Engine jumps - complicated issue and I need your help - 2004 Maxima

[oc2004maximaowner]

I need your help. I'll do my best to piece together the story.

2004 Maxima94,000 miles and I am the original owner. 10 mile commute, each way, mostly freeway in Southern California.

In April, I took my car in to a AAA approved repair shop and they replaced an engine mount. When shifting, especially from N to D and starting from a dead stop...the engine was lurching forward and you could feel it inside the car. When I would open the hood and test it (w/ foot on brake) shift from N to D...you could see the engine surge forward. AAA repair shop said busted engine mount was not supporting the engine and that was responsible for it.

It seemed to improve, but by August, it was really bad again and I took it back. I think I was hoping that it was better and I was compensating by not accelerating as hard from dead stop, but when the engine was fully warmed up, maybe after 15 minutes, the lurch/surge would get more noticeable. I took it back and they said "other engine mounts were weakened when the first engine mount went down...and another one has busted." Now, 2 new engine mounts and $1,000 in repairs, you'd think I was in the clear.

I took my car to oil change to dealer in late-September, they recommended the following:- air filter (replaced myself)- throttle body service- new tires - I'm monitoring them- alignment - non-issue- power steering hose leaking (they admitted it wasn't bad and could wait)- power steering flush (have not taken action on it)- transmission service- in cabin filter (replaced myself)

Researching previous notes, it was also recommended that I get tranmission service in October 2008.

Admittedly, I'm bad about car maintenance. I usually prioritize and get the dealer's suggested repairs at my AAA shop. Now though, I'm pissed that I'm $1,000 down w/ no result.

So I took it last week, the surge/lurch is back. They looked at my transmission fluid and said it needed to be flushed becuase it was really dirty. I didn't dispute that because it did need to be replaced. They felt that might fix it. Since I had been told to get this done before, I did it. I was told it will clean the valves and remove any blockage that was resulting in the surge/lurch.

I picked it up last weekend and it shifted like butter initially. After a couple of days, old problem returned. Only bad once car is fully warmed up.

I called the shop yesterday and they referred me to a transmission shop because "at this point, you need to talk to a transmission expert." They did, if memory serves me correct, discuss throttle body service when I picked up my car last weekend.

So here goes:1. What do you think is the problem?2. What is the recommended next step?3. Could the issues below, mentioned at my late-September oil change, have an impact on my current problem and does action need to be taken now on any of them:- throttle body service- power steering hose leaking (they admitted it wasn't bad and could wait)- power steering flush (have not taken action on it)

I'm up to $1,200 and I still have the same problem. Thank you so much for your help.

Greg

[maxhopper]

Welcome to NICO.

1. Sounds like something going on internally in the transmission. It's odd that it acted properly after the flush, but then the problem returned. It could possibly be a small particle in the transmission that is getting lodged somewhere it shouldn't.

2. I would drain the trans fluid, drop the pan and check the magnets in the bottom of the pan to see if there is a lot of metal debris. It could be that something is not wearing properly internally and it's dumping a lot of debris into the fluid (and getting lodged).

3. The items you listed should have no bearing on your issue, unless the idle speed is really high when you are changing gears. If the idle is high I would have the throttle body service done.

[oc2004maximaowner]

maxhopper97

"1. Sounds like something going on internally in the transmission. It's odd that it acted properly after the flush, but then the problem returned. It could possibly be a small particle in the transmission that is getting lodged somewhere it shouldn't."

- Let me rephrase. It may have worked properly because my car seems to act fine until it's been on for maybe 10 minutes, then it's warmed up and that's when the problem gets worse. I do a lot of short trips, so maybe the problem was present all along, but wasn't able to show itself due to short trips.

"3. The items you listed should have no bearing on your issue, unless the idle speed is really high when you are changing gears. If the idle is high I would have the throttle body service done."

- I actually wait for the idle speed to slow down before accelerating. For example, if I roll up to a red light and it turns green while I'm decelerating, I'll wait for my car to further decelerate before giving it gas. If I just give it gas while I'm decelerating at a high idle, BAM...engine jumps. It sounds so awful. I've learned to accelerate slow, but steady and firm.

Does it sounds like the throttle body service needs to be done? I feel like I'm pissing away money at this point. Your opinion is really appreciated. Thanks

[NutriaforBreakfast]

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/c...s.cfm

Check out the website. I have read several complaintsabout the 2004 transmission

[maxhopper]

I wouldn't worry about the throttle body cleaning unless you are experiencing and unusually high/low idle or if the rpms fluctuate at a steady idle. Most places just spray throttle body cleaner into the intake and charge you out the wazoo. Something you could easily do yourself.

[azsly1]

engine moving back and forth?!

thats mounts. get new ones.

when the engine is moving back and forth excessively, its usually the mounts.

as for the trans, i have no idea. maybe something to do with the torque converter pressue????