2002 Nissan Sunny gear shifting problems

TAWANDA MUPINI

MEMBER
2002 NISSAN SUNNY
1.6L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
125,000 MILES

Automatic gearbox. Car shifts into first gear smoothly but will stall then jerk into the 2nd gear. Had gearbox and engine diagnoses done and then turned out faultless. Changed the transmission a oil (put in Castrol's Dexron II). Problem is still there and seems to be getting worse by the day. I googled the problem and some are even suggesting it could be an attenuator that needs replacing. Could this be so? Where do I locate this attenuator? Please help!

7 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,740 POSTS

When the engine stalls, does it feel like the car is trying to move but can't because your foot is on the brake? Basically, like a manual transmission would feel if you let the clutch out with your foot on the brake to hold it? Has the check engine light come on?

I believe there is a line pressure solenoid that can cause a hard shift, but it shouldn't cause the engine to stall.

Let me know.

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Thursday, December 18th, 2014 AT 5:19 AM

TAWANDA MUPINI

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3 POSTS

Thanks for the quick response.

The stalling is not with the engine, no, it is with the gear shifting. The engine runs normally. The stalling has to do with a delay in the gearbox changing into a higher gear. It feels as if the car drives too long in gear 1 before it shifts into the 2nd gear, and the shift is a sudden jerk and not the smooth transition. And no, the engine light is not on.
Where is the line pressure solenoid located, maybe checking and replacing it might solve the problem.

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Thursday, December 18th, 2014 AT 7:55 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

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109,740 POSTS

It is in the transmission. However, based on what you said, it sounds more like a shift solenoid, but I can't be sure without the check engine light being on.

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Thursday, December 18th, 2014 AT 8:46 AM

TAWANDA MUPINI

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Where is this solenoid located? I could try replacing it. Could it possibly be the transmission strainer that need replacement? I only changed the transmission oil so I do not quite know the state of the strainer.

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Thursday, December 18th, 2014 AT 9:44 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,740 POSTS

A plugged filter will lower line pressure in the transmission. As a result, it could cause the issue. As far as the shift solenoids, they are in the transmission.