What causes auto trannys to die? what actually goes bad?
10-07-2003, 09:17 PM
#1
What causes auto trannys to die? what actually goes bad?
hey guys:
i know this may sound like a stupid question to some of you, but i really do not understand what is wrong with my tranny. i mean, it is slipping alot, and there are delays between shift points. but there is no grinding or anything, so whats the problem? what else is in there to go bad? whats the point of doing a re-build if the gears are fine?
i asked nissan how much for a tranny job, and they quoted me a price of $3,600! lol
i don't think so. it was even more funny that the service guy himeself even told me to go down the street and have aamco go do it and save myself some money. he was a cool guy about it though. but anyway, back on topic, please try to answermy questions. thanks!
chris
i know this may sound like a stupid question to some of you, but i really do not understand what is wrong with my tranny. i mean, it is slipping alot, and there are delays between shift points. but there is no grinding or anything, so whats the problem? what else is in there to go bad? whats the point of doing a re-build if the gears are fine?
i asked nissan how much for a tranny job, and they quoted me a price of $3,600! lol
i don't think so. it was even more funny that the service guy himeself even told me to go down the street and have aamco go do it and save myself some money. he was a cool guy about it though. but anyway, back on topic, please try to answermy questions. thanks!chris
10-07-2003, 09:51 PM
#2
The shift points are gay so they use up the tranny life faster. That's why people do the VB mod or get the Trans-Go kit.
You should flush the tranny every 30k or do a drain and fill every 10k or 15k.
Some say the major problem is heat, so some people buy the external tranny cooler http://www.drivetrain.com/autotransproblemsolve.html
Search online for more info:
http://autorepair.about.com/library/.../aa072702a.htm
http://www.samarins.com/maintenance/transmain.html
I got mine rebuilt for $1000
You should flush the tranny every 30k or do a drain and fill every 10k or 15k.
Some say the major problem is heat, so some people buy the external tranny cooler http://www.drivetrain.com/autotransproblemsolve.html
Search online for more info:
http://autorepair.about.com/library/.../aa072702a.htm
http://www.samarins.com/maintenance/transmain.html
I got mine rebuilt for $1000
10-07-2003, 11:52 PM
#3
slammed95----> i agree
my clutches where brown and black when they took apart my tranny from all the heat
most rebuilds cost 1500+, make sure your getting new parts and a warrenty, also try to find a place that has a good reputation.
good luck
my clutches where brown and black when they took apart my tranny from all the heat
most rebuilds cost 1500+, make sure your getting new parts and a warrenty, also try to find a place that has a good reputation.
good luck
10-08-2003, 09:14 AM
#6
Well, i would like to thank both of you for providing a long detailed response to my question... i think i am begining to understand more of what is wrong. now i just to not understand why it cost so much to do a re-build if they are only replacing some elastic bands. would my guess be correct that most of the money is to take it apart, and put it back together again? i just think it is silly to spend all that money on something so simple. 
i want to just do a 5spd conversion, but i really do not want to have someone do it, for the cost is three times fold. i just wish i had the knowledge and tools to do it myself.
but in answer to your question slamed95: yes, it shifts very poorly between 2-3, and 3-4. but the shift between 1-2 are nice and strong. what is the deal with that? it is just so odd... right now my car drives like it is a 5spd.... without the clutch. i have to give the car gas slooowly untill the tranny starts to grab, and actually kick in, and then once it is engaged it is fine. it sucks when i am on a upward hill because i roll backwards!!! but i can not give it gas quickly because then the tranny gets too much power and something goes *snap* and the car jerks and my tires spin... the best i can relate it to is doing a neutral drop. but then once i have been driving my car for a while (10-20 mins) there is no more slipping when taking off, but there is still slipping between gear shifts. whats the deal?
some one told me it could be a blown sillinoid. (sp?) is this true? .... but i must say that i did drive aggressively, and i did to the occasional manual shift.
sometimes i just wish i could drive like my grandma.
