2005 Pathfinder transmission downshift when braking downhill

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skwerl
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu May 13, 2010 10:35 am
Location: Birmingham, AL

2005 Pathfinder transmission downshift when braking downhill

Postby skwerl » Thu May 13, 2010 2:26 pm

I have a 2005 Pathfinder SE 2WD (possibly off-road model - not sure) with around 80k miles and sometimes when I brake going downhill, the transmission shifts down to 3rd gear. It doesn't happen all the time. This only started a couple of months ago and I've had it since June 2009.

I tried pressing the OD off switch and it shifts back up to 4th. If I press OD back on, it shifts back down to 3rd. When the tranny has downshifted, I can also give the gas pedal a good tap and it will shift back up to 4th and then OD.

I bought the Pathfinder used with 50-60k miles and I have not changed the ATF. The level of ATF is normal.

I've read about the contamination in the radiator from antifreeze but my ATF doesn't have the "strawberry milkshake" look.

Wondering if anyone knows what could be happening.

Thanks


wht06pf
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:47 am
Location: Prescott Valley, AZ

Postby wht06pf » Thu May 13, 2010 2:35 pm

Ours does the same thing and it's a `06

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Captain
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Postby Captain » Fri May 14, 2010 2:35 pm


skwerl
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu May 13, 2010 10:35 am
Location: Birmingham, AL

Postby skwerl » Thu May 20, 2010 5:50 am

Could you move the relevant posts from my original thread to here? They don't really fit with the other thread you created.

GbayPathfinder
Posts: 47
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 5:20 pm
Location: Barrie Ontario

Postby GbayPathfinder » Mon Jun 07, 2010 5:47 pm

If you are going down a steep enough grade and already have your foot off the gas and lightly touch the brake your transmission will downshift to create engine braking. Mine always downshifts from 5th-3rd to help keep a constant speed. Honda's also have grade logic programming in the transmission for this reason.

webmastir

Postby webmastir » Tue Jun 08, 2010 1:07 pm

funny. this happened to me the other day. i was doing down quite a steep grade mountain too -- was very useful!

skwerl
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu May 13, 2010 10:35 am
Location: Birmingham, AL

Postby skwerl » Thu Oct 21, 2010 1:48 pm

Has anybody noticed this increasing with cooler weather? I wasn't noticing mine that often until 50-60 degree mornings and now it happens on most hills.
My fluid was a little low but adding fluid didn't help.


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