Mobil 1 synthetic ATF is an excellent choice. Being a synthetic fluid, it has better cold weather performance and will lower the transmission's operating temperature somewhat, which is a good thing. Just a nitpick, the fluid is called "Dexron", not "Dextron".chipahoy wrote:i see what your saying, but if it were morning sickness and related, how would the transmission differentiate between "D," "2," or "L?" it runs and shifts fine. I will try changing the fluid and filter, friend suggested Mobil 1 Dextron ATF. Will post again after the fluid change. Thanks for all the great suggestions.
Well, it's all theory really. You won't know for sure unless you scientifically test everything according to the FSM, but looking at that section is a real turn-off to me personally. Usually what it boils down to for a transmission that works just fine when warm is dirt in the system - have it be the valve body, solenoids, etc. but usually you find yourself in trouble once you start getting too far into that. Why I would definitely call it "morning sickness" whether it be the classic definition or not is it seems to happen only when the transmission has cooled down in my situation and yours probably as well. I used to only get the problem if I let the car sit overnight in the summer or a few hours in winter (being that it's colder). As for the "gorilla-snot", honestly I am less and less in love with it. It's a temporary band-aid.chipahoy wrote:i see what your saying, but if it were morning sickness and related, how would the transmission differentiate between "D," "2," or "L?" it runs and shifts fine. I will try changing the fluid and filter, friend suggested Mobil 1 Dextron ATF. Will post again after the fluid change. Thanks for all the great suggestions.
Thank you for posting this! I was having the same problem - got the fluid changed and solenoid cleaned, now it goes into Drive easily in cold weather.KJM wrote: ↑Sat Jul 18, 2015 11:56 amHello. I have a 2001 Nissan Altima, 163K miles, with the EXACT same problem. Did not go into drive in the morning when cold, and started happening more frequently, but once in gear it ran fine. Changing the trans fluid was a temporary solution, but it started not going into drive again in the mornings. Upon further research, I narrowed my focus to the transmission line pressure solenoid valve that is known to get clogged with debris, and changing fluid alone is not enough to clean it out. The solenoid is accessible by dropping the transmission fluid pan, and as it turns out, there are two small holes of the side of the solenoid. I sprayed carborator cleaner into each hole on the side of the solenoid and black debris poured out for a few seconds and then the carborator cleaner flowed clear. This was a simple fix and has completely solved the problem. A few squirts of carborator cleaner and a transmission fluid change solved the issue - it now goes into gear immediately, and at all temperatures. No need for a new transmission like most of the mechanics were telling me. I hope this helps others who have the same problem.
GOT TO ASK - HOW DID CHANGING THE FLUID HELP OR NOT?chipahoy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2012 8:05 pmi see what your saying, but if it were morning sickness and related, how would the transmission differentiate between "D," "2," or "L?" it runs and shifts fine. I will try changing the fluid and filter, friend suggested Mobil 1 Dextron ATF. Will post again after the fluid change. Thanks for all the great suggestions.
I’m a Vavoline Maxlife user! Lol.justjuiceit wrote: ↑Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:13 pmRegular Dexron III will work fine, especially for multiple drain and fills. In fact the thermal properties are better than most new fluids out there for heat rejection. New fluids are more concerned with that fraction of a MPG over transmission longevity. Valvoline brand is less than $14.00 for a jug and only a few more pennies than SuperTech.
Is the "transmission line pressure solenoid valve" referenced in the above post the same as a "automatic transmission control solenoid"? I am having this exact issue with my 1999 Infiniti Q45 and am planning to swap out this valve. I can find the "automatic transmission control solenoid" online but, talking to a few people this doesn't seem to be the same as the "transmission line pressure solenoid valve". However, i'm really not sure. A link to the part would be great if anyone knows which one it is.KJM wrote: ↑Sat Jul 18, 2015 11:56 amHello. I have a 2001 Nissan Altima, 163K miles, with the EXACT same problem. Did not go into drive in the morning when cold, and started happening more frequently, but once in gear it ran fine. Changing the trans fluid was a temporary solution, but it started not going into drive again in the mornings. Upon further research, I narrowed my focus to the transmission line pressure solenoid valve that is known to get clogged with debris, and changing fluid alone is not enough to clean it out. The solenoid is accessible by dropping the transmission fluid pan, and as it turns out, there are two small holes of the side of the solenoid. I sprayed carborator cleaner into each hole on the side of the solenoid and black debris poured out for a few seconds and then the carborator cleaner flowed clear. This was a simple fix and has completely solved the problem. A few squirts of carborator cleaner and a transmission fluid change solved the issue - it now goes into gear immediately, and at all temperatures. No need for a new transmission like most of the mechanics were telling me. I hope this helps others who have the same problem.