z32 auto trans problem! please help!

[Raymond99]

so i bought a 1990 nissan 300zx z32. car seemed to run okay with few repairs needed like timing belt, spark plugs, water pump, and rad hoses.

the transmission has been running great except for a slightly jerky 1st to 2nd gear shift sometimes. overdrive worked great. 1 day on my way to school, i slow down to a stop, and as i slow down to about 5mph whilst still breaking the car jerked just a little. after the stop sign i proceed to accelerate(not racing or driving fast) the car seemed really sluggish. it acted like the car was in 2nd instead of 1st. this has been happening for almost a week and ive stopped driving the car because of it. the symptoms are.

car seems to have no 1st gear.
if i manually put the shifter in "1st" it still acts like 2nd but wont shift higher.
reverse works fine
the overdrive button no longer affects the transmission it seems. it lights up on dash but doesnt affect actions of transmission.

someone plz help. i do not yet wish to change transmissions because im low on funds.

could it be the tcu? maybe low fluids? im confused

[macgiver]

mac, car obviously not OBD II , but it should have a auto-trans "Diagnostic",utilizing simple sequences of "key in run , switched to acc , shift to D , gas pedal to floor , shift to 3,then 2,pedal to floor, shift to 1 pedal to floor -you need to get the EXACT sequence- I'm close here . Then MIL lamp will flash codes , my car similar w/ 1long and 11short means ALL OK.This checks basics w/electronics , TCM (Trans contlr.), solenoids -to a degree,etc.Mechanical/"Hard-parts" a whole nuther ball-game. Gotta start somewhere because your symptoms a very close to the proverbial Nissan/INFINITI "Hesitation" ailment in the MOTOR !

[Raymond99]

If you type that in a clear step by step please, I'm not the best at reading haha..

Also the shifter stays locked in park. Each time I put the car in park, I have to use the safety release on the front of the shifter in order to move the shifter. Happened at the same time as the other symptoms

[macgiver]

mac, the safety shifter problem woudn't probably affect the diagnostic "intro" , gotta just try. Also lookup your specific vehicle's Svc. manual in auto-trans section , but here's for my 93 J30 :warmed-up motor (3 min.idle OK,not needed to Full temp on gauge) - shut down and key OFF;key ON 2 sec. wait;key to ACC -shift to D;key to ON (gets a 2 sec.MIL Lt. on) ;shift to 3- then gas pedal to floor (WOT) ;shift to 2 - then shift to 1 -then pedal to floor ; WATCH MIL FLASH (first LONG -1/2 sec. and second and last series of flashes -SHORT-1/2 sec.) . Mine when Trans Diagnostic here is ALL OK is - 1 LONG and 11 SHORT. And I believe your 90 zx has same motor & trans -mine is VG30DE eng. and RE4R01A Trans. Good luck G 4/15/2018
p.s. If you get all short flashes , continously means eng./trans not yet warmed up / not run enough for diagnostics to initiate and be able to give results , run eng. a few more min's.

[Raymond99]

I'm sorry. That's still a jumble . But my trans code is : RE4R01A RC41

Where can I find the service manual online?

[NolimitZ32]

In my signature

[Raymond99]

I can't access it. Copyright BS on the page. Maybe a different link?

[Raymond99]

Also my car doesn't have a 3 on the shifter Please give a different list.

[NolimitZ32]

Yup, I just saw, hadn't heard till now, looks like the FSMs have been shut down. Try searching google.