Ok, I am still learning about motors and trying to learn how to identify problems. Well my friend has a Maxima with an automatic tranny. When he first turns on his car, if he puts it in gear, it will die. He can keep it in park or put in neutral and nothing will happen. I know it has to do with his transmission, but what could it be. Is it total failure, or is something slipping? After his car warms up, it seems to do alright, but when he drives, every so often he will accelerate and it will come out of gear causing him to rev the engine. Any ideas? Thanks.
-kev

 

Low idle and possibly something wrong with "choke" system on car. I put quotes on choke cause I don't know on nissans if they have FITV, IAC, etc.

 

Can you explain. I seriously am learning as we speak. When it is in park or neutral it idles at about 12-1300, and as it warms up it goes down to about 800-1000rpms. Why does it start to run ok when it warms up?
-kev

 

Sounds like the front or rear clutch is slipping.

Take out the transmission dip stick and smell the ATF, if it smells burnt, that's the problem. Flush the ATF and see if that fixes the problem.

If it doesn't, you'll need to replace the clutches.

 

What's the ATF? Is that Automatic Transmission Fluid. Because that was my first guess. Ok, see I was kinda thinking it was his clutch slipping, but I wasn't sure how an automatic tranny worked.
-kev