Nissan Repair: Transmission?, nissan maxima gle, forward gears

Question
Hi,
I’ve read thru your Q’s & A’s but haven’t found the answer to my problem. My daughter has a ’97 Maxima GLE that would stall when moving the car from a stopped position. In testing I found that if I was easy on the throttle the car would stall at 1100 rpm. It is more noticeable in reverse because going forward you could play with the throttle and get past 1100 rpm. The car runs well on the open road and there are no MIL codes.
I went through the engine sensors, cleaned and adjusted the throttle (using the .012” & .016” go & no go test), replaced the IACV, with no difference. Also when a stall occurred I could smell gas, which indicated to me that the ignition was being cut off. Since the stall doesn’t occur in park or neutral I looked towards the transmission and ran a stall test. Once past the 1100 mark all gears would rev to 2100 and halt. There was no engine stall and I’m not sure if the test was okay. Anyway I decided to change the transmission fluid, (4 qts) which was dark but not burned. I immediately lost the stall in the forward gears and the reverse stall improved.. I drove 100 miles and changed 4 more qts of transmission fluid and got more improvement, after another 200 miles did the same again. The car still has a slight hesitation at 1100 when in reverse. Will this eventually cure itself or is there a solenoid or pump that I can get at and clean. (I’m not a auto tech, I just change my oil and brake pads.)
I would appreciate any suggestions and any critique of my trouble shooting. Its no fun climbing a Oak tree looking for apples.
Hugh

1997 Nissan Maxima GLE
3.0 Engine
Automatic
136,000 miles
Fuel injection
PS _ A/C _ Cruise control
Hugh


Answer
Hugh,

You are doing the right thing and I would probably do another drain and fill of the fluid.  No need to change the filter as it appears that the transmission was locking two gears at once.  First and second come to mind.  The valve body was gummed up and you have done the correct thing getting things cleaned up.  If the stall in reverse is the only problem I would do one more change and leave it.  Otherwise it is transmission diagnostics time and I would take it to Cottman Transmissions or your favorite local transmission specialist.  But, all things being equal lead me to leave it alone after another change of fluid.  Remember that Nissan uses a screen and not really a filter so when the fluid gums up the valve body sticks.  Let me know if you need more.