Question about my transmission.

[Wolfmans_BrothEr]

The other day I went to start my car and it wouldn't start. I would turn the key and the engine would go na na na na... but wouldn't actually start.

I figured it was a dead battery so I got a jump, the car started, but the acceleration seemed delayed and wasn't working up to it's full capacity.

I drove home and brought it to a mechanic who found out it was a transmission problem.

My question is if it was the transmission that was causing my car to not start... Then how come after I jumped the battery it started?

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

What kind of car do you have? Do you have an automatic or manual transmission? Is your car front wheel drive (if so it would be technically called a transaxle), rear wheel drive or all wheel drive?

There are many different types of cars and many different types of transmissions...

 

[Wolfmans_BrothEr]

It's an '04 Nissan maxima, automatic, front wheel drive.

Basically I don't understand since it's a transmission problem, why did it start once I charged the battery?

I figured if it wasn't starting, then I jump the battery and it starts, then it would've been a dead/weak battery

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

Could be anything, but I wouldn't completely rule out transmission issues. Although, since it seems to be working now that you've charged the battery, it may not only be the transmission.

I would take it to another mechanic or trusted friend who is car-savvy and see what they say. Nothing wrong with getting a second opinion. Not saying that your mechanic is trying to rip you off but I've had issues with my car in the past that were diagnosed as transmission problems (apparently needing a transmission/clutch replacement which is extremely expensive) but it turned out I actually a ECU (Engine Control Unit, basically the mini computer that controls your engine, also called Engine Management Computer, among others) issue and a bad oxygen sensor. Much cheaper and easier fix, part of which I was actually able to do at home. Turned out the transmission and clutch were both fine.

Usually starting issues are due to battery/electrical/charging system (think alternator and voltage regulator) issues. I don't know where you're located in the world, but there are auto parts stores in the part of the country where I live that will do free battery and charging system tests for you, as well as free OBD-II (which your 2004 Nissan has) checks to see if your car's computer is holding any fault codes.

I'm not a mechanic, I've taken car repair classes and I tinker with cars and other mechanical stuff, but I'm by no means "qualified".

TLDR: Get a second opinion, doesn't sound like a transmission issue to me either, that or you've got a transmission issue and other issue on top of that.

 

[Wolfmans_BrothEr]

Yeah I agree with you^^ even though the car started, I mentioned in the OP that the acceleration seemed delayed/not working up to full capacity.

Also I found if I turned the car off, it wouldn't start again unless I jumped it

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

^I've had that happen to me as well, turned out the battery was just very much past its prime and needed to be replaced. Maybe you just need a new battery.

Sluggish acceleration could be due to any number of things: Issues with ECU (as I mentioned before), any issue with your sensors: oxygen sensors, mass-air flow sensors, engine speed sensor, there's a lot of 'em on newer cars. Do you have your check engine light on? When was the last time you got a tune up?

When you accelerate, is the transmission shifting at appropriate times? Is the shifting really hard and "jerky"? If so, you probably do indeed have a transmission problem. However, depending on the age/mileage of your car, it could still be a minor issue. How many miles do you have on the car? Did you buy it new or used or what?

 

[rangrz]

From what I gather, The transmission isn't preventing it from starting. It would do that by a) faulty transmission select safety switch (so you can only start in park or neutral normally as a safety issue) - if it was broken you'd not be able to start with a boost or without or b) not disengaging from the engine which would cause the car to lurch and hop forward when you tried to start it, again causing failure regardless of jumping it.

Since it starts with a boost, I'm going down the path of failed battery/bad charging system/short causing battery to drain. ECU and sensor problems usually present as more then requiring a boost. (Tho on an old audi/VW engine I did encounter a problem with cold start injector sensor that was confusing and at first seemed like it might be depleted battery)

I'd start with the cheapest and check the acid level in the battery, if its hella low, put in some water to bring acid level up so it covers all the plates and has the potential to work as a battery again.

 

[Jerry Atrick]

I would google "Nissan forums," join, and ask some of those people.

I've had good luck with the Ford forums in the past.