Well my tranny died.

Sucks too because my car looks great and the engine runs great, but I am not sure I am ready to invest the money into a tranny rebuild at this point. The rack and pinion also leaks. Other than that the car is in fantastic shape mechanically and cosmetically.

Here's my options:

Sell the car and buy something else. I'm still screwed if I sell it though because who wants to buy a nice 94 maxima with a tranny that needs a rebuild? If they do, I won't get much for it. I would lose all that money I put into. I could strip out some of the extras though.

I had the thought to buy another 3rd gen and move all the good parts from my car over to the new one, but I am no mechanic and would have to pay to have a lot of it done, so that probably wouldn't be very cost effective.

Another thought was to part out the car, but again I wouldn't know how or have the tools to pull out an engine or whatever by myself. So that's not gonna work.

It may be time for me to move on to bigger and better things.

I'm curious to hear what you guys would do in my situation.

 

So whats the problim with u tranny?

 

yeah like wiking said, how do you know its dead? Wiking always suggests cleaning some connections and stuff before you rule out the tranny.

but you could check the classifieds section and see if there is an auto around you that is up for sale. or you could check local papers for a wrecked 3rd gen someone is parting out. did it all the sudden just stop working? or what....give some more info on maxxine's problems.....

 

It needs a rebuild - its falling apart internally is what my mechanic told me. Last night I was driving home and I started hearing loud knocks coming from the transmission and I lost responsiveness in the gas pedal. I had to pull over a few times before I made it home. On the way to the shop this morning, I didn't get the knocking sounds but I was losing response in the gas pedal again and it felt like the car was going to die, when I pulled over the idle started jumping around 400 - 500 RPM. I made it to the shop, but acceleration was completely unresponsive and it felt like it kept want to die. I imagine the knocks/clicks I heard last night was something coming apart in the tranny.

 

sounds fishy that your rpms are jumping and you ar blaming the tranny. check the ecu for error codes, maybe its not the tranny.

 

That only happened after I heard the loud clanks - the shop I took it to has never given me any reason to doubt their diagnosis. They said they were 100% sure it is the tranny.

 

Engine dies because of engine failure. Seek that out before swapping tranny... Idle jumping has a cause - nontranny. Cannot say what is that, but u got idle problem at least. Check u IACV, sensors. If u arenot familiar, then check my web page. Also for tranny: there is lots to DIY test before swap.

 

what kind of diagnostic did they do to pinpoint it at a tranny issue. i mean your car doesnt idle well and they blame a tranny?

 

Yes I understand that the engine idle does not have to do with the tranny. The problem I had last night driving the car was not with the idle. The gas pedal wasn't putting any power to the wheels and I heard loud knocking sounds. When I pulled over the idle was constant aat 900 -950 where it always is. It was only today on my way to the shop that the idle started jumping. If it isn't the tranny what te heck were those loud knocks?

 

Fishy. They are after $$$$....


edit: can u describe more detailly when/how/where the sounds came....

 

well i guess the loud knocks could be the tranny. but like wiking said, check his website for self diagnostics for simple solutions. id try to take it to a transmission specialist (someone respected in your town)

im curious, how much are they saying it will cost to rebuild.

 

Ok - well I just talked to the tech that diagnosed the problem himself and it the reason the idle was jumping like it was is because the car was starting out in the 3rd gear.

 

ha yeah thats def. not good.

what is he saying it will cost?

 

I would not have the transmission work done at this place anyway...they charge way too much. They are not a transmission shop - they outsource tranny work to a local business. I am in the process of calling around different shops and getting estimates.

 

This is now much clearer: is mech noise on all the time?

I would say still slim chance fault being electonics; solenoids or ctrl. As the whole tranny is acuated via solenoids, controlled by transmission control unit - TCU computer. With low voltage it may do anything. Has the mech tested supply voltage and tranny coil pack resistances?

DIY

 

I don't think they have done any voltage testing.

 

you sure it's not the engine?
usually when a tranny goes dead...it'll either slip (rpms move but the car is standing still) or it's a shift problem. of course this doesn't rule out that your problem is tranny related.

EDIT: ok nevermind the engine comment.

ok you're at the crossroads...so think of what you want to do...
- you can repair the tranny for $2000-$2500...(yeah you can get cheaper rebuilds...but it'll break in 50K again). this is considering if your car is in great shape engine wise and there's no other problems. you'll drive this car for at least another 80K-100K+...that's about 6yrs+. do you want to have the same car for another 6 yrs?

