Any ideas what this problem could be?

chelseablue

My car is booked into the garage tomorrow but thought I'd ask on here to see if anyone had any ideas (and mentally prepare myself for a big invoice!) 
My car is a 2006 Nissan Note automatic 
When I start driving it, it will change up gear once and that's that it wont change up any more. 
So have to keep it at about 30mph or less otherwise it doesn't sound too healthy  
Any ideas? 
Really hoping its not the gear box that's totally gone as not sure would be worth repairing, although I would presume I wouldn't be able to drive it at all if it was the gear box gone? 

facade

Could be cable adjustment, and it thinks the shifter is in 2 not D.

Could be a load of other things though...

It should do around 65 at the redline in second, it will do that in full throttle kickdown, maybe there is a fault with the throttle sensor.

Needs transmission diagnosis I'm afraid.

There is a dipstick for the gearbox hidden on the right, but you need a tool to get the catch undone.

chelseablue

Thank you! 
I didn't realise you needed a tool to get access to that as I tried to check the ATF last night but couldn't open it.
The garage said it might just be a sensor so fingers crossed, in the current economic climate don't really want to have to buy a car 

Goudy

There's a few issues these suffer.
Slipping is usually the torque converter.
Getting stuck in gear after heavy acceleration is often a fluid issue.
Refusing to swift up is often the shift solenoid, you can sometimes hear/feel the 'box banging into gear.
There could also be a problem else where and the car has tripped into restricted performance mode and it's confused the 'box so it won't change up, but you haven't mentioned any engine warning light on the dash

So by the sounds of it it does sound like the shift solenoid has packed up.
Either the solenoids plunger is jammed up with gunk from old oil or the coil wires are damaged.

Your dealer might be able to diagnose it, but they certainly won't be cheap to repair it, you might be wise to find a auto gearbox specialist.

chelseablue

Goudy said:

There's a few issues these suffer.
Slipping is usually the torque converter.
Getting stuck in gear after heavy acceleration is often a fluid issue.
Refusing to swift up is often the shift solenoid, you can sometimes hear/feel the 'box banging into gear.
There could also be a problem else where and the car has tripped into restricted performance mode and it's confused the 'box so it won't change up, but you haven't mentioned any engine warning light on the dash

So by the sounds of it it does sound like the shift solenoid has packed up.
Either the solenoids plunger is jammed up with gunk from old oil or the coil wires are damaged.

Your dealer might be able to diagnose it, but they certainly won't be cheap to repair it, you might be wise to find a auto gearbox specialist.

No warning lights have come on
It's not going to a Nissan dealer I'm taking it to my usual independent garage I've been going to for years 
I'll update the thread with what the problem is and hopefully the cheap cost to fix it 

Stratus

Many, many, many years ago a Cortina MK3 automatic displayed the symptoms you describe and it was simply a broken vacuum hose. Could be an easy fix. A long shot I know.

chelseablue

Stratus said:

Many, many, many years ago a Cortina MK3 automatic displayed the symptoms you describe and it was simply a broken vacuum hose. Could be an easy fix. A long shot I know.

I doubt I'd be that lucky

facade

chelseablue said:

Thank you! 
I didn't realise you needed a tool to get access to that as I tried to check the ATF last night but couldn't open it.

There is a little tang holding it, to check it you rotate the cap so the tang doesn't engage

TonyMMM

I'd definitely be checking the transmission fluid level and when/if it had ever been changed. 

chelseablue

Garage just phoned me,
The mechanic took it out for a drive and asked me does it make a noise if you go over 25-30 mph? I said yes it does
Its one of the wheel bearings that's gone, he thinks its changing up gears fine you just cant hear it over a certain speed because of the noise
He's going to change the wheel bearing and take it out for another drive 
If it is just that it's £40 for the part plus an hour's labour so about £100 total to fix 

AdrianC

chelseablue said:

Garage just phoned me,
The mechanic took it out for a drive and asked me does it make a noise if you go over 25-30 mph? I said yes it does
Its one of the wheel bearings that's gone, he thinks its changing up gears fine you just cant hear it over a certain speed because of the noise
He's going to change the wheel bearing and take it out for another drive 
If it is just that it's £40 for the part plus an hour's labour so about £100 total to fix 

A wheelbearing won't cause it to not change up. But keeping it below 30mph because of the noise of a wheelbearing may well do...