5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)Learn more about the 5th Generation Maxima, including the VQ30DE-K and VQ35DE engines.
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manually up shifting and down shifting your auto has nothing to do with that then??
i mean it is one was of sending your tranny to poop town... but if not then i stand corrected
Manually downshifting (especially into 1st) wears out the clutch packs but manually upshifting won't hurt the transmission-full line pressure shifts=less slip and overlap.
Regularly changing your ATF is the best thing you can do to take care of your transmission.
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2002 Maxima SE, NWP block plate, GAB, K&N panel filter, Vibrant FSTB, grounding kit.
Manually downshifting (especially into 1st) wears out the clutch packs but manually upshifting won't hurt the transmission-full line pressure shifts=less slip and overlap.
Regularly changing your ATF is the best thing you can do to take care of your transmission.
I just finished dealing with the same issue with the same gears, 2nd to 3rd. I have a full 3.5 swap & noticed my tranny not shifthing correctly so I first drained & refilled the fluid only to still have the same problem. When I drained the fluid I noticed that it was very dark & had a burned smell so i hoped that fresh fluid would take care of it, but it did'nt. So i dropped the pan to change the filter screen & in the pan, attached to the two magnets were larger that normal metal shavings. thats when i knew that something was really wrong. I just picked up a tranny from the junk yard for 550.00 with 29,000 miles on it and called it a day.
One thing tho, i noticed the TSB on this problem only covered the 00-01 models...why did it not include the 02/03 if they suffer from the same problems?
Noticed an interestin thing... (will order new TCM)
Today I noticed another thing that was wierd about my tranny (probably TCM problem)
...I noticed that it doesn't miss-shifts through 2-3 when I drive through a pretty decent elevated road (or a hill). It does wiggles a little bit but it sure does shifts better then on the flat pavemet. I guess there's probably another proof that it's my bad TCM, not sure.
Well I'm ordering a new TCM from DaveB in a couple of days. Don't know how much that would cost me but I will go for it, and hope that would fix it.
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I emailed him lastweek, for my 02 its $495. Im going to order one in a few days too...cross my fingers that it fixes the problem
Quote:
Originally Posted by shurik
Today I noticed another thing that was wierd about my tranny (probably TCM problem)
...I noticed that it doesn't miss-shifts through 2-3 when I drive through a pretty decent elevated road (or a hill). It does wiggles a little bit but it sure does shifts better then on the flat pavemet. I guess there's probably another proof that it's my bad TCM, not sure.
Well I'm ordering a new TCM from DaveB in a couple of days. Don't know how much that would cost me but I will go for it, and hope that would fix it.
Well my TCM is on the way, should have it in a few days. I'll let u guys know how it all turns out...and if it doesnt prove to be the tcm (and i wasted 500 bucks) im not going to be happy ;p Oh, BTW my cars production date is July/01. Does anyone know when production of the 02's started?
^^^^ Have no idea about the production dates. But hey I ordered mine last week, hopefully it will be here this week by friday. ....And yeah hope that I didn't waste my $500 as well.
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To be honest, if this fixes the problem ill be happier then a pig in ****, i might even send u a couple of bucks, maby 10 not 20 hehe
Yeah lol if it fixes the problem Jason I'm sending you $10-20 something like that lol
Jason if it will work, you can even stop by and collect the price yourself =)
Well my TCM came in today!
Need to find out what's the proper procedure for it.
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Well, be sure to let us know :P I dont even want to look and see if yours fixes it or not, if it doesnt then im going to ve nervous to recieve mine hahha
Quote:
Originally Posted by shurik
Yeah lol if it fixes the problem Jason I'm sending you $10-20 something like that lol
Jason if it will work, you can even stop by and collect the price yourself =)
Well my TCM came in today!
Need to find out what's the proper procedure for it.
Alright, sounds pretty simple. So the TCM is located somewhere behind the middle dash, where the ac/controls are, right?
behind the headunit....under the airbag unit...you will see what i mean after you look at the new TCM.
just remember to unplug the battery or you could fry the new TCM when you install it
behind the headunit....under the airbag unit...you will see what i mean after you look at the new TCM.
just remember to unplug the battery or you could fry the new TCM when you install it
Ok thanks Jason! Will try doing this these weekends!
