So Im looking over my soon to be daily driver maxima last night, and I notice, I cant find the front y pipe hanger, and theres no back cover to the tranny, and I can see what looks like the tourqe converter. I start the car up, and yea its the TC. I take a look at my parts car and it looks like its missing a 2-3 piece bottom cover. How can it retain ATF w/o that cover? It just boggles the mind what some people do...

This car hasnt driven under its own power in about 18 months, so not having that cover isnt a big deal, and Im doing a 5 speed swap any way. Oh and not only is that cover missing, but theres so much ATF fluid in it, If I idle for 10 minuets and run trough the gears, when I check it it comes 1/3 up the dipstick, way over the measurement for it. Would that cause the car not to move? I heard a clicking when I went into gear which Ive never heard before. Im going to try draining the excess fluid out tonight and maybe it will move. If not it doesnt matter any way.

~Alex

 

That cover is usually called an "inspection plate". Its not really needed for the car to run..Your tranny fluid is not going to leak out of there, it is sealed inside the tranny casing.

The car pretty much needs to driven down the road for at least 15-20 minutes for the tranny fluid to read correct...but since your car will not move i would say the tranny is toasty roasty....

 

All the tranny needs is to be at operating temp to read properly.

If it hasn't driven in 18 months, it's a good idea to drain the fluid out and refill anyway. If it's that full, you're going to get a lot draining out, but remember there's always about 6 quarts (yes, over a gallon!!) still left inside the tranny... torque convertor, shift solenoids, valve body, etc.

usually on a drain/fill, you'll get between 3-4 qts of fluid come out at once. If you have more than that come out, then it was obviously overfilled at some point.


As said above, those inspection plates aren't necessary for the car to run, but they're a good idea to hae on there. the last thing you want is for a rock or stick or something to get jammed up in there as you're cruising down the highway at 70mph. it could cause the tranny case to crack, or rip all the teeth off the flex plate (flywheel).

when you do your 5 spd swap, be sure to replace it with a junkyard unit or something.

 

LOL Ive got parts..This car and the 5 speed car, and my other auto.

I figured the plate didnt hold fluid after seeing the car run and of course no fluid spilling out, but I knew it would be a good Idea to put the plate on so nothing would damage the TC/flexplate/starter teeth.

Im going to go try draining it now, thanks alot guys

~Alex