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93 Maxima SE Transmission won't turn to higher gear even the engine runs 4000rpm

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Old Apr 17, 2007 | 10:27 AM
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93 Maxima SE Transmission won't turn to higher gear even the engine runs 4000rpm

My transmission can not go to the highest gear when the speed goes upto 65MPH. It truns the engine to run 3500rpm. 75MPH, the engine goes to 4000rpm. The transmission won't upgear even the engine reaches 4500rpm. In lower gear, I got the simular problem. I need to pedal the engine to 4000rpm to let the transmission trun from the gear 1 to gear 2. I just flush the transmission and fill with the new transmission fluid. It does not help. So what is the problem? My transmission is going to die?
Old Apr 17, 2007 | 10:48 AM
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what's your engine RPM if you back off and coast at 65mph? how much does it drop when coasting? it should be about a 10-25% RPM drop when you are coasting versus when you are accelerating, due to the nature of a torque converter (and how hard you were accelerating).

also, unclick the O/D button and see if RPM increases. If your tranny is slipping in all gears then hitting the OD button should make the RPM go up a little bit. If you are just stuck in a low gear, then it won't. Can you make a video of it?

EDIT: also... did the symptoms exist before the fluid flush, or do you think they started right after you changed the fluid?
Old Apr 17, 2007 | 11:06 AM
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Sounds like your tranny is on it's way out....
Old Apr 17, 2007 | 02:57 PM
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The engine normally run 2900rpm at 75mph cruise. I do feel the transmission go up gear when I go down the hill. But when I try to accelarate. The gear goes down again. Is there anyway to fix it? Or I have to replace my tranny.
Old Apr 17, 2007 | 03:08 PM
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Originally Posted by zf12345
The engine normally run 2900rpm at 75mph cruise. I do feel the transmission go up gear when I go down the hill. But when I try to accelarate. The gear goes down again. Is there anyway to fix it? Or I have to replace my tranny.
well, i mean it all depends if the tranny is slipping, or if your TCU is just being stupid. if it's the TCU (tranny control unit) then you can replace that. if it's a slipping tranny, you need a new tranny...

so that's why i asked when the symptoms started in relation to when you changed the fluid. fluid left in a tranny too long will sometimes become integral to the function of the tranny, so when you change it, there's no more old fluid helping keep the thing together (delaying the inevitable anyways tho) and thus it fails not too long afterward. I'm going to change my fluid soon in hopses that my fluid is old or something, and that my tranny will hurry up and die, because i need it to... sounds weird i know. but you on the other hand do not need a dead transmission like I do. of course, if changing the fluid doesn't make it die, I may just let it live and you can have it when i do my 5spd swap.
Old Apr 17, 2007 | 08:40 PM
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How much to put a 5spd tranny on?
Old Apr 18, 2007 | 07:35 AM
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Originally Posted by zf12345
How much to put a 5spd tranny on?
$500-$1000+ depending on the used-ness of the parts you get. You can get a really trashy transmission for $300 but it's not going to shift at all like a Maxima... more like a Mack truck. I'm getting a rebuilt unit for $750ish shipped, and that should be slick as butter.
Old Apr 18, 2007 | 09:09 AM
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yea my tranny went on my VE also. 3rd and 4th gear went. but it still moves on 1st and 2nd. i just figured it was the tranny since 1st and 2nd slipp alot.
Old Apr 18, 2007 | 10:07 AM
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Originally Posted by zf12345
How much to put a 5spd tranny on?
I bought a parts car for $450 with a brand new oem clutch. Add some new seals like any swap would need and Ive been fine for 10K miles.

~Alex
Old Apr 18, 2007 | 11:26 AM
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Sounds to me like the transmission is low on fluid.
1. check the fluid levels according to the manual and see where you are.

2. make sure you have the correct fluid in there.

3. how cold is it outside up there? these transmissions will often act like this for the first few minutes after starting when its cold. The tranny has to reach a certain operating temperature before it will lock up the torque convertor and shift to 4th gear.
Old Apr 18, 2007 | 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Matt93SE
Sounds to me like the transmission is low on fluid.
1. check the fluid levels according to the manual and see where you are.

2. make sure you have the correct fluid in there.

3. how cold is it outside up there? these transmissions will often act like this for the first few minutes after starting when its cold. The tranny has to reach a certain operating temperature before it will lock up the torque convertor and shift to 4th gear.
well he still hasn't answered my question of whether or not the funkyness was present prior to the fluid change. though there's a remote chance the TPS is badly (as in, very badly) off, which would make it hold your gear much longer...
Old Apr 18, 2007 | 09:04 PM
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Pepboys changed the transmission fluid for me. They flush out the old fluid and put the new fluid in. The reason why I chaged the fluid is that I find I have to pedal the engine to 4000rpm to turn the tranny from gear 1 to gear 2. Right after change the fluid, the tranny seemed very smooth in all gear. It began to have the problem when I drove my car from Chicago to Boston. I found that I had no way to the highest gear. Also the gear 1 to gear 2 had same problem again.
Old Apr 18, 2007 | 09:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Matt93SE
Sounds to me like the transmission is low on fluid.
1. check the fluid levels according to the manual and see where you are.

2. make sure you have the correct fluid in there.

