Auto transmission Question

[blackmax23]

Anyone know what the gear ratios are on a 99 auto max? I'd really like to know cuz from a dig, my third gear is about as useful as neutral. No pull at all, and wow is it slow getting into third. Anyone know?

[maximaman]

I would like to know this as well. I got a 96 auto and off the line is good but the follow up onto third is poor. I put on short ram with a duct straight from the quarter panel and that helped with the low end decently... But the high end is still sorry. More importantly, how can u adjust the curv besides the power chip? (Already got it)

[oilerftbll84]

Oh idk. mine is hauls *** in 2nd and especially 3rd. Goodluck

[blackmax23]

Oh trust me, I know yours does, my bro in law has an auto 03 max and the transmission is nothing like the ones in the 95-99's.

[dr-rjp]

Anyone know what the gear ratios are on a 99 auto max? I'd really like to know cuz from a dig, my third gear is about as useful as neutral. No pull at all, and wow is it slow getting into third. Anyone know?

You can find the gear ratios in the FSM or online at one of the many car magazine sites.

The gearing is not the problem. It is the TC (and how the TCM is programmed to initiate the shift at 3k RPM under light acceleration, and at 6.5K under WOT).

All 95-99 autos in stock setups tend to shift rather abruptly from 2nd to 3rd (known as "shift shock") and lazily from 3rd to fourth.

The way to cure it -- and remember, you heard it here first -- is twofold.

First of all, if you are not using a cold-air intake, your engine is being starved of air when it needs it the most (at wide open throttle when 2nd goes into 3rd).

"Starved of air?" You can test out this theory by blocking off the opening to your airbox snorkel. That will, in effect cause the engine to rev hard at all gear changes, but without causing the car to go any faster -- just as if you accidentally put the gear shift into Neutral.

The stock air intake is one of the most inefficient designs I've ever seen, and is the culprit in situaions like this. You can mod the stock intake, like I have, or by a CAI.

Next, change your transmission fluid for full synthetic transmission fluid. Mobil, Amsoil, and Royal Purple are a few of the companies that make them.

Don't flush it if you've never had it done before. If you're not sure, don't do it.

Simply drain out the old fluid and add the new.

I also recommend adding a bottle of Lucas Transmission Fix for trannies with more than 90k on them. Nissan and some other people will insist that you should never put any additives in your transmission or engine. some will say never to use any additives. I'd say that's applicable to about 98% of additives.

But Lucas transmission Fix is something different. It is one that I have used for fifteen years, and I credit it with solving a lot of issues with my transmissions and with friends' transmissions.

For example, I added to my 1992 Max at 160k when it started slipping between gears. Lucas got rid of the slippage almost immediately, and I got an additional 143k out of my transmission before 2nd went totally bye-bye.

I drained my 98 I30 and refilled it with Mobil synthetic and Lucas. Ever since then, the shifts have been crisp and without that annoying hesitation going into 3rd.

The final recommendation for you is to reset your ECU with an OBD-II scanner (or go to AutoZone or Advance Auto and they'll do it for free), or leave the battery disconnected overnight. The reason for resetting the ECU is that you are going to teach it when to shift by doing them manually.

The transmission and its sensors adapt to the driver's style of driving. If you accelerate leasurely, then the transmission will shift at 3k or lower for all gears. Likewise, if you like jackrabbit starts and WOT shifts, then you'll be taking it up close to the beginning of the redline. But, it still thinks that you still want to shift it earlier than 6k, and so you get this long, drawn-out shift accompanied by high engine revs.

Now, if you do all of your shifts manually, right at the 6,500 mark, your ECU and TCM will "remember" that.

I know it sounds impossible, but after I had a dead battery replaced, I needed to "train" the transmission allover again.

If you manually upshift before it hits the rev limiter (at 6.5K), it will hold itself in the gear you chose and then upshift on its own.

Short of replacing that problematic torque converter with a different stall speed, this is your best shot at getting the transmission to obey your commands.

[blackmax23]

Thanks, I appreciate it. I'll give the transmission fluid recommendation you gave a shot. I have no problems with it, just kinda sick of not getting the power to the ground. I wanna do a 5 spd swap, but it's got 115k miles and I don't feel like putting much more $ into it if I don't need to. I could also do a VB mod, but that's a lot of $ too. So I guess I'll just have to suck it up and deal with the fact that a 5 spd. max with half the mods that I have on my car can take me!!!

[nj1sh]

I still cant figure out why mine shifts hard from 1st to 2nd. I changed the trans fluid still no difference. Anyway I have had this going since I bought it and doesn't seem to be a problem. The 3rd gear I remember didn't pull at all but after i changed the knock sensor It started to fly. I would check the knock sensor if I were you.

[maximaman]

that's why I love nico... I'm gunna do the trans fluid and Lucas asap. Then reset the ecu and I'll let you guys know the outcome.