Transmission shifting out of high gear

[kndmercer]

I have a 1995 Pathfinder with about 140,000 miles has run great however lately I have been having shifting issues. I have read through the threads on here and have not found anything that quite corners it for me.I have changed the fluid and have the original cooler on it but, wondering about any sensors that could be causing it. Any ideas for troubleshooting...the manual almost sounds like "limp in mode" is what I have going on. Any help is greatly appreciated!! Reverse runs fine and sometimes when I drive it I have no problem at all but, other times, and becoming more frequent, I will be driving down the road 65 mph and its like you shifted it out of overdrive and into 2nd gear. Going uphill or downhill, it has happened going either way. Then if you let off the gas the engine goes to idle (like you popped it into netural, no engine braking) and when you step back on the gas the engine races back as if there is no load on it until it reaches the RPM it was at when you let off the gas. It will not shift past 2nd gear, even after this. I even tried to slow down to about 20MPH and manually shift it into 1st, and it would not even shift down then. If I stop the truck and do not turn the engine off when you take off again its like you are in high gear or starting out in 2nd gear, it will never shift, at all, the whole time you are getting back to speed from a complete stop. Even if you manually shift it. If I stop the truck and shut it off for 10 seconds or so, re-start the truck, it shifts fine as you are getting back to speed, it will shift through all 4 gears. Sometimes it will down shift once in a 45 mile trip, and sometimes it happens every 5 miles. Today I tried something different when it shifted down, I shifted the truck into neutral, turned the key off, as I am running down the road at 65 mph, for about 10 seconds (kinda scary) restarted the truck, shifted back into drive, and never had a problem the rest of the way home, about 40 miles. Since the steering didn't lock, I just let it coast as I shut the engine off, and restarted it. I was still running about 50MPH, engine running, and shifted back into drive. Something else may or may not be relevant...the tac will only go up to 2k and hold steady. There is sometimes however when it will work fine to about 3500 and start bouncing erraticaly between 1k and 4k. The speedometer is not effected at all.

[5523Pathfinder]

Sounds like you could have a couple of issues. First I would check the ECM for codes, there is a How-To in the garage section. Off the bat, it sounds like maybe you have a Throttle position sensor giving you some issue. It is adjustable, but I would go to the FSM for the proper way to adjust it(feeler gauge and a voltmeter). If you have good fluid(full flush I would assume, and you used the right fluid), its possible your are kicking out of lockup for some reason. Could be a senor or solenoid. Are you running stock size tires? Speedometer doesnt freak out at all does it? Look around and make sure nothing is loose or disconnected(connectors, vacuum lines, ect), and go from there.

[Qx4donald]

This happened in my 91 Maxima... some deduced it could be solenoid pack(s), and some deduced it was on it's way to dying.

About a month, it just starting flaring and not "latching" into gear between teh 2-3 shift and then every gear a few days after that.

 

I didn't get it checked out, I just assumed the tranny was done.

I should have taken it into a tranny shop to check or swap out the solenoids for a few hundred $$ before spending about $2k on a "reconditioned" (what does that mean anyway? reconditioned?) transmission.

 

if you take it into a "reputable" tranny shop, you can tell them what you experience

If you take it into a AAMCO or some chain, try to force them to check your solenoids - for they will just say something to make you swap out or rebuild your tranny for $2k

Edited January 29, 2011 by Qx4donald

[kndmercer]

Thanks for your input finally got a chance to look at it and that is eexactly what it is solenoid #3 is out...all the info has been a great help now to find a replacement....any ideas there is only 1 place I can find online that sells them not sure if they are a good company or not. Hate buying electronic parts from someone I don't know

[kndmercer]

Thanks for your input finally got a chance to look at it and that is eexactly what it is solenoid #3 is out...all the info has been a great help now to find a replacement....any ideas there is only 1 place I can find online that sells them not sure if they are a good company or not. Hate buying electronic parts from someone I don't know