Chris
i want to just do a 5spd conversion, but i really do not want to have someone do it, for the cost is three times fold. i just wish i had the knowledge and tools to do it myself. but in answer to your question slamed95: yes, it shifts very poorly between 2-3, and 3-4. but the shift between 1-2 are nice and strong. what is the deal with that? it is just so odd... right now my car drives like it is a 5spd.... without the clutch. i have to give the car gas slooowly untill the tranny starts to grab, and actually kick in, and then once it is engaged it is fine. it sucks when i am on a upward hill because i roll backwards!!! but i can not give it gas quickly because then the tranny gets too much power and something goes *snap* and the car jerks and my tires spin... the best i can relate it to is doing a neutral drop. but then once i have been driving my car for a while (10-20 mins) there is no more slipping when taking off, but there is still slipping between gear shifts. whats the deal?
some one told me it could be a blown sillinoid. (sp?) is this true? .... but i must say that i did drive aggressively, and i did to the occasional manual shift.
sometimes i just wish i could drive like my grandma. Chris
10-08-2003, 09:29 AM
#7
Originally Posted by erty67
Chris, time for a 5sp conversion
Hey Ed! well, i will do the conversion, but some needs to help me! *wink wink*
oh, and i lost my job at the lawfirm, so i do nothing 24/7, so if you want to get together sometime that would be cool. 481-1307
Chris
10-08-2003, 09:52 AM
#8
Originally Posted by Blkmax95c
Hey Ed! well, i will do the conversion, but some needs to help me! *wink wink* oh, and i lost my job at the lawfirm, so i do nothing 24/7, so if you want to get together sometime that would be cool.
481-1307
Chris
oh, and i lost my job at the lawfirm, so i do nothing 24/7, so if you want to get together sometime that would be cool. 481-1307
Chris
Also, my car club usually meets up on Monday nights. You should join us sometime. We usually go out for dinner or something. Check out our site.... www.altimateimages.com...btw, sorry about the job
10-08-2003, 11:48 AM
#9
Originally Posted by erty67
I'm out of work this Friday...lunch? Also, my car club usually meets up on Monday nights. You should join us sometime. We usually go out for dinner or something. Check out our site.... www.altimateimages.com
...btw, sorry about the job
Also, my car club usually meets up on Monday nights. You should join us sometime. We usually go out for dinner or something. Check out our site.... www.altimateimages.com...btw, sorry about the job
yeah, friday sounds good... the earlyer the better because i have a wedding rehersal to go to later on friday. i'm the best man.
that reminds me... i should finish my speech... lol. well on that note, give me a call and we'll work out a time/place... but not to much money! talk to you later
Chris
10-08-2003, 01:33 PM
#10
The price is high because of the labor. I dropped off my car on Wednesday and got it back Friday. It took 2 days for them to do it (most shops say 3-5 days).
The can't just lift it up and remove 1 thing and your tranny is rebuilt. They lift it up and take out most of the tranny parts. They replace the wear and tear parts and fix the problem. Then they put it together again. It takes time to do it, so that's why it's so expensive.
I rebuilt mine since it was the cheaper route. The rebuilding cost me $1000, but if I was going to buy a rebuilt tranny and have a shop put it in, the cost would have been way higher. I was quoted from $850 to $3000 for a rebuilt tranny, but a guy on the org had a used tranny for only $500. I would've had to pay another $200 for my mechanic to put in the new tranny. My dad told me to have it rebuilt so I did.
My dad had his tranny rebuilt there on his old Accord (rebuilt his around 90k and it was running strong at 180k when he got rid of the car) so I trust the guy at the shop. Plus, $1000 was a great price
The can't just lift it up and remove 1 thing and your tranny is rebuilt. They lift it up and take out most of the tranny parts. They replace the wear and tear parts and fix the problem. Then they put it together again. It takes time to do it, so that's why it's so expensive.
I rebuilt mine since it was the cheaper route. The rebuilding cost me $1000, but if I was going to buy a rebuilt tranny and have a shop put it in, the cost would have been way higher. I was quoted from $850 to $3000 for a rebuilt tranny, but a guy on the org had a used tranny for only $500. I would've had to pay another $200 for my mechanic to put in the new tranny. My dad told me to have it rebuilt so I did.