3. how cold is it outside up there? these transmissions will often act like this for the first few minutes after starting when its cold. The tranny has to reach a certain operating temperature before it will lock up the torque convertor and shift to 4th gear.
1. The level seems higher than the maximum line. Is it where the problem from?

2. Pepboys changed the fluid for me. I think they use MERCON V.

3. I live in delaware. It is not that cold. I did not find any change after the car warmed up.

BTW, What is torque convertor?
Old Apr 18, 2007 | 09:44 PM
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Originally Posted by zf12345
1. The level seems higher than the maximum line. Is it where the problem from?

2. Pepboys changed the fluid for me. I think they use MERCON V.

3. I live in delaware. It is not that cold. I did not find any change after the car warmed up.

BTW, What is torque convertor?
torque converter... the reason automatic transmissions waste all our engines' power... ...
... basically it's a turbine and a pump and a stator. pump throws tranny fluid against a turbine and that force spins your tranny. the stator helps redirect the flow back into the pump at an appropriate speed and direction to maintain efficiency. as speed increases, the momentum of the fluid basically makes the stator obsolete so it stops or something.

i know, read this: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter.htm
Old Apr 19, 2007 | 07:11 AM
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Originally Posted by zf12345
1. The level seems higher than the maximum line. Is it where the problem from?

2. Pepboys changed the fluid for me. I think they use MERCON V.

3. I live in delaware. It is not that cold. I did not find any change after the car warmed up.

BTW, What is torque convertor?
1. are you checking it with the car running?
2. u r screwed, that's the totally wrong trans fluid
3. enjoy the weather
4. ???
5.profit
Old Apr 19, 2007 | 08:07 AM
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Originally Posted by internetautomar
1. are you checking it with the car running?
2. u r screwed, that's the totally wrong trans fluid
3. enjoy the weather
4. ???
5.profit
1. No. I will check again.
2. What is the right transmission fluid I should use?

Thanks.
Old Apr 19, 2007 | 08:35 AM
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Dexron III is the right fluid
Old Apr 19, 2007 | 09:36 AM
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Can you recommend me a right brand? Thanks.
Old Apr 19, 2007 | 09:38 AM
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nissan would be best
Old Apr 19, 2007 | 09:52 AM
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I spend lots of time but I can not find where to buy them. Can you tell me? Thanks a million.
Old Apr 19, 2007 | 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by zf12345
I spend lots of time but I can not find where to buy them. Can you tell me? Thanks a million.
Local Nissan Dealership/Service?..?
Old Apr 19, 2007 | 04:46 PM
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I just went back from local Nissan dealer. They check my car and told me that they don't think the tranny fluid is where the problem from. They check the fluid level for me as well. NO preblem. So they recommended me to do a tranny check in transmission gararge. My tranny is probably going to die.
Old Apr 19, 2007 | 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by zf12345
I just went back from local Nissan dealer. They check my car and told me that they don't think the tranny fluid is where the problem from. They check the fluid level for me as well. NO preblem. So they recommended me to do a tranny check in transmission gararge. My tranny is probably going to die.
nobody thinks it could possibly be a whacked-out TCU though? I mean, there's comfort, auto, power... what if his is set to "Trippin' on acid" mode?
Old Apr 20, 2007 | 08:00 AM
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ANYTHING is possible.
just not probable.
these aren't 4th gen electronics.
Old Apr 20, 2007 | 01:10 PM
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Just beck from a tranny shop. They test drive my car and found out my car acturally lost both 2nd and 4th gear. That's why I can not go to highest gear and the engine need to be 4000rpm to change gear. It's not from 1 to 2. it's acturally from 1 to 3. Is it still possible the TCU problem? or my tranny has to be rebuild.

I just install four brand new tires. Now, it makes me very upset. I may try to sell this car for parts? How much it worth?

Is it possible to install a manual tranny onto my car? I was told that it was not possible.
Old Apr 20, 2007 | 01:15 PM
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A manual swap is quite possible and isn't too hard.I swapped my car to manual as well as nForce's max. Its in the stickies...

~Alex
Old Apr 20, 2007 | 01:35 PM
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I'm going to bet your shift solenoids are full of crap from the transmission flush.

either that or the TCU has gone out.

but considering the symptoms started right after you flushed the transmission, I'm going to guess the shift solenoids are the culprit.
you might have a shop pull the solenoids and the valve body from the car, clean it up, and reinstall it.

If you were in Houston, I'd recommend a good shop for you, but can't help you much from 2000 miles away.
Old Apr 20, 2007 | 02:15 PM
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but right after flushing, the tranny worked well. I found the problem after 1000 miles driving.
Old Apr 20, 2007 | 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Alex_V
A manual swap is quite possible and isn't too hard.I swapped my car to manual as well as nForce's max. Its in the stickies...

~Alex
I am curious where you can find mechanic to do it for you and how much does it cost.
Old Apr 20, 2007 | 04:02 PM
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Originally Posted by zf12345
but right after flushing, the tranny worked well. I found the problem after 1000 miles driving.
yeah, that's how my brother's car went. he drove it a while after the flush and then the thing suddenly lost 4th and reverse, and he had to buy another transmission and have it installed and stuff. sometimes it takes a few hundred miles for the fresh fluid to really get into every nook and cranny, and pick up all the bits and pieces it's gonna pick up. of course his only took 2-3 weeks... yours must have taken a little longer if it really took 1000 miles.
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