do things myself or take it to a dealer - they charge a lot, but I don't trust anyone else with my car. Take your time to read all the stickies and FAQs - 99% of the problems or questions you have are covered in there, with the solutions/how-tos/etc.

Cheers and welcome to the community.

 

your commute cant be worse than mine. from dowtown chicago(wacker) all the way to rt. 47 + rt. 64 (north avenue) 60 miles west

 

Oh dude I definately will beat or match your commute soon. I will be driving from UGA (Athens, GA) all the way to Midtown (A little north of ATL)

 

i leave at 4 50 am, get home about 430 pm. i work for 7.5 hours

 

I "heard" that too.



I went a little overboard on spending on my 5.5 g lately.
Just bought a few 'goodies' for it such as, but not limted to , S-AFC-II, etc, & new tires.


Affording the parts for the 5M swap has been cotsly, having the desire to mod both of them still . ...
I have shifting rods/engine mount/slave cyl/ SS cultch lines so far...

 

nice, which are you going to swap, the vq30 or 35?

 

I'm swapping the transmission only ... keeping the 3.0L for now

 

It does. It was the best 40 bucks I ever spent. I'd spend another 40 if it would improve it that much more. But that's wishfull thinking. Don't expect huge changes in the characteristics though, It's minimal. Just enough for you to notice the diff.

 

no, i meant in your 4th gen or you 5.5. j/w which your going to get the 5spd swap in

 

factory five motoring on morse ave....