still not shifting right

[fastpathy35]

Okay, different transmission and torque converter, same starting signs
Shifts are just not normal. They take twice as long as they should. No codes. What else could it be? The tcm...? And I did a full flood flush on the first transmission and of course used all new fluid after putting second one in. I

[fastpathy35]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f58mnRJR6Uk[/youtube]

[Towncivilian]

That definitely is delayed somewhat.

What fluid did you fill the trans with?

Tried cleaning the MAF sensor? Changed the fuel filter in the past two years?

[fastpathy35]

Changed fuel filter two days ago. Haven't cleaned MAF sensor in a few years. Castrol import high mileage. Or whatever it is. Same stuff I used at 70k miles.

[Pathfound49]

Leadfootitis may have a bit to do with it. When my tach shoots up that quick, the shifting gets delayed as well.

On a serious note. If you live in a cold weather climate, the trans fluid has to reach a certain temperature before the shifting is quick/smooth. i can't tell from your profile.

[fastpathy35]

It used to always shift to second quick and crisp. This video was taken last night and it was ~ 60° outside. I live in north Georgia. I'm almost certain this is not a transmission problem since it was happening with the one I pulled and also with this one. It may be something associated with the transmission but I have doubts its the unit itself. I have no codes, no CeL, the OD light isn't on or flashing. There's nothing in the computer to tell me there's an issue. But I can't afford to burn up another transmission..

[fastpathy35]

Running PIDS on the handheld, it was saying the engine was at 59% load with me barely pressing the throttle. And timing was adjusted to 28°… I found those a little odd.

[Towncivilian]

WOT has shifts quick and firm for me too. I'm using Castrol Transmax Import Multi-Vehicle as well.

I have weeks of Torque logs you can pore over, with these items logged: engine load, engine timing advance, absolute throttle position, engine RPMs, engine coolant temperature, speed (GPS and OBD), and intake air temperature.

Timing advance of 28 through 32 degrees I see common. Engine load isn't directly related to throttle position; other things such as electrical load and A/C come into play here too.

I wish we could see the transmission temperature via ODB2... since you're so hard on the trans, perhaps an auxiliary transmission cooler in-line with the stock cooler would be a wise idea. A B&M 70264 is rated at 24,000 GVW and should fit fine - my thinner 70268 (19k GVW) fits with plenty of room to spare.

[fastpathy35]

I can look at everything. Injector rate coolant temp fuel trim short term and long....anything that there's a sensor to tell...I'm not positive it showed the transmission temp now that I recall. I was thinking the timing was a little off for some reason. Everything else appeared fine. The engine load was pretty much coasting flat road at 50mph. No AC just headlights fogs and markers. You know, the legal requirements. Haha. But I didn't have anything on or running so that I was able to hear for irregularities. l consider getting an additional cooler but for now I need to fix the problem.. engine load read 12% when rolling downhill, and of course 100% @wot.

[Towncivilian]

Have you tried resetting the ECU by disconnecting the negative battery terminal for a minute or two?

I probably can't see trans temp since 2WD transmissions don't have a temperature sensor, oddly enough. What is your trans temp driving around town and driving on the highway?

My Chilton online link isn't working, else I'd look for TSBs relating to any transmission irregularities. I'm pretty sure there aren't any for an '03 Pathfinder though. What year is the transmission from?

[fastpathy35]

2004 for the replacement, yeah battery was unhooked for two days. It was really bad during first drive. It bounced off rev limiter between gears. I edited my last post. Looking back I can't remember if it showed transmission temp. And the replacement has 91k miles on it. Fluid out of it looked great and the magnet in the tray was almost spotless. Its under warranty but again, I don't think the actual transmission was ever the problem, just collateral damage.

[Towncivilian]

Did you clean the stock cooler before installation? See NTB00-056b - 1988 AND LATER NISSAN VEHICLES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER CLEANING.

Perhaps you should have used the 04's TCM, I dunno.

[yngw13]

yikes...almost redlined

keep us updated what it is

[fastpathy35]

I didn't do that. I'll try it tomorrow I guess. I no longer have a garage to get out of the rain. I actually stopped and talked to a friend and asked it I could put pressure through the cooler to force stuff out. Now I know. I'm hoping for ten best. I just cleaned MAF sensor haven't tried it yet.

[zach7685]

A K&N filter can do a number to a MAF

[Pathfound49]

A K&N filter can do a number to a MAF

Agreed. Anything that needs to be oiled shouldn't be in there. I had a fram airhog filter in for a while and i swear it ran worse.

[fastpathy35]

Cleaning MAF sensor didn't help. I'm going to flush my cooler after work. Has anyone ever had to replace their tcm or solenoid pack?

[Towncivilian]

Mine have been fine. TCM replacement was a requirement for certain '01 MY transmissions affected by shift flare issues, but unless you caught this early and had it done under warranty by Nissan it's a very costly fix as you have to replace the TCM alone (still expensive) or the TCM and the lower valve body (IIRC).

If you can track down an '04 TCM inexpensively, you should try that first.

[fastpathy35]

I broke down and dropped it off at a transmission shop. Guess work will just stress me out too much. I can get a tcm for ~$140. I can still get the one off the vehicle the transmission came from.

[Pathfinder3.5]

Something is definitely up. Doesn't seem too bad. I had a bad case of 'leadfoot' too..especially with the SRI intake. I could chrip the tires shifting to second on a good day. Let us know what the transmission shop says!

[fastpathy35]

4lo barks second every time stupid, I know..I hope to find out this afternoon. I'll definitely keep you all posted that way if anyone ever has the same issues, there's something to help answer questions.

[fastpathy35]

They called and said it was just low on fluid and said its fine. I checked the fluid before I ever pulled it out of the garage, but I gave the the benefit of the doubt. I get there and drive it, same thing. So I took them for a ride to show them the issue

[Towncivilian]

5 bucks they didn't even check the fluid properly.

[fastpathy35]

$20 says they didn't have any idea anything was wrong and made something up. I've been to two other mechanics and they thought it was fine. So I figured an actual transmission place was the next step.

[Pathfinder3.5]

I've watched it a few times and kept an eye on your tach and speedo and it seems that it's slipped ever so slightly on the 1-2 shift.

[fastpathy35]

That's it. Its slipping between gears. If the sound was better you could hear the engine slowly bogging down to 2nd.

[fastpathy35]

When flushing the cooler, how much fluid should come out? I took the lines off and ran pressure through it like the instructions said. Just a few ounces came out. Notucj at all..

[Towncivilian]

There shouldn't be too much fluid in the cooler. Did any crud come out of the cooler?

[fastpathy35]

Nissan dealer says transmission is bad that fourth gear is shot. I couldn't get fourth gear to act up before they got it nor after they had it. I don't understand where they found fourth gear isn't working at all. All the gears work, the torque converter locks up, it's just always in smooth granny shift mode.

On a side note, the service advisor said this was a common issue, I began to talk about how I've not seen any information on forums or anywhere on the internet for that matter that says our pathfinders have poor transmissions. And she began to tell me how stupid forums are because people come in acting like they already know what's wrong with their cars. I wasn't trying to diagnose, I was simply stating if it was a common problem, as much as people like to whine and moan, there would be something somewhere o find that. Nothing on here, on all data, Google search, just the dealer.

The transmission holds every gear without issue, and when just being a Sunday driver, its fine ,shifts normal, but its when its under a load it doesn't firm up.

[fastpathy35]

No crud from cooler.