Nissan Repair: 2002 Nissan Xterra Auto Transmission, nissan xterra, diagnostic computer

Question
The other week my A/T Temp light flickered while driving on the highway. It was raining. It has not come on again. Now there is a slight rattle or maybe slight grinding noise when the truck is first put in drive or 1 or 2. I checked the transmission fluid level. It is fine, but at the end of dipstick there was some bits of ???? I rubbed them in my hand and could not tell if it was small bits of metal or dried bits of trani fluid. I fear I will need major work. Does this sound like I have transmission problems? Am I diognosing the symtems right?

Answer
Bryan,

I would change the fluid to see if that corrects the problem.  If that does not do the trick then you will have to get the transmission inspected for damage.  A transmission shop will have the diagnostic computer that can read the error code with the transmission.  A regular OBDII computer will not read the transmission codes.