Any automatic gearbox experts out there?

Hi, I have a Nissan 200SX Turbo Automatic. It has a genuine 45k miles on the clock & has been well serviced & maintained & i love it to bits. Just recently i have started to have a problem with the auto box not changing into top gear but it only fails sometimes. If for example i join a motorway & floor the accelerator the car will accelerate hard but will not change into top gear. I also notice that the rev counter goes into freefall back to idle speed when i lift my foot off the gas rather than maintaining a higher RPM, this means that when you want to carry on accelerating or just get the power back on then the revs have to rise from idle to reach the road speed.There appears to be no engine braking at all. It doesn't do it all the time either, sometimes after gentle cruising i will want it to change to top gear & it wont. I have noticed that if i pull over & switch off then re-start everything is back to normal & it will happily change into top gear. I have no other problems with the auto box, everything else is as smooth as silk. Although the car has service history i'm not sure when the auto transmission fluid was last changed, i understand that auto boxes like a fresh oil change now & again, i have checked the oil levels & everything is ok. I also believe that this car has sensors linked to the auto box so maybe one of these is playing up which might explain why after a switch-off & restart everything is ok. Can anybody advise please of offer any input?...Or recommend an auto gearbox specialist near to Kent or South East London. Regards, Keith.

Reply to
Capt. Beefheart
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It sounds like an electrical problem in the auto brain/sensors. First check I would make is charging. Next is a Nissan dealer to get the codes read

Reply to
mrcheerful

The owners club forum

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is an excellentsource of information and you may be able to find someone local with aconsult cable to check any fault codes stored in the ecu without theexpense of going to nissan.

Reply to
James Grabowski

Hi Keith,

It sounds like you have an electrical fault, by turning off the ignition you are resetting the gearbox control unit. Do you have any fault lights illuminating on the dashboard ? What year is your Nissan

200SX. When the gearbox stays in 3rd (and wont go into 4th) does it shift 3,2,1 and then 1, 2, 3 ok when you slow down and then speed up or does it appear to stay in one gear only (ie 3rd ) so when you try to pull away it feels all slugish ?

If you can give me a few more details I'll see if I can help you.

Take care.

Lee.

Reply to
bill

Hi Lee & thank-you for your offer of help. I shall answer your questions to the best of my knowledge.

Its a N reg Nissan S14 200sx Turbo automatic with overdrive with full service history & 45k miles. As the engine & gearbox were so smooth & had much life in them i fitted a turbo boost valve & air induction kit then had it set-up & serviced at an Essex tuners recommended from a Jap car tuning mag. They reported that the mechanicals were all in excellent condition. Warning lights....I'm not sure..I notice that when i switch on the ignition & all the warning lights come up the O/D (overdrive light) keeps blinking for a few seconds after all the others have gone out. The problem: The gearbox is not going into 4th but only sometimes, especially if driven hard. It doesn't happen all the time but when it does its like depressing the clutch in a manual car, the revs will drop to idle speed. If i drive the car without giving it stick it will happily change up & down the gears all day as smooth as you like. When this fault happens i notice that if i pull over, switch off then restart everything is fine until the next time it happens. I noticed something from your email too....Yes it does appear sometimes to pull away in 2nd or 3rd (certainly not 1st) after slowing down to a standstill. You have just brought this to my attention. A few people have made suggestions, here they are.

1) Check/change transmission fluid as it could be 12 years old (the age of the car) 2) Because i have boosted the power & everything's works electronically i have upset things between the engine/gearbox electricals/switches. 3) The Transmission fluid is getting hot & thinning causing problems. 4) The gearbox is knackered...I find this hard to believe, it's only done 45k..or i don't want to.. as Nissan make a very good autobox...apparently. I love this car, i nearly bought a 15k Merc but i got sensible & paid £3400 for this car & although it does not handle too well & is a bit impractical in the seating department i love this car to bits. I chose auto because that's all 'er indoors can drive & it's bliss in traffic queues. If it needs another box i will get one but please tell me it doesn't! Email me personally if you like... if that's the done thing. Thanks Lee. Kindest Regards, Beefheart.
Reply to
Capt. Beefheart

take it back to the tuners and get them to run a diagnostic check on it

Reply to
steve robinson

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