First 30zx

[Billo300zx]

I just purchased my first 300zx a couple days ago
Its an Automatic but even when it is turned off I can still shift gears, As in from D to R
Is this a sign of a bad transmission?
Thanks!

[Ace2cool]

Like, with the key removed?

No, that's not a bad transmission. At very most you have a bad shift lock solenoid.

[Billo300zx]

Yahh with the keys removed,
The Transmission does still feel kind of rough though, is there some way I could soothe the switching of the gears?
Thanks a lot for the help!
& can I replace the shift lock solenoid? Because the shifter is quite shaky.

[Ace2cool]

Honestly, if the gears shift properly, I wouldn't even mess with it. There's more of a chance of messing something up if you take it apart. It's way more difficult to line an A/T shifter back up than a M/T.

Also, when not pushing the button, the shifter will move a little over a quarter inch. That has nothing to do with the shift lock solenoid, though. That's just design.

As far as rough shifting, do you mean shifting hard? Older cars can get blocked passages or any number of problems that will cause a loss of line pressure in lower gears that'll cause a really hard 1st to 2nd shift. Also won't really hurt much, because the torque converter will "cushion" the impact, but it will eventually give up. Probably won't be for a while, and it'll give you more definite signs of failure beforehand, such as slipping.

[t.mcginley.jr]

My auto can shift through the gears with the car off and key out too. It doesn't affect anything with the trans itself. If it's shaky it could be a worn out bushing. As for how it shifts, all you can really do is try changing the fluid, or having a shop flush it.

Btw my auto trans is semi-blown from the previous owner. When I pulled the pan off, the magnet had a bunch of metal on it. It still shifts, but it takes longer to shift out of 1st and 2nd gears then it should.

[Billo300zx]

Yah that's exactly what's happening the 1st and 2nd shifts are a lot harder & so I shouldn't worry about it too much?
What do mean exactly by slipping? As if I will feel the transmission "slipping" gears?
& Yah im going to take it to the shop this week to have them check it out just in case.
Is flushing the transmission a long process?
Thanks a lot again!

[Ace2cool]

Don't flush it. If you swap out all of the fluid at this point, you may lose some gears altogether. At most, drain about half the fluid out yourself and replace it with fresh. I'll bet it hasn't been kept to the servicing schedule.

Also, don't take it to the shop. They'll charge you $70 to tell you that it's not throwing any codes and that it needs a rebuild, which costs about $2k.

You can pull codes from the transmission. It's super easy.
http://www.twinturbo.net/nissan/300zx/t ... odiag.html

[t.mcginley.jr]

My bad by flush I meant drain and refill. Mine sure as hell wasn't serviced correctly or I wouldn't have metal bits on the magnet. Do the trans diagnostic like Ace said and see what you find.