Unusual transmission problem

[sleeper187]

Hey guys. 2005 pathfinder se here with 73k miles on it. did the transmission/radiator cooler bypass at 69k miles and replaced fluid (which was regular color). Here's the problem. When going down a slope, putting the car into 1st gear will not slow it down at ALL. I can roll to 45mph with no resistance while still in first and hitting the gas will only rev the engine. It does the same thing for 2nd gear. This happens only on a downhill slope. I don't remember my car doing this 10k miles ago. Transmission sometimes slips a little when shifting from 1st to 2nd at over 65% throttle. any ideas?

[myriad46]

How fast are you going when you put it into 1st gear? Are you at a stop or do you throw it in on the way down the hill? I'm just wondering if it's some kind of protection to not put too much stress on the tranny.

[sleeper187]

thanks for the reply. I shift it into 1st always below 20mph. I usually put it into 2nd though so the car doesn't go so fast down the slope cause i live in a mountainous area. recently putting the car into 2nd doesn't slow it down at all. i can have it in 2nd and roll downhill to 50mph and the RPMs will read ~1200 as if i were just idling. i think slowing the car down by shifting into a lower gear is called engine braking.

[fat_frog]

It almost sounds like shifting to 2nd or 1st only putting your gear into neutral.

If you put it in 2nd on the downhill and if you step on gas (I know it's not something you'd want to do), will your Pathy responds (accelerate)?