weird transmission issue?

[evo462]

I have a 2002 Maxima with the 3.5 V6. I bought it with 123k miles on it as a trade in at a dealer. The carfax showed that it had been regularly serviced at the dealer by both previous owners. I'm pretty handy with a wrench and familiar with cars and this one seemed good to go during the look over and test drive. The car was exceptionally clean and smooth running, so I had no reservations.

I did notice one thing after about a month of driving though, which is what you all seem to refer to as "shock shift". Now, I might have noticed this had I gone wide open throttle during the test drive, but I didn't.

This is on the 1-2 shift, and usually when starting from a stand still going up hill, or pressing the gas a little heavier to take off and going to 3-3.5k RPM's or so, it seems a bit slow to get into 2nd. Sometimes when it does, it's rather "rough". Any other time, shifts as you'd expect a transmission to.

Also, at wide open throttle, it seems to hang for a second or two before dropping into 2nd gear @ ~4k RPM's or so, and kind of sit there for awhile. Never slips out of gear during the acceleration - it pulls surprisingly hard in fact. The 2-3 shift is fine, as is the 3-4.

The transmission fluid is pretty pink, and doesn't smell burnt or anything. For all I know, they changed it at the dealer before putting it out on the lot for sale. Now, I know 123k miles isn't exactly a "low mileage" vehicle, but from my research it seemed like the drivetrain, and the 3.5 motor in particular, is very good and should last me quite some time. I don't abuse the car, it's my daily driver and gets 75% highway mileage on a 33 mile rount trip commute daily.

[maxhopper]

I'd probably go ahead and drop the pan and check the magnets for metal debris. If that looks good, the drop resitor may be going out, there by raising the line pressure.

[jltibbs]

Even more so, you might look into a trans additive. I had the same issue with my 95. My mechanic dropped a synthetic additive in and the problem was gone.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Pretty much any transmission issue starts with a pan drop. However withall the electronic stuff on transmissons now its tough to diagnose.

[Torgus]

if i'm on a hill i get the 'clunk' thing too but only when starting and moving forward.

drop panreplace filterclean magnetsreplace gasketflush fluiduse good fluid

that's about all you can do.

I have a 2002 Maxima with the 3.5 V6. I bought it with 123k miles on it as a trade in at a dealer. The carfax showed that it had been regularly serviced at the dealer by both previous owners. I'm pretty handy with a wrench and familiar with cars and this one seemed good to go during the look over and test drive. The car was exceptionally clean and smooth running, so I had no reservations.

I did notice one thing after about a month of driving though, which is what you all seem to refer to as "shock shift". Now, I might have noticed this had I gone wide open throttle during the test drive, but I didn't.

This is on the 1-2 shift, and usually when starting from a stand still going up hill, or pressing the gas a little heavier to take off and going to 3-3.5k RPM's or so, it seems a bit slow to get into 2nd. Sometimes when it does, it's rather "rough". Any other time, shifts as you'd expect a transmission to.

Also, at wide open throttle, it seems to hang for a second or two before dropping into 2nd gear @ ~4k RPM's or so, and kind of sit there for awhile. Never slips out of gear during the acceleration - it pulls surprisingly hard in fact. The 2-3 shift is fine, as is the 3-4.

The transmission fluid is pretty pink, and doesn't smell burnt or anything. For all I know, they changed it at the dealer before putting it out on the lot for sale. Now, I know 123k miles isn't exactly a "low mileage" vehicle, but from my research it seemed like the drivetrain, and the 3.5 motor in particular, is very good and should last me quite some time. I don't abuse the car, it's my daily driver and gets 75% highway mileage on a 33 mile rount trip commute daily.

[A.Tech]

Yep it does sound like a drop resistor. lol Reminds me of a car where people do the drop resistor mod. haha. I was like. What the hell it sounds like your diff is messed up. lol Higher pressure my ***. lol

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Have u double checked your CV joints for leaks, tears etc?

[Torgus]

if it was teh DR it would happen every time the transmission shifter. not just the 1-2 shift.

to clarify it only happens on mine when going from a stop to accelerating on a hill. and it's rare.

[rb25det250sx]

i have a 08 impala that did the same thing.. drop the pan and replace the filer as sed before check the magnets and put a synthetic in it. . that should do the trick..

[rb25det250sx]

might wanna take it to a shop though and have it scanned.. the ecu sometimes keeps the transmission in lock..this is what happened to my cousins altima..stuck in 3rd gear..