How to diagnose auto S13 shifting problem?

[Fred Allen Burge]

Guys,
I have a 93 auto S13, ever since I bought it it has had an intermittent problem where the tranny won't shift up out of 1st gear when pulling away from a stop. It's pretty random as to when it will do it but I've been living with it for long enough to have noticed some pattern to it.

1. It never does it on the first stop light after the car has been sitting but will almost always do it on the second stop light. After that it won't usually do it again until then next day or after the car has sat for a number of hours.

2. When coming up to that second stop if I turn the car off then on again it will shift out of first just like normal after the light turns green.

3. While it's doing it (hanging in first) I can turn the ignition off/on quickly while rolling and it will go ahead and shift up and be fine.

4. Doesn't matter if the tranny is hot or cold.


Any thoughts on how to diagnose this problem? It shifts fine otherwise and holds gears properly w/o slipping....fluid is full and looks good....


And, on a possibly related issue my speedo has never worked, swapped to an analog cluster and it still doesn't work. Related?

Thanks for any advice,
Fred

[Howlermonkey]

Communicating with the ecu with a scantool should be your first thing to do.

I know the 1993 has limited diagnostics capability but it does have plenty of data to use which could point to the problem.

[DreamN]

Torque converter or your trans is slowly taking a shit.

Your speedo not working could be that your speed sensor isn't plugged in, cut wires, isn't working, or a faulty gauge cluster harness. Of course there are always other possibilities, but those are the main ones.

[Fred Allen Burge]

Originally Posted by Howlermonkey

Communicating with the ecu with a scantool should be your first thing to do.

I know the 1993 has limited diagnostics capability but it does have plenty of data to use which could point to the problem.

What scan tool do you recommend. It doesn't even have a regular OBDII style plug does it, different style of connector I think.

Fred

[projectRDM]

Nissan CONSULT or equivalent. Is the O/D off light on or flashing? There's a diagnostic procedure in the FSM to pull codes but if it hasn't tripped the light it's more likely mechanical, you can try a fluid flush and filter change to see if it helps.

[Fred Allen Burge]

Originally Posted by projectRDM

Nissan CONSULT or equivalent. Is the O/D off light on or flashing? There's a diagnostic procedure in the FSM to pull codes but if it hasn't tripped the light it's more likely mechanical, you can try a fluid flush and filter change to see if it helps.

I haven't noticed the OD light flashing but I'll pay attention to it tomorrow.

As far as the CONSULT stuff I'm looking at this :
eBay Motors: NISSAN ECU CONSULT OBD1 DATA CABLE 300ZX 240SX MAXIMA (item 280322849313 end time Apr-13-09 12:13:27 PDT)

Any one have personal experience with this guys stuff?

Fred