bassmann

Hi, the car will not accelerate on a small incline after a stop. I have to floor it and burn rubber then the car starts to accelerate. Also if I take my foot off the brake pedal the car will roll backwards really fast on a small incline it never did this before. Its an automatic transmission. The car drives great only if I dont stop. Please help if you can.

JvG

Perhaps you are low on transmission fluid due to a leak.

The engine can't force fluid through the torque converter if there isn't enough of it..

Pull the dips tick and take a reading. How low is it.


Also, the color and smell of the transmission fluid indicates transmission condition.

Is it red, pink, brown , black? Any water or grit?

How would you describe the smell?

If filling the transmission to the correct level doesn't solve the problem, you probably need a new transmission.

JoshG

How many miles do u have? Generally the transmission fluid never really needs to be touched unless your over 250k miles, flushing it would be a bad thing.

Maxgig

iTrader: (5)

JoshG I have to disagree with you on the 250k mile oil change, (if that's what you were suggesting). IMO if you wait that long to change your trans fluid you're just asking for trouble. While I'm not saying change it like you'd change your oil, I would suggest at least every 50k miles for an automatic.

I have a cvt and Nissan says the fluid is good for 100k miles. I checked mine at 50k miles and didn't like the color or smell so I changed it, than I did it again at 100k miles.

My 97 SE was a stick and I changed the fluid in it every 30k miles, (sold it at 148k) but then again I drive all my cars hard. You also need to consider the type of climate you live in, (very hot, very cold) the type of driving you do, and if there are lots of hills too.

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

This is clearly not the recommended maintenance for a transmission in a 4th gen Maxima.

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

This isn't going to happen if the trans was indeed very low on fluid. Once it's starts to slip, or the TQ doesn't have adequate liquid in it and the clutch packs lose pressure, there's no burning rubber anymore.

Post makes no sense if you ask me.

JvG

Josh, while a transmission flush done by using a machine might cause problems, a simple drain and refill with fresh fluid would not. Repeating the process three times changes out most of the fluid.

bassmann

The fluid is good and level. Once the car is hot it drives great. I'm stumped.

subwayhello

need more information on the symptoms you face... how many revs does it get up to, same symptoms from starting at a stop sign/light?
any similar issues to those found in this thread ?

JoshG

So a simple drain and refill doesn't hurt it but flushing will? I mis-understood that.. I had my car since 125k, now at 143k 3 years later still no problems at all. I probably should do a drain and fill at 160k. I dont drive the car that hard at all. Sometimes I do but not excessively.

thought mixing new fluid with old fluid will cause issues? is that the case or no?

JvG

A flush involves hooking the trans up to a machine which forces fluid through it. Some say this causes problems.

A drain and fill removes a portion of the fluid. About 1/3. New fluid replaces the old fluid. This dilutes the old fluid. This process is repeated two more times. Eventually about 90 percent of the old fluid is replaced. It a gentle process.

What most people do is never service the transmission. So the fluid gets old an nasty. This sometimes clogs the valve body and other passeges.

When the transmission finally acts up, sometimes people flush the transmission. Then add new fluid. The already messed up transmission was going to fail anyway, but people blame the fluid.

A drain and fill done at the same time as an oil change is easy to do. Do it again the next oil change. Then a third time. Then run the car 30k miles, repeat.

bassmann

on the first rev it will catch from a stop.

bumpypickle

iTrader: (1)

Best thing you can do right now is change your fluid. If that doesn't help then I would start looking for another car before yours stops getting you from point a to b.

max ride 41

iTrader: (4)

if the fluid has never been changed, it's possible it needs it. the front 6-7 quarts is a good place to start but it sounds like your torque converter is on its way out to me. generally a transmission needs to warm up, but not for long so i'd say have a shop you trust ( transmission shop ) check it out b4 you get stuck somewhere. jvg is probably spot on, any metal in your fluid, or burnt fluid is an indicator of a shot tranny and a replacement can be had used for around 300-400.00 plus labor.

JoshG

If i were you I would go to a transmission shop like max ride said, and have them take a look as soon as possible. If u do it now it will probably prevent any serious damage to the transmission; but if it does go out it'll be a couple hundred to replace I'm assuming. which isn't too bad. Either way.