Auto Gearbox

[1peter]

I took the Patrol (4.5 GU petrol) for another run today and noticed that the auto tends to stay in what i consider too high a gear sometimes ? It is reluctant to change down to 1st or 2nd gear when climbing steep roads unless you deliberately kick down hard on the pedal. I found myself having to manually change back to 2nd or 1st gear numerous times just so the engine would not labour (or what i consider to be labouring). Another time while on the bitumen climbing a small range (the Diagular range for those near Caboolture) i felt like the auto should have dropped back another gear but it just stayed in 4th (i think) and didn't have any pickup. I would have needed to change back a gear manually or kick the pedal down hard for it to go anywhere. Is this just me ? Or is this just how auto Patrols drive ? It is the 1st 4X i have owned and have only hade it a couple of weeks and i understand it is a heavy vehicle. I have tried the power switch and made sure the overdrive button was not on etc. Any thoughts appreciated, especially from other 4.5 owners.

[Bigrig]

I took the Patrol (4.5 GU petrol) for another run today and noticed that the auto tends to stay in what i consider too high a gear sometimes ? It is reluctant to change down to 1st or 2nd gear when climbing steep roads unless you deliberately kick down hard on the pedal. I found myself having to manually change back to 2nd or 1st gear numerous times just so the engine would not labour (or what i consider to be labouring). Another time while on the bitumen climbing a small range (the Diagular range for those near Caboolture) i felt like the auto should have dropped back another gear but it just stayed in 4th (i think) and didn't have any pickup. I would have needed to change back a gear manually or kick the pedal down hard for it to go anywhere. Is this just me ? Or is this just how auto Patrols drive ? It is the 1st 4X i have owned and have only hade it a couple of weeks and i understand it is a heavy vehicle. I have tried the power switch and made sure the overdrive button was not on etc. Any thoughts appreciated, especially from other 4.5 owners.

Not how they should drive, but you hit the two obvious ones (overdrive button and E/AT button). Seems a bit odd as when I hit the E/AT to power, I barely have to touch the pedal for it to kick back a gear ...

Sorry mate - not sure on this one, but no doubt someone else may have a solution or recommendation.

[1peter]

Thanks , Bigrig. I'm not having much luck with this Nissan.

[Sir Roofy]

I took the Patrol (4.5 GU petrol) for another run today and noticed that the auto tends to stay in what i consider too high a gear sometimes ? It is reluctant to change down to 1st or 2nd gear when climbing steep roads unless you deliberately kick down hard on the pedal. I found myself having to manually change back to 2nd or 1st gear numerous times just so the engine would not labour (or what i consider to be labouring). Another time while on the bitumen climbing a small range (the Diagular range for those near Caboolture) i felt like the auto should have dropped back another gear but it just stayed in 4th (i think) and didn't have any pickup. I would have needed to change back a gear manually or kick the pedal down hard for it to go anywhere. Is this just me ? Or is this just how auto Patrols drive ? It is the 1st 4X i have owned and have only hade it a couple of weeks and i understand it is a heavy vehicle. I have tried the power switch and made sure the overdrive button was not on etc. Any thoughts appreciated, especially from other 4.5 owners.

peter try the power button with the overdrive button on
the way you discribe the way you are going up hill the power button should drop back a gear straight away
and power up the hill,i sugest that if you have a manual for it to sit down and read it ,section 4 pages12-13
good luck

[Ade]

I am not sure on TB but on my TD, just a slight adjustment to the TPS would obviously change how the gears changes.

[1peter]

I took the Patrol to a respected auto specialist and he agreed with me about the lack of power and having to stamp on the pedal to knock it back a gear, it certainly goes ok if you get agressive with it. He happened to own the same model patrol as mine but said he never drives it, it's the wifes car. He said he would make a point of driving his and see if they are the same, other than that he had no idea ??

[Clunk]

well after my years up years of experiance.................................. watchin car shows and restoration programs, could it possibly mean time to change the auto transmission fluid????

[1peter]

Nup, that's been done just recently, all nice and new looking.

[Sir Roofy]

Maybe it just likes it rough

[1peter]

peter try the power button with the overdrive button on
the way you discribe the way you are going up hill the power button should drop back a gear straight away
and power up the hill,i sugest that if you have a manual for it to sit down and read it ,section 4 pages12-13
good luck

I've tried the power button with the overdrive button on and off, no obvious difference. I read the manual and it just said that POWER MODE - Quote - the shifting speeds in each gear change to ones somewhat higher mode than those of the AUTO mode. AUTO MODE - Quote - Automatically selects ECONOMY or POWER pattern in response to accelerator pedal depression speed. The owners manual later states (page 4-17) that for rapid passing , you should fully depress the accelerator pedal to the floor to make it change down a gear. This last bit of info reflects the way mine changes ? If i push the pedal to the floor it will kick down a gear but anything less and it stays in the gear already selected (overdrive is the only exception) unless i manually change down a gear of course. Is this the way other Patrols are or is this just mine ????