So I get stuck in the parking lot at school because there is half a cm of snow (don’t get me started :roll: ). I got out fine, without much hassle, as I carry a portable shovel (which all 240 owners should if they winter drive their cars). As I am on my way home I notice my rpm’s are pretty high. I have an auto btw. I stop at the light, and check for sequencing as I accelerate, only to find I can use 3rd>. I tried to think what would cause this. First thing I thought of was low ATF fluid. Checked it, it’s fine.
Here’s where it get’s weird.
From a stop, with the OD button in (which means I should have access to all 4 gears), I can go from 1st to 2nd, and that’s it. If I take the OD off while I’m in 2nd, it downshifts to ‘2nd’. I know it’s not 1st because I’m doing 60kph, and the rpm’s would have been huge.
So, with OD off, I have 1st and 2nd but no 3rd.
With OD on (in), I have 1st and 2nd, but no 3rd or 4th.
If I’m driving in 2nd and take OD off, I downshift to ‘2nd’ (I know it’s hard to understand, but that’s what happens).
If I’m driving in 2nd after performing the above, and put OD on, it still keeps me in 2nd.
After all this, I pull over yet again. I try to collect my thoughts of what would cause this, and what I should do next. I decide to continue on my way home, slowly, so my rpm’s don’t get too high. I pull away and notice I have access to all gears again.
With that said, any guesses what whould cause this?
I know this is long but any suggestions would be appreciated.
ive havent had the opportunity to trouble shoot and auto nissan, but i did have vw jetta that was automatic , and it would only stay in 3rd gear and would not change, if i manually put the automatic shifter in the 1-3 gears it would work but not automatically.
so i scanned the cars automatic computer since vw’s have a engine computer and a tranny computer. and i was not showing any rpms’s so bascially the automatic tranny computer was not seeing an rpm signal from the engine therfore staying in third, after some wiring and troubleshooting i fixed the rpm lead, cleared the codes and it works fine.
so what im trying to say is that if your problem persists it may be a electrical not a mechanical issue. now i know the ka24de uses the engine computer for the tranny too, so you might want to take it to nissan if the problem happens and get them to run consult too see whats the dilly.
I don’t think the Nissan computer has that much to do with the tranny. I’m pretty sure all it controls is lock up for the convertor.
Try a fluid and filter change/flush. This is supposed to be done every 30,000 miles (50,000km) or half that for severe duty (IE driving the snot out of it)
But you never know if or when the original owner did it.
By it not shifting up, it sounds like a check ball in the valve body is stuck shut.
Worse come to worse, if you’re going to end up putting an auto back in it, let me know, I have a low mile (< 130,000) auto tranny from a 95 S14.
It’ll save you big time on the $3Gs they’re going to want to charge ya.
Thanks man.
I’m going to get her checked out shortly. I’m getting a LOF, and I’ll get the tranny O and F changed too as a precaution. I’ll be in touch if they find anything in the case.
Well at least you can get a tranny for a decent price, if it makes you feel better my ex gf spilled tea on the tranny in my mom’s car (which I was using at the time) and it cost me 1600$$ to replace.
be very very very carefull if you get the tranny flushed. Alot of times in autos if the fluid has never been changed and its a high km tranny the bunk and dirt in the fluid actually creates a seal and when the fluid is flushed the seal goes and the tranny starts to slip. when i did this on my mazda it went from no 2nd gear to not moving an inch.
Totally true. As a precaution, if the fluid seems to come out really bad, ask them to add some stop leak or conditioner at the same time. If necessary flush it a second time. Sometimes the flush just moves the blockage somewhere else.
My buddy’s Neon has been running for years with a leaky tranny on just routine changes and stop-leak.
He basically drives it until it starts to slip, takes it back in to Mr Lube. They’ve been after him for years to change his tranny, but it’s a Neon, and really … $1,500 for a tranny swap vs $50 for fluid and conditioner.
If he swaps the tranny, the rest of the car might get jealous.
Is your OD light flashing three times when your car turns on? and then it stays on? If so, then your car is in “limp mode.”. Various factors cause it, but if you have any more info about what happened, please post it, as it could help.
One other thing to check is the Tranmission control harness. If its corroded and or not fitting properly, then the tranny may not shift out of gears 1 and or 2.
Did you get a remote starter installed recently? If they didnt plug the TCM harness correctly, this would cause your symptoms.
Thanks for the replies all.
I’ve had the tranny serviced before, and it was just about 2 years ago, so it’s about due I suppose.
I have not had the same problem since it happened, knock on wood. With any luck it was just a fluke, and regular service will do the trick. Here’s hoping anyways.