My dad had his tranny rebuilt there on his old Accord (rebuilt his around 90k and it was running strong at 180k when he got rid of the car) so I trust the guy at the shop. Plus, $1000 was a great price
10-08-2003, 04:50 PM
#11
Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 37
So you mean the tranny is more likely to slip when the car is hot?
Mine shudders only at fast 1-2 shift and when the car hasn't warmed
up yet. And it runs fine afterward. I also changed the tranny fluid but the symptom persisted. Is it another problem? Maybe a bad ignition coil?
Mine shudders only at fast 1-2 shift and when the car hasn't warmed
up yet. And it runs fine afterward. I also changed the tranny fluid but the symptom persisted. Is it another problem? Maybe a bad ignition coil?
Originally Posted by slammed95
The actual clutch bands that shift the gears are what wears out. When the tranny fluid gets really hot it makes the bands "glaze" which makes them slippery and they can't engage the gears well because they can't grab.
I have never seen a maxima auto tranny with busted gears, so those must be pretty damn strong. The gears themselves could probably hold over 400lb-ft of torque, but the power during shifts is what kills the tranny.
When you feel the tranny slipping it's probably when going from one gear to another right? That's when you're applying power and the clutch bands are trying to engage the next gear but can't firmly grab it.
Another thing that might cause the tranny to feel like it's slipping is fluid breakdown. When the tranny fluid becomes very hot it's viscosity drops and the torque converter needs to pump more fluid to get the same amount of thrust.
The point of doing a rebuild is to replace the worn/glazed clutch bands with newer and preferably stronger ones. An upgraded valve body with higher line pressure will also help the gears engage more solidly.
I have never seen a maxima auto tranny with busted gears, so those must be pretty damn strong. The gears themselves could probably hold over 400lb-ft of torque, but the power during shifts is what kills the tranny.
When you feel the tranny slipping it's probably when going from one gear to another right? That's when you're applying power and the clutch bands are trying to engage the next gear but can't firmly grab it.
Another thing that might cause the tranny to feel like it's slipping is fluid breakdown. When the tranny fluid becomes very hot it's viscosity drops and the torque converter needs to pump more fluid to get the same amount of thrust.
The point of doing a rebuild is to replace the worn/glazed clutch bands with newer and preferably stronger ones. An upgraded valve body with higher line pressure will also help the gears engage more solidly.
10-08-2003, 09:55 PM
#12
Originally Posted by JaTaN
The price is high because of the labor. I dropped off my car on Wednesday and got it back Friday. It took 2 days for them to do it (most shops say 3-5 days).
The can't just lift it up and remove 1 thing and your tranny is rebuilt. They lift it up and take out most of the tranny parts. They replace the wear and tear parts and fix the problem. Then they put it together again. It takes time to do it, so that's why it's so expensive.
I rebuilt mine since it was the cheaper route. The rebuilding cost me $1000, but if I was going to buy a rebuilt tranny and have a shop put it in, the cost would have been way higher. I was quoted from $850 to $3000 for a rebuilt tranny, but a guy on the org had a used tranny for only $500. I would've had to pay another $200 for my mechanic to put in the new tranny. My dad told me to have it rebuilt so I did.
My dad had his tranny rebuilt there on his old Accord (rebuilt his around 90k and it was running strong at 180k when he got rid of the car) so I trust the guy at the shop. Plus, $1000 was a great price
The can't just lift it up and remove 1 thing and your tranny is rebuilt. They lift it up and take out most of the tranny parts. They replace the wear and tear parts and fix the problem. Then they put it together again. It takes time to do it, so that's why it's so expensive.
I rebuilt mine since it was the cheaper route. The rebuilding cost me $1000, but if I was going to buy a rebuilt tranny and have a shop put it in, the cost would have been way higher. I was quoted from $850 to $3000 for a rebuilt tranny, but a guy on the org had a used tranny for only $500. I would've had to pay another $200 for my mechanic to put in the new tranny. My dad told me to have it rebuilt so I did.
My dad had his tranny rebuilt there on his old Accord (rebuilt his around 90k