5 Speed Auto Transmission Issue Or Is It?

[o2bfit]

I've noticed since I got the 300GT, that occasionally, maybe once a week, when I shift it from Reverse to Drive, it will pause slightly before engaging.

So when I am reversing out of a carpark and I put it into Drive and accelerate slowly to get it around, it will hesitate for about a second and you get a light jolt. It only ever done this when the car was cold and had been sitting for a while. The transmission normally drives and shifts fine.

A web search gave me differing opinons; from it is normal as fluids need time and heat to work properly, worn shifter bushing, faulty solenoid to impending disaster.

I contacted Nissan and they suggested to do a service as this problem could be caused by dirty transmission oil. The oil level was good and the colour was a bright purple. Nissan did a service (flush, 9L Matic J, conditioner) and also informed me there were no error codes from the TCM. Problem is still there.

So does anyone else experience similar issues and is this likely to end up fatal?

Thanks

[fcruz3r]

you shouldn't need to accelerate hard from reverse to D anyway.

and never rev the car hard after it's been sitting for a while.

just take it easy...if it drives fine when warmed up then dont worry about it.

[zei20l]

yup mine does it. i know a few other M35s that also do it too

[t5iv]

i always put it in neutral for a sec or two after being in reverse, then into drive.

I was told if you go straight from R to D, you could blow the torque converter.

[ajc300gt]

Mine does exactly the same when cold, I wouldn't be too fussed with it if gear change etc is fine.

I'll take your advice, stick it in N for a sec before D.

Best to give it 30 seconds to warm up before reversing too.

i always put it in neutral for a sec or two after being in reverse, then into drive.

I was told if you go straight from R to D, you could blow the torque converter.

[o2bfit]

In the skyline/G35 forums, there is mention that grounding cables improve the gear shifting capability of the 5 speed transmission. Has anyone tried these to see whether it improves the engagement issue?

Also, an annoyance of the transmission in the 300GT 5 speed is its need to get into top gear quickly, obviously to improve fuel consumption. Is this a 300GT trait or does the 5 speed transmissions in 350GT and Stagea also experience the same thing?

[Blade NZ]

Also, an annoyance of the transmission in the 300GT 5 speed is its need to get into top gear quickly, obviously to improve fuel consumption. Is this a 300GT trait or does the 5 speed transmissions in 350GT and Stagea also experience the same thing?

Yeah I've noticed this as well but only in normal drive mode. Switch it to power mode and it behaves better, holding all gears longer, but obviously economy suffers a tad.

[scotty nm35]

I'm in the process of designing a circuit to take "manual" control of the 5 speed auto and ditching the stock control module. I would like to have direct paddle shift gear changes as i'm sick of the time it takes for it to decide what gear I want, even in manual mode. The shift kit I installed helped the gear change speed but not the ecu gear selection speed.

[zei20l]

im guessing youll sell plenty of units if you can make that scotty, the slushbox behind my VQ is poor at shifting with speed

[t5iv]

Also, an annoyance of the transmission in the 300GT 5 speed is its need to get into top gear quickly, obviously to improve fuel consumption. Is this a 300GT trait or does the 5 speed transmissions in 350GT and Stagea also experience the same thing?

Isn't that the purpose of any automatic car though?

To basically get you up into a high gear and keep your revs low, so a) your not revving the ass out of it and b) so you maintain fuel.

I was under the impression that thats why people came up w. tiptronic. To make it 'fun'

Ive got the GT8 and on the motorway at 110, its in 8th speed but if I was in tip mode I could easily be sitting in 3rd (with a heck of a lot more torque down there as well )

Personally, peak hour it stays in drive. other times I have a bit of fun. Yeah it chews more fuel but the VQ loves it!

[chad bob]

Mine has the 5spd auto and it never goes in drive unless I'm in a 50KPh zone. I always keep it in tiptronic, I think that being able to select the correct gear for a hill before hand instead of letting the automatic get lost in it's decision making process is a more economic driving style for me.

If I leave it in drive mode, I find that I'm more likely to tramp the gas in order to force it to make up it's mind about what gear is required faster.