I'm aware that there is a thread on hard shifting already, but I think a hard shifting automatic would be a different matter.

The car shifts fine when I don't press the pedal down far, but when I gun it it shifts hard. Sometimes when it shifts it almost feels like I ran into something. I'm hoping that I don't need a new transmission.

Any thoughts on why this is happening?

 

Check your drop resistor switch, it could have gone bad.

 

Ok thanks. I'll check it.

 

What's the mileage, fluid level, smell, color?

 

+1 on the switch

 

151k miles, the fluid is full. The color is red and clear. It smells sweet. My last fluid change was at 150k miles.

 

i had that issue on an accord and it was the tranny mount.

 

It looks like there are a lot of possibilities.

 

hmmm....do you know the history of fluid changes prior to 150K? What was the fluid like back then?

 

oh sorry to hear you have an automatic

 

Check drop resistor, & I've had a faulty tps cause those symptoms as well. Change fluid.

 

Don't apologize, I've beaten plenty of manuals because 90% of the drivers aren't great stick drivers anyways.

 

I bought it from a dealership, who knows. When I checked the fluids it all looked new. But you know how dealerships do that stuff to make the car look better.

 

I've seen this in a billion threads before. Us auto owners understand that manual owners are sorry. Get on with your lives.

So true.

 

I'm not that 90% so I couldn't care less.

 

Yeah, that sux. If it was a nissan dealship where the car's been serviced from day one, then it should be in good shape.

 

Then why are you trolling in an AUTO thread?

 

So then what again is your point in this thread? If you have nothing helpful to add, I really fail to see why you're participating in this particular thread.

In any case, to the OP:

Ideally, shifting 'hard' is good for the trans at WOT, less slippage of the clutches. Does it happen only above, say, 80% throttle? And everything 'normal' driving is fine?

If the drop resistor were bad, it would happen all of the time, not just at WOT. A TPS could cause that easily, it's happened to mine as well - a little below spec at idle that didn't affect anything, but just by being how it is, that below spec at idle meant below spec at WOT as well, which caused lots of weird behavior. It would run out most of a gear before shifting, shift hard, and not really want to downshift much.

 

i had that problem in my auto it was the mounts...get them checked out

 

[rant]I just wanted to say w00t for my automatic. Sorry, that was one of the qualifications for this car. I didn't get my Maxima to be a "4DSC" lol. It's my comfortable daily driver. My other 2 vehicles are manuals. Didn't want another.... so yeah, stfu with the hating on autos BS. Some of us have auto's for a reason.. and it's not like we're driving sports cars.. then u might have a valid point w/ ur ' Manual > Auto' bs.[/rant]

 

lol @ all teh sideline hatin'

 

You mean the ' hatin' ' on automatics that you, yourself started?

 

i guess you dont know what sideline hatin means

 

What? Sideshow Bob?

 

More than 90% of stick drivers would give that response. Please stop trolling in this thread.(But I do like your taste in color for your Max.)

As for all of you, thanks a lot I appreciate your input. If there are any other ideas post them here please.

 

That's very good to hear. Mine shifts normally unless I press down the pedal at about 80% or more.

 

Well, the carfax says it was bought at a Nissan Dealership. I've seen that it has gone to the shop some but it didn't specify what. My car is from Houston Texas and it found its way to me in FL. A lot of times though it went there for an emissions test. In fact, it failed one and came back the same day and passed it with only 7 more miles on the car o_O.(Was also stolen twice.)

Anywho I got off topic. I really am not sure about the history of my Max but I can see that it was taken to the shop some but it didn't specify anything but emissions.

