I have an old truck. A 2000 Nissan Frontier King cab, XE 4 cylinder. I am having the following issue: When the truck is cold, I turn the truck on, and the engine starts running like any old truck. But when I put the truck in "D" for drive, press on the gas, it does not go. What I do is I put in on 2nd gear (it is an automatic transmission) and that is when it starts driving. As it is driving, I put the transmission in the "D" drive position, and it drives fine. As the trucks gets warmer, the shifter goes into the drive position with no issues, and it continues to run and drive without issues.
Is my transmission about to die? Are these the first symptoms? The truck is 24 years old and has 233000 miles. Any advice? Any home remedies I can do to fix this? Or is it time to take it to a junk yard?

UPDATE:
I took the truck to O'Reily to scan the truck and code P0400 came up: This code indicates a fault in the Exhaust Gas Recirculation flow for a predetermined period of time.

Would this also fix the shifting gear issue?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JeffSig2022,

I assume you've looked at the basics: Fluid level and condition, how recently the filter (if it has one) has been changed?

If the only time it acts up is when it is cold A fluid and filter change may get you some more life out of it from my experience living in the frozen Tundra.
After it warms up 1st works normal and all shifts are normal?
But keep in mind, the filter is probably plugged from clutch wear.

I'm suspicious of play in the shift cable or linkage, the shifter itself or lever. Typically, when shifting from park, the cable/linkage (it might have the latter if a column shift) from the shifter pulls on the transmission's external shift lever. It may be that the lever is not fully engaging the drive position when pulled, but goes back in when pushed back. Temperature should not have any effect on this, but anything is possible.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
I assume you've looked at the basics: Fluid level and condition, how recently the filter (if it has one) has been changed?

I checked the fluid level and condition. The fluid is clean at the right level. Filter.....I do not know. I purchase this truck a year ago.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
I'm suspicious of play in the shift cable or linkage, the shifter itself or lever. Typically, when shifting from park, the cable/linkage (it might have the latter if a column shift) from the shifter pulls on the transmission's external shift lever. It may be that the lever is not fully engaging the drive position when pulled, but goes back in when pushed back. Temperature should not have any effect on this, but anything is possible.

I am in DFW, Texas. So, temperature is not freezing, it's been a bit cold but nothing out of the ordinary.

Put a scanner on it and check for codes.
But my guess is your transmission solenoid is shot or on its last leg if you have no codes.

quote:

UPDATE:
I took the truck to O'Reily to scan the truck and code P0400 came up: This code indicates a fault in the Exhaust Gas Recirculation flow for a predetermined period of time.

Would this also fix the shifting gear issue?

No, I doubt an emission code would be related.
I also do not know if a 2000 Nissan trans is computer controlled or not, most were by 2000, but may be old school?

Either a sticking valve or if electronic controlled a bad switch or sensor.

I would stop in at a dealership and ask if the have ever experienced this or if there is a TSB addressing this problem.

At minimum as a start you could drop the pan, replace the filter and fresh fluid to replace what comes out.


DO NOT do a flush with magic chemicals that
many dealers and independent shops sell. IMO that’s the death knell for transmissions especially high mileage ones.

quote:

Originally posted by MoosehornMan:

quote:

UPDATE:
I took the truck to O'Reily to scan the truck and code P0400 came up: This code indicates a fault in the Exhaust Gas Recirculation flow for a predetermined period of time.

Would this also fix the shifting gear issue?

No, I doubt an emission code would be related.
I also do not know if a 2000 Nissan trans is computer controlled or not, most were by 2000, but may be old school?

Actually it is possible. I am not familiar with Nissans so can’t say for sure.
But EGR is sometimes used to bring components to operating temperature faster.
Being that the transmission works fine after running through second gear and not an initial shift into D It is possible the vehicle is sensing it is not up to temp because of the EGR error and the computer is telling it not to go in D, but does not have that precaution when in 2nd.

If you start the car and let it warm up for an extended period of time (not using the 2nd gear start) does it still give you the same issue?

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:

quote:

Originally posted by MoosehornMan:
[QUOTE]UPDATE:
I took the truck to O'Reily to scan the truck and code P0400 came up: This code indicates a fault in the Exhaust Gas Recirculation flow for a predetermined period of time.

Would this also fix the shifting gear issue?

...

If you start the car and let it warm up for an extended period of time (not using the 2nd gear start) does it still give you the same issue?

^^^Try this.

The EGR system code has nothing to do with the transmission operation. It is fairly common on this engine. You'd never even know anything was wrong but for the engine light. In fact, about ~30% of the time it can be fixed with a 3-inch piece of vacuum line.

Sounds like a transmission fluid change is in order.

It seems a valve is sticking and the main forward clutch isn't being engaged.

EGR is exhaust gas recirculation. It is emissions control. It is unrelated to anything but emissions.

I designed EGR valves for a living a long time ago.

The sole function of the EGR, in bringing exhaust gas back to the combustion chamber, is to control the temperature in the combustion chamber. In so doing, the chemical "radicals" that are created when the temperature is too high are reduced, which reduces the chance of a 13-step photochemical reaction that creates smog.

This issue is in the transmission or the controls of that transmission.