What is the problem if your 2002 Altima is shifting hard in first gear automatic transmission?

Answer 1

is this all the time or just when you first start up and drive? transmissions need to heat up just like an engine to work properly. since an auto tranny uses fluid to create the shifting- it is necessary for that fluid to have an amount of pressure behind it. even though tranny fluid, like all hydro fluids, is "non-compressing" and also "non-evaporative" it is still susceptible to changes in temperature and will compress and expand enough to cause a noticeable difference in any machine that relies on it (back-hoes, tranny's, forklifts, etc.).

if it's not doing this after driving a few minutes then it's nothing to worry about. would recommend a tranny flush to help alleviate the problem, but it's not necessarily important that you do so right away!

if it does this throughout the entire time you're driving then i would recommend a tranny flush and filter change as soon as you can. it's cheaper than rebuilding and is still the most likely culprit. if it owkrs after that then you fixed it for cheap. if not, well, at least you know it's more serious and time to get to a tranny specialist!