 

I also should have mentioned/agreed with whoever mentioned the motor mount, it's hard to tell without driving the car if this is a trans shifting issue or a motor mount, but torn rear motor mounts are REAL REAL common, I'd say about 75% of every rear mount on a maxima I've ever seen has been torn, lol. Jack it up safely on jack stands, get way under there, move those stupid rubber flappy things out of the way and take a look. Also, if you have access to an obdII scanner check that the TPS is o.o% and goes up as soon as you barely touch the gas, and I'm sure the FSM has specs to test the drop-resistor (vq35de.com). This is all assuming you changed the fluid anyways, your car has probably been through some rough times if it was stolen twice.............. oh the fun I would have in a stolen A32, lolz

/thread

 

I also should have mentioned/agreed with whoever mentioned the motor mount, it's hard to tell without driving the car if this is a trans shifting issue or a motor mount, but torn rear motor mounts are REAL REAL common, I'd say about 75% of every rear mount on a maxima I've ever seen has been torn, lol. Jack it up safely on jack stands, get way under there, move those stupid rubber flappy things out of the way and take a look. Also, if you have access to an obdII scanner check that the TPS is o.o% and goes up as soon as you barely touch the gas, and I'm sure the FSM has specs to test the drop-resistor (vq35de.com). This is all assuming you changed the fluid anyways, your car has probably been through some rough times if it was stolen twice.............. oh the fun I would have in a stolen A32, lolz

/stupidness in thread guys

 

Nothing constructive to add? Stay out.

 

Um, don't gun it? Also check your TPS.

 

There are times you have to gun it. Especially when you try to avoid a rear end collision like I had to avoid the other day. But thanks for your input.

 

I wouldn't bother with it, if it's functioning properly during normal driving. These maximas do not have the smoothest shifting automatics. If you're not sure about what fluid was used, perhaps it may be the wrong one. I would do multiple (4-5) regular drain and refills with a quality fluid like valvoline maxlife or buy fluid at the dealer (Nissan Matic-D). On a hot transmission, about 5 qts should drain out which is 50% of the total capacity. I would do 50 miles in between each drain and refill. After 5 drain and refills the majority of the old fluid should be diluted and there will be about 90% of new fluid in the transmission.

Flushing is not recommended at this mileage and with an unknown maintenance history. In this case, the simplest method works best.

 

Alright, since I can't find anything wrong with the vechile I'll take your advice. Thanks everyone.

 

Can you expound on this? I just got my son a 97 Maxima with 83,000. Automatic trans was replaced by dealer at 55,000 miles because of hard shifts.

First thing i noticed in the vehicle was that is has pretty hard shifts. How can you tell what is acceptable in terms ofshoft points and what is excessive?

 

Can you expound on this? I just got my son a 97 Maxima with 83,000. Automatic trans was replaced by dealer at 55,000 miles because of hard shifts.

First thing i noticed in the vehicle was that is has pretty hard shifts. How can you tell what is acceptable in terms of shift points and what is excessive?

We compared the 96 Maxima automatic (150,000 miles) It has much smoother shifts.

Another oddity; when you take your foot off the gas with the 96, rpms remain the same, but in the 97 when you take your foot off the gas the rpms drop about 600.

What do you think?

 

There's no real way to quantify a 'hard shift' with any actual data, but it shouldn't be a massive kick. Check youtube videos of stock autos, you can kind of get a feel for it.

The shift points on a properly functioning car are all listed in the FSM:


If it's shifting overly hard, follow all of the suggestions above in this 2 year old thread.

 

Not trying to steal the thread here but Instead of posting in a new thread... this seems close enough anyway.


I have a 95SE. AUTO trans.
My ride (occasionally) shifts a little rough when going from 1st to 2nd.
Any ideas/thoughts pertaining to this? I don't think it's a serious problem - it only happens occasionally, I'm just curious to see what anyone with some actual experience/knowledge/constructive - productive comments has to say. It's not that hard of a shift, just noticeable compared to any others.


Thanks in adv.

 

Search around, that's just how these autos are. Especially in the cold, you'll get some shock going 1-2.

 

Hmm It is quite cold here so I suppose that could just be it. I can't recall it happening in the summer so.

Heading to bed, but I will take a look around the boards here for any other posts n threads on this perhaps using the lovely Search feature I have come to count on.


Thanks pmohr.

=)