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Well ok, I changed the TCM today! ....and IT DID NOT WORK!!! ...I'm really not happy, not happy at all with this stupid transmission!!!! It really did seem like it was my bad TCM, but I guess it's not.
I guess the problem is with the tranny salinoids then. That's the only thing that some people mentioned about it if it's not TCM.
...now I'm going to go replace it back with the old one. =(
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The other thing besides the TCM and solenoids is the valve body if the fluid is red and unburnt.
How can I know/check that??
I think I should've gone to the dealer the first time to run the proper diagnostic so they could tell for sure what realy causing it, but I don't know.
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1. Check fluid
2. Accelerator pedal position sensor (TPS) adjustment
3. Line pressure test
4. Control valve assembly
Vehicle off-
1. High clutch
2. Forward clutch
3. Some gears also check brake band (1-2, 3-4 shifts)
I can't find the section about the valve body, but it said if the fluid is clean and unburnt but the car slips on upshifts, the TCM, shift solenoids and valve body are all suspect, plus what is listed above.
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2002 Maxima SE, NWP block plate, GAB, K&N panel filter, Vibrant FSTB, grounding kit.
well i installed my new tcm yesterday. Im happy to report that the flare on the 2-3 upshift i was getting is gone. Still seems to flare a bit when cold, but is completely gone once the tranny warms up (whereas before it would flare all day). Im going to assume that the flare while cold is normal (and if it isnt, im just going to keep driving it until it blows up Thanks for the input guys
well i installed my new tcm yesterday. Im happy to report that the flare on the 2-3 upshift i was getting is gone. Still seems to flare a bit when cold, but is completely gone once the tranny warms up (whereas before it would flare all day). Im going to assume that the flare while cold is normal (and if it isnt, im just going to keep driving it until it blows up Thanks for the input guys
I'm happy to hear that yours worked! Wierd how we have the same problem with the tranny and my new TCM didn't fix it ...Now I don't think Dave B will take the electronics back sence it wansn't the problem with my TCM.
I guess I'm gonna try to sell it here on the org! ...but anyway I look at it I'm going to loose money for what I bought it.
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I was meaning to start a thread with a review but Ill just add to this.
I had the same issues as the OP and decided I would start with what some say is the last resort. I pulled my valve body and took it in to http://www.txchange.com/ for a Transgo shift kit (http://www.transgo.com/rpg_nissan.php). The reason I did this first is because it was something that I wanted to do even if it didnt fix the slipping. I was then going to get the solenoids and/or TCM next. But as it turns out, it fixed my flaring from 2-3 and now I have quick, firm shifts. No more slipping, period. This thing kicksdown quick when given some throttle and shifts great through the gears.
The kit comes with detailed instructions but as for something this complex I left it to the pros. I was billed $360 for the rebuild. Something like $135 for the kit and $225 for labor. I imagine it is similar to Maxtuning's VB mod and close to the same price. Any good tranny shop should be able to install this kit.
There are a couple of seals and springs in the box that are internal to the tranny but I haven't had an issue yet without them (knock on wood). It also comes with a cork type pan gasket but its kind of folded around the inside of the box and I already had an OEM gasket so I didnt use it.
I would definitely recommend a VB mod for all automatics and especially those that may have slipping. I cant guarantee that it will fix it but you will want it anyways for when your tranny does get fixed.
Link to write up for pulling VB. http://www.vqpower.com/v2/articles.php?article_id=60 I think the red bolt with the ground on the bottom of the picture for step 6 does not need to be removed to pull the VB. I cant remember for sure.
VB all cleaned and rebuilt:
Whats left in the box:
And of course the HP adding sticker:
Last edited by Reizy; 01-09-2009 at 08:13 PM.
Reason: fix broken link
I've been thinking about the Transgo kit too. I've put shift kits in GM TH-350s before but the kit my Maxima seems far more complex so if I go that route, I will probably have someone else do the work.
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2002 Maxima SE, NWP block plate, GAB, K&N panel filter, Vibrant FSTB, grounding kit.
Bown down biatch
As long as you don't beat on your car constantly and do regular maintenance you should get 200k+ miles out of your drivetrain.
hehe
...I'm really not happy, not happy at all with this stupid transmission!!!! 
It really did seem like it was my bad TCM, but I guess it's not. 
Thanks for the input guys
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