- you can slap in an used auto tranny...this is the mystery tranny. it might last 100K..it might last 5K. go this route if you're looking to sell the car ASAP.

- you can convert 5spd...this gets pretty $$ and it might be as close in price as the rebuild route..but hey you'll have the fun of the 5spd and it'll be a bit more reliable.

- sell the car as is...you'll take a hit on the price. i don't recommend you doing this unless you're totally sick w/ the car and you just want it out of your sight.

- part out the car...i personally don't recommend this since it'll take massive time to part it out and etc. the car looks clean body wise..don't part out a car that's in good shape. also 3rd genners are cheap...yup you guys know what i'm talking about. so you thinking that you'll make much on the parting out is out the door.

- look at your financials...can you handle dropping some $ on another car? i'm sure you want something decent so figure in about 8K for something nicer than you have now. can you handle it? if it's used can you live w/ the fact that things might break? maybe a new car? handle the $ with that? look at what you see yourself doing 3-4 years down the road.

good luck

 

first thing to do IMHO, is to drop the trans pan and check for metal in the pan.
if you find some, then you need a trans.
if you don't find anything then you have another problem (possibly engine)
Personally I think you're better off getting the trans rebuilt if it is bad, because you won't likely be able to get as nice a car for the same amount

 

RE4F02A - pan it on top of the tranny....drain plug at the bottom.
i guess u can look at the magnet from the plug to see the shavings.

 

Clayton- I might be parting out my 90 SE, its got a engin with 160k easy miles and 5k agressive miles, and the tranny the same, both work perfectly. Im in columbus ohio but Id be willing to ship.

~Alex

 

I don't know anything about working on transmissions and I'd rather not mess around with it myself. Not to mention I don't have the tools or time to tear into a damn transmission.

The technician said that the fluid in the tranny was clean. He also said something about the converter and bad seals. I can't remember exaclty what he said was wrong because he gave me a pretty lenghty explanation.

DanNY, I agree with most of your points. I would love a 5-speed, but I have no desire to convert this car to 5-speed, mainly for the reason that it would cost me just as much as having a new auto tranny installed. Nor do I want to part it out or sell it as is.

I haven't completely discounted getting the rebuild done. I am not yet sure I am ready to call it quits on this car. I've invested a lot of my time and money into this thing to make it nice looking and run well. I am in college for 2 more years and then I plan on buying a new car, and the plan was to maybe use this car as a daily driver. So that is a plus for the rebuild.

I also like your suggestion about getting a used tranny and selling the car. I think I could get some decent money for the car around here as long as the tranny worked. This really depends on how much I could find a working tranny for and how much it would cost to have it installed. I still would have to buy a new car in this situation because I'd be too afraid of the used one going bad while I was trying to sell it.

Ahhhhhhh decisions, decisions.

 

Well to tell you the truth these auto trannies suck. I've been through three trannies on this car. THe original died at 220k, the second lasted 16k miles, and I'm picking my car up tomorrow with another tranny. But if you look real hard you can find a third gen for 1500 or less. I saw a VE 5-speed for 1 grand and all it needed was exhaust and suspension but I opted to buy a VG 5-speed for 500 that needs a tune-up.

 

hmm only lasting 16k and needing rebuilt, id think the tranny was either A: not rebuilt right or B: abused. Do you like to do neutral drops or drive it like you stole it before its had time to warm up?

 

just remember...the cost of swapping in some used boneyard tranny might exceed the cost of resale...choose wisely. also the 3rd gen cars are quite old/aged at junkyards so chances of picking up a good used tranny is going down hill fast.

sounds like you do like the car...if you have some semental value to it then why not do a rebuild and go from there. a "properly" done rebuild should last you many years down the road.

 

another thing to hold against the VG

 

i have an auto tranny that has been rebuilt...it was rebuilt at 123,909...and pulled from my wrecked max at approx 147,xxx...im asking $350 for it...its the tranny and tc...i have the reciept for the rebuild also

will

 

The thing pisses me off about this whole situation is that I have always babied the tranny. Always warmed up the car before it was driven, never accelerated to hard until the car was warm. Always had the fluids changed on time and did full tranny flushes periodically. It has never given me even a hint of a problem. It had always shifted smooth and crisp and then all of a sudden out of no where, with no warning I need a freakin rebuild?! That in itself makes me want to get rid of the damn thing.

 

understandable...i was just puttin that out there...incase you didnt want the expense of a rebuild or the mystery junkyard tranny...i have a rebuilt tranny that has not been abused

will

 

Do you trust this mechanic 100%? If not, then maybe you can go and get a second opinion since your not much of a DIYer. I have a slight feeling it's not the tranny. I been through many auto transmission issues and scumbag mechanics in my day so I know how it goes most of the time. Most are just trying to make as much money ASAP and as safe as possibly to get away clean with it. I wouldn't trust a mechanic unless I knew this person my whole life. The majority of them seem nice and friendly but they are just tryin to make as much money as possible and go home. It's a dirty buisness... Have a friend recommend you to a mechanic that seems legit, and don't tell him the problem. Just go over there and ask him "Whats wrong with my car?" I am 60% sure his analysis will come up with it "not" being tranny related. Check it out. That $25 or so you pay for a second opinion may save you alot of time and trouble.

 

Yeah, get a second opinion.

My tranny swap cost about 350-400$

 

I never did a rebuild I just got replacements. I only roughed it up after driving it for 15 minutes. So my answer is B. Until I get this 5-speed working I'm gonna have to drive like my mother. uke:

 

Isn't it amazing how many of us have or have had tranny problems. My 90 has gone through it's 3rd since it was new. I'm trying to find out why it won't move in any gear. It didn't make any noise just acts like it's in neutral all the time. It has 22,000 on this rebuild, done by a outfit in Phoenix. So if anyone can tell me what's wrong with mine I would appreciate it.

 

Nobody can - without checking. Coilpacks resistance check.
Voltage check. Connectors cleanup: -AFTER that-, self test as described in FSM. Oil Pressure check.

Connectors cleanup: http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/748507/14

Slipping tranny will break down one day. One cause for slipping is the thinny winny wiring & oxidized connectors. If that is not corrected [std problem in maxima or any computerized car], surely it will break down before time. Owner should not complain of tranny breakup if one juts s hit gas pedal like on stolen horse on slippery slope. Second owner surely will...

If maintenance is done as should, geneRally veeery long life/miles with maxima. But if cont slippin drive - complaints will follow. I suppose most drivers cannot distinghuish between slipping/non slipping condition; thats a problem.

Any car is headed towards destruction from first DAY. Its good to know the history of a ol' car, check for known rust points etc before buying. One can do with his life & car whatever one sees fit, but the price paid is known to be extremely high IF basic 10 commandment principals are thrown outta windows... Still s hit happens as we know. These s hit s tories seem to have one condesation point in here. That Really does not mean that maxima or its gearbox or rusting as a product is worse than others.

My maxima is spotless without a speck of rust. But if I just hit the gas pedal in the salt puddles, it will absolutely 100% certain rot away. Maintenance and more maintenance. The older, the more miles, the more maintenance. For any human and/or car. And after all that is DONE, Maxima VGE auto comes on top highest class.

 

LOL!!! TripleG man u are pretty funny in this post, I'm admiring the satire.

 

that's your problem...you bought the rebuild from a bad rebuilder. look on the web..there are number of complains against that phoenix rebuilder place.

 

white90se check your e-mail. I am considering putting a used tranny in the car and selling it. Hello 2000 - 2001 maxima.

 

EDIT: I am getting a second opinion. I found a shop five minutes from where the car is now that has a lot of experience with 89 - 94 automatic maxima transmissions. I'm taking the car there to have them do some diagnostics. They said they have had many maximas come through there with electrical problems.

What's a fair price to have those electrical components replaced if that is the problem?

I think I will feel better about whatever decision I make if I get it diagnosed by someone who is familiar with these trannys.

 

With the tranny go the solenoids and connectros will be shaken (better contact). TCU with harness connector remains and (mystery?) voltage level... then the problem quite probably remains.

- If one thinks of all the trouble, checking these before swap is just nothin.

- Btw. There's a mech TSB for one axle loose clip that causes tranny not to go to R. Inside... Relatively cheap to open current tranny and check whatsin there.

Known mechanical Problems:
- Slipping tranny. Some say this service pack helps in the valves; serviceable without taking of the tranny, about 50$ ---> Service pack for RE4F04A auto tranny: www.txchange.com
- No Reverse -problem: Check Nissan TSB NTB96-009b.pdf
TSB's see for http://maxima.theowensfamily.com/tsb

 

Surely depends where u find them: read the forum, smbdy just bought ECU plus TCU with 160$ from scrapyard. Stealership solenoid$$$??? let me cry, dare not ask. Hopefully that shop has better source; this tranny most probably is sold on other vehicles also? Ask.

Its good to have second review in the situ. Then u make decisions...