By pulling the dropping resistor you can make the auto shift at full line pressure making the shifts hard and fast. I am going to install a switch that will allow me to take the dropping resistor"out" from the dash. Then I will have normal and sport mode. I have seen where a guy in Australia made a switch with different ohm ratings so he had 3 different driving modes.

I can't decide whether to splice in at the trans control unit or go out to the location of the resistor itself. Something about cutting a wire at that big harness is intimidating.

Can you provide more information about this? What or where is this dropping resistor?

The dropping resistor is located in the rear part of the passengers side front fender. It makes the transmission shift soft and smoothly like a large luxury car. Without the resistor it allows full line pressure for a more positive shift.

Location is in the service manual page AT36

Well, I did the deed today. Went to wire at pin#2 at acu and installed switch on dash. Now I have a 300zx with selectable transmission modes.

Any possible reason why my wiper washer motor would stop working after unplugging that dropping resistor?

You might have unplugged the washer motor. Was the plug you unplugged at the rear or front of the fender?

The dropping resistor is a small plug in at the rear. Mounted on a silver bracket.

rgregoryb wrote:You might have unplugged the washer motor. Was the plug you unplugged at the rear or front of the fender?

It was at the rear, on the firewall side. I can tell it was the dropping resistor because I can feel a major difference in the way the car shifts now.

I'll make sure I double check and make sure I didn't accidentally unplug the wrong one. But they wouldn't be sitting next to each other, would they?

No, opposite sides. You may have bumped it?

rgregoryb wrote:No, opposite sides. You may have bumped it?

It's entirely possible. I'll double check after work today.

Changes the old autos way of shifting...You like it?

rgregoryb wrote:Changes the old autos way of shifting...You like it?

I do. Feels very much like my 3000Gt's shift kit, before the transmission went out haha.. I still want to wire in a resistor to soften the 1-2 shift just slightly, because I currently just have the resistor unplugged.. But overall, it feels great.

And it is actually better for the trans

rgregoryb wrote:And it is actually better for the trans

That's what I've heard. I plan to install an external cooler just for piece of mind too.

I put a cooler on about 6 months ago. It had a brand new Nissan transmission installed 2 years ago.

rgregoryb wrote:I put a cooler on about 6 months ago. It had a brand new Nissan transmission installed 2 years ago.

Nice. Yea this car looks to have had the radiator replaced recently. Of course the entire car only had 100k on it when I bought it. But an external cooler makes me feel better haha.

Where did you mount the switch you put in? And did you just wire it straight in? Or with a resistor in place?

On the lower part of the dash, just on the right of the steering wheel is a small piece about 1.5x2 inches it just pops out. I had to cut a piece out behind it so the switch would fit. Drilled a hole in the popped out part and in went the switch. I just have it wired to allow the existing resistor to be in or out of circuit.

I think I'm going to try to wire in a resistor to mine. The 1-2 shift is a bit too harsh for my taste. I read through the older thread where the guy had 3 modes set up based on which resistor was activated, and took the idea of using a 4.7k or 5k resistor to fix that 1-2 shift.

I'll have to look and see if I have that same piece on my dash to mount a switch to.

Let us know how it works. Another good place for a switch is beside the clock. I put one there to turn the power off to my antenna. I always listen to CD's or I pod hate the antenna always going up and down

rgregoryb wrote:Let us know how it works. Another good place for a switch is beside the clock. I put one there to turn the power off to my antenna. I always listen to CD's or I pod hate the antenna always going up and down

With the antenna I just unplugged the motor for it in the trunk. Fixed that problem haha.

I'll let you know how the resistor works out. It's a 5k ohm 20w resistor. From reading the posts on that other thread, he seemed to find that the 4.7k and above kept the tight shifting feel, but lessened slightly the 1-2 shift harshness.

Could you have reused the Power / Hold switch?

Chaddoes wrote:Could you have reused the Power / Hold switch?

I don't have that button.

Hey everyone. been gone awhile. Sorry to drum up an old post.

I was wondering if anyone might know, or can point me in a better direction. I have had this mod done for a good while with no issues. However, last year the mechanical pump took a crap after a botched rebuild by a shop. And now, after 2 new pumps and fresh rebuilds, it has done it again. Seems to last about 100 miles, both times.

Anyone know if this could be related to that pressure resistor? As this is the only thing that is not stock about this vehicle, besides solid motor mounts.