My 86 Maxima Wagon is in need of a new transmission.

I would like to know if you can pull the transaxle out without having to pull the engine also?

Would anyone have experience removing one?

Thank you!

 

yep slides out the drivers side, pull the axles, unbolt, pull out.....

 

i partially helped someone replace a trans in a Nissan Quest van (VG30E+auto trans), but otherwise ive done many other transmissions myself

basically how i do it is remove the crap up top that needs to be moved (air filter box, etc), disconnect all the stuff up there (shift linkage cable, wiring harnesses, etc). then, remove the axles, torque converter bolts, starter, and all but a couple bellhousing bolts. then, put a brace up top to support the engine, remove the trans mounts, remove the last 1 or 2 bellhousing bolts, and remove the transmission

everybody does it their own way, but thats the way ive done FWD transmissions. some stuff is easier to take the engine and trans out together, but i think on 2nd gens its no harder to take just the trans itself out

 

on a 2nd gen the engine mounts will hold the engine, when you take the splash guards off you will be able to get to the bellhusing bolts with some extentions, so there is no need to pull the air box (which is a pain in it's self, just pulled mine for putting intake on) I will see if I have a chance to post what the FSM says tonight for you. When I did my clutch and rack not to long ago I didn't take anything off the top of the motor.

 

On a related note, once the tranny is out, I assume that gives flexplate access so that could be replaced? I have a couple mangled teeth on mine and a couple times a week, I get a nasty screech with the starter grinding. The shop I go to for stuff I don't want to do myself didn't know if both engine/tranny needed to be pulled together (which they didn't want to do since the car has R12 AC and no longer have equipment to recover R12) or if there was room to pull the tranny on its own. So they referred me to a tranny shop they use but I haven't made it over there yet.

 

yep once the tranny is out there should be 6 bolts to take the flex plate off, will post pix of the FSM in a few just have to get it off my phone and put on photobucket

 

I know it says for 5sp but i'm sure its the same for the auto other then shift linkage and such


I will double check that.....