I have Maxima SE 2001 Automatic with Convenience package. The car was produced in 6/2000. I am aware of TSB for a faulty TCM (1st to 2nd gear slip). This release of the car doesn't manifest this problem. Well, there is another problem that I haven't seen being reported. Here is what I found out.

With the overdrive engaged, releasing the acceleration pedal, and then slowly accelerating, the car shudders (transmission problem?). It is like there is a saddle and brief bouncing of the “plates” in the transmission until it gets a grip. This is especially noticeable at speed of 40 MPH and 1500 RPMS with the above steps.

I did test other Maximas (exact same models), but I couldn't notice the shuddering like on my car. Nissan Service told me that there are some variations in Maximas due to its mass-produced nature. I don't think the variations should be that noticeable.

Nissan adjusted TPS and the voltage range, but the problem is still there.

Anyone out there having the same problem, or having a good advise?

Help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Vlad


[Edited by Vlad on 10-26-2000 at 05:06 PM]

 

a buzz that transmits thru the gas pedal at that range, but its more like exhaust related. Its not a shudder. Your car would already have the updated TCM, so thats not it.

Good luck. That problem seems pretty unique. I havent seen a posting with those symptoms in the year+ I've been here.

 

before they tear down that tranny... try a tank of 93+ octane at a different gas station. I guess it *could* be gas. I know, far fetched, but simple to eliminate as a potential problem.

 

It sounds like it might be the torque lockup converter engaging and not releasing quick enough. If the lockup converter is locked and then you hit the gas, it will try to unlock. Slowly giving it gas will not unlock it immediately and you may feel a slight hesitation. But, if it happens all the time and you can really feel it hesitate a lot, then the lockup converter may not be unlocking fast enough. That may be something to look at.

 

The dealer I went to told me that "actually all 2000's have the 1st~2nd slippage problem, just that most people don't get on it hard enough to notice". I was surprised he said this because I came in about the trunk scratches, and I had all of the TSB's printed out, and he noticed I had the tranny one highlighted. He thought I wanted them all addressed. Of course, I took him up on his offer to replace the transmission brain. Mine was produced after the supposed mfg date listed in these posts(which denoted you would have problems).

 

but I do have the gas pedal vibe that Tim mentioned. My new ill with the car is that after ther replaced the ECM, the car seems to idle a little rougher and at a lower rpm in Drive(While at a light for example) It also makes a low groan while stopped in drive...that may be due to the lower rpms while idling...if I shift it into N while stopped, the idle smooths out and the low vibration noise(groan) stops. Hopefully this will be corrected when the 3rd(yes count em) ECM goes in whenever it makes its way from Japan.

As far as the TCM goes...mdeal...what month/year is your build? One way to check for sure about the TCM is to have the tech hook up his consultant II and tell you the TCM part #. if it ends in Y100 it is the old one and Y101 is the new one. After initially feeling no difference, I can say without question that the shifts from 1 to 2 are firmer and more defined after I got the new TCM.....

Now if I could just get the &^%$^* mounts fixed along with the ^%$%^* rattles and the chippy paint and the crap windshield....blah, blah, blah

 

so you dont have to retype it everytime !!

 

Per my previous response: June 2000 mfg date.

 

I'm just getting warmed up........

 

Thank you all for the great responses.

I am getting a better idea what might be a problem. Exhaust system, I believe, is not a cause of the shudder. Also, the octane is not a problem, since I have been using 92+ from different gas stations. I agree that the torque lockup converter might be the root of the problem. About TCM, I will verify if it is the newest one.

My biggest concern is that Nissan is trying to ignore this issue since I started to inquire their help. I will save my story since it is a typical one of being screwed up with a bad service. And that is not the first time, since I already have Altima SE 1998. I had to go through the same service treatment with that car's AC problem. Well, Nissan is really making hard for me to stay a loyal customer.

Any additional help would be still appreciated.

Thanks again,
Vlad

 

after getting the TCM replaced in my 2k, i noticed that my trany felt, for the lack of a better term, loose. when i accelerate at speeds above say 30 mph, it hesitates for a split second then engages. and when i let off the gas it has a light shudder to it. i have driven a lot of AT cars and this definitely is not supposed to happen. its almost like the slippage of it when it was new made it loose and now that it shifts correctly, i can feel the looseness manifesting itself. i should get it checked soon. does this sound like what happens to yours?

 

You are right. It does sound like what happens to me. The only difference is that my model is 2001 and never had TCM replaced. I will let you know if I succeed in getting this problem fixed. In the mean time if you get some results, please let me know.

Vlad

 

I am having the same complaint with my new 2001 SE. The dealer is telling me it is the torque converter engaging/disengaging. The car will act up the most under light throttle, if you let off the gas, the car will feel like someone threw the anchor out, like heavy engine compression, and then when you get back on the gas there is a stumble/studder. It seems to happen at all speeds, even highway speeds, but is most noticable/annoying in traffic. I have made it clear to the dealer I want them to pursue this with Nissan..!! I've told them that NO WAY that a car of this stature and price should act like it does. And they did admit that another customer had complained about it. BUT they act like not much is going to be done about it, like it's "normal". Hopefully Nissan will get involved and have an answer if enough of us complain. I'll keep pushing for resolution to this problem and post anything I find out.

 

You have exactly the same problem as I do. And you are getting the same response from Nissan Service as I do. I am sorry to hear that you have to go through the same thing, because I know how you feel. I agree a car of this stature and price can't be excused to act like it. The most disappointing part of this story is that Nissan is trying to ignore it.

Here is what we can do -- more of us report this problem, a better chance to get Nissan's attention. Call Nissan Consumer Affairs at 1-800-NISSAN-5 / 1-800-NISSAN-1, and report this problem. Bring to their attention that you are not the only one with this problem. I did report this problem to them, and of course, they try to ignore it and play me around. Not a good experience to make me a loyal customer.

Let us know what kind of response you get from Nissan Consumer Affairs.

Good luck,
Vlad

 

I'm not going to retype my story here(just look around, I have a whole bunch of rants all over this board)...but 2 words....

lotsa luck

Nissan Customer Service sucks for lack of a better word. My dealer is actually are pretty good guys but I think that my problems are beyond them and in Nissans lap now.....since they dont know what is causing my particular issue they have come to the conclusion that the so called issue is "normal".

I like the car but the service sucks....now I'm struggling on whether to take a beating and dump this car or tough it out....I havent given up and plan on pursing this as far as I can....which ever way this ends up they have probably lost me as a future customer which sucks as I really do like their cars....


but back to the

 

is level 10 having a "Disgruntled Maxima Owners Sale"?

I think the idea here is that they just dropped a ton of cash on the car, you shouldnt have to mod it just to make it work correctly. Now, if Nissan would send the tranny to Level 10 for you, now youre cookin with gas - so to speak.

 

This is a copy of an e-mail I sent to my dealer after spending much of Friday with them trying to get to the bottom of this DEFECT and then coming up with more "evidence" over the weekend. Is anyone else making any progress or have anything to report in regards to this VERY annoying DEFECT..?? Copy of e-mail here forward:


I wanted to thank you for your efforts to correct the problems I'm having with my Maxima. I am also writing to try and describe something I experienced/observed the last 2 days while making numerous trips. I was hoping
that it may help someone somewhere come up with a solution to this VERY annoying DEFECT (yes, I am now going to classify it as a "defect"..!!) I don't know if this is significant or not, BUT I think it's all related to the main problem (the slowing down of the car quickly and subsequent lurch/surge/stumble/studder under light throttle). The drive includes driving on 2 lane roads at varying speeds but mostly was driven at 40-65 mph. What I noticed while driving along and letting up on the throttle (due to traffic or the need to slow down easily without braking) the car would hit that "dead zone" type of feeling, where it just kind of slows itself down quickly (same thing I've been describing AND it was happening at ALL the speeds I was driving, not just the 45mph/1500rpm area of the Maxima I drove on Friday) and while stepping on the throttle again while in the "dead zone" the tach would not move, the engine is definitely revving faster when I'm doing this but something isn't connecting the way it should. I tried it at different speeds and I can step on the gas and "feather" the throttle and the tach just sits right where it was when the engine hit the "dead zone"(due to letting off the throttle). If you give it enough throttle the tach returns to a normal type of indication (whatever is "disconnected" or not communicating resumes "normal" communication I guess..), and of course I get the lurch/surge/stumble/studder, but when it's in that "dead zone" the tach looks like it's stuck, and it's "stuck" at the RPM's where it was when I backed off the throttle to slow. I think this could be a clue to solving this defect based on the way it happens indicates something (throttle, transmission, torque converter..??) is NOT communicating with the rest of the car when it should, meaning there is a broken signal somewhere in the chain of communication that is needed to make an auto run smoothly. A very expensive, "flagship" automobile with supposedly "one of the best engines in the world" I might add....

I am also including a post I came across at edmunds.com's Maxima forum that talks about the "fuel cut" problem that Maximas seem to suffer with (maybe it's all related):

#351 of 356: joenissan . . . (y2kse) Sat 02 Dec '00 (01:32 PM)

I know you haven't been visiting the 5-speed
forum lately, but I met with my Zone Rep yesterday
and he acknowledged that the fuel-cut condition
does,in fact, exist. I thought you might be
interested in taking a look at the info I posted.

Check out Posts 369, 372, 373 and 379.

By the way, everybody, the fuel-cut condition
exists in absolutely every 2000 and 2001 Nissan
Maxima ever produced. It's not as evident in
A/T's as it is in 5-speeds, but it's there
nevertheless. The only thing that's unknown at this point is
whether the condition is the result of a
conscious decision on the part of Nissan engineers in the
design of the fuel-delivery system or the
result of a flaw in the design.
If you want to check out the posts for
yourself,
go to:


http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/eng...tenance&t=1698

Bruce...


I'm hoping by describing these symptoms it will be a help in resolving this DEFECT. Thanks again for the efforts on my behalf.


p.s.- I'm also going to post this in the Maxima.org forum to maybe get
some more help or opinions.

 

on Nissan to essentialy do anything for you. More than likely they will respond that the feaure exists on all Maximas and is normal, hence you are out of luck and thank you for buying Nissan.

Then again the fuel cut issue is a little more widely known issue than my screechy engine mounts I'm a little cynical about them though....

The gentleman you quoted from Edmunds just recently posted over on Edmunds that he has had some success in getting a Nissan person to truly understand the whole fuel cut issue and is perhaps getting things moving on it.....Bruce, don't mean to misquote you so please correct me if I'm wrong

I'd love for some sort of resolution to be made about the whole 5 spd issue as I'd probably dump my auto for a stick


Best of luck...I'm pulling for ya