I bought a '93 Max for my wife 2 weeks ago. It is black and has all the bells and whistles, very nice. Good condition, we LOVE it. It has 119,000 miles.

However it has a VERY hard shift between 1st and 2nd. Unless you're accelerating quickly, it feels like getting kicked in the *** when it shifts. It also has a delayed engagement of O/D, but that's not as big a deal to me. Other than that, it's smooth as silk.

Anyway, we took it to a reputed shop to have it looked at. They said it will need rebuilding and quoted me $1500-1600 for the job (w/ 12,000 mile, 12 month warranty). I called around to other shops and one guy said he'd do it for $900.

But to add another factor, the lot where we bought the car has a 6-month guarantee, where if we want to return it, they will give us our full purchase price toward anoy other car on the lot. We paid $2900 out the door for it.

It has a VQ30DE engine (I believe) w/ DOHC.

So here are the questions:
Is it worth $900-1600 to rebuild a transmission in this car?
I found a shop that will install a used transmission for $375. I've found some transmissions (used and remanufactured) on eBay. Is this a good idea?
How can I find out, infallibly, exactly what kind of transmission will work in this car?
If it were you, would you give the car back and take the $2900 toward a different used car?

Thanks!

 

It has a VE30DE Not a VQ30DE<---This engine was not introduced until 1995 for the 4th gen maxima...

$900 is a good deal for a tranny rebuild,i would jump on it..

 

if you really like the car, id spend the $900......i mean if it is in really good condition, and has everyhting you want, keep it and rebuild it.....or you can ask the person you bought the car from and ask them if they will pay for half of the tranny rebuild.

 

Surely something as simple as the problem you've described can be delt with quite easily once you split the cases (so to speak, my knowledge is very limited in the area) ... arnt their bands that can be tightened or something?

Surely a FULL rebuild of a transmission that is as smooth as pie except for a slight glitch from 1st to 2nd when coasting at slow speeds is no real cause for alarm? there must be a simple fix if all other gear changes (down and upshifts) are smooth.


Sorry to hijack the thread from this point on, but i'd just like to mention that I have what i believe to be a problem from 1st to 2nd with mine.. but its the opposite for me.. under heavy acceleration, when she shifts from 1st to 2nd at high rpms its almost like a slipping clutch sensation.. the car doesnt lose acceleration during this moment but the transition from 1st into 2nd is quite a lengthy one... around 3 to 4 seconds im tipping...... once it 'grips' it slots into 2nd firmly and theres no more problem...

I've taken mine to be inspected by someone in the biz for 35 yrs and he said these cars are meant to behave that way under heavy load from 1st to 2nd, it lengthens the life of the tranny thats why nissan designed it that way, they wernt meant to flick into 2nd instantly, rather.. smoothly... which is more pronounced under heavy load....

Bullocks or he speaks the truth? I must admit the gear transitions in these cars are very lengthy and smooth.. not harsh sudden shifts like a lot of other jap autos on the market.. i guess being sold as more of a luxury car nissan went the extra mile to design them this way knowing most owners wouldnt buy such a car to drive it hard, but rather appreciate smooth almost unnoticable gear changes.

 

Some problems sound like the shift selinoids (wrong sp I know) going bad. I know alot of trannys have shift upgrade kits that stiffen the shifts and give a harder engagement to put down more power. I wonder if a slightly upgraded shift pack or w/e it is would cure alot of problems or prevent them?

Also a member, Wiking cleaned the connectors on his auto box and he said that got rid of some slipping problems he had, and theres alot of dirty connectors on our max's. My surging idle is caused by the connector on the coolant temp sensor for one.

any way I have a 186K mile tranny that stripped the TQ converter for sale, Ill let it go for $75 plus shipping. Ive had it too long gotta get rid of it.

~Alex