Truck dies when put into drive

[The Chech]

So ive been gone for 3 months and left my truck with my father. Well it started up fine but when it's put into any gear it shuts off. This is an automatic so no one gets confused thinking its a clutch problem. Just trying to figure out what that problem would be before I started digging in

 

[drbandkgb]

Odd... Does it idle ok?

 

[Muadeeb]

Does it work in Neutral or Reverse?

 

[The Chech]

Works in neutral fine holds idle fine let it run for a good 15 minutes nothing sounded odd. Every time I put it into any gear it acts like its a manual and stalls out like as if it was on a hill and I didn't give it enough gas. It does this even in reverse

 

[Muadeeb]

Sounds like a transmission problem. http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/xterra/2001_Xterra/at.pdf#page=88
"Engine stops when shifting lever into R, D, 2, and 1" Possible causes are engine idle rpm, Torque converter clutch solenoid valve, Control valve assembly, or the Torque converter itself. Also possible is the parking pawl is not disengaging.

The torque converter would be the easiest thing to swap out; it'll be about as bad as a clutch swap on a M/T. Beyond that, I'd take it to a transmission shop, do a junkyard swap, or grow a set of cojones the size of SilverDude's and tear into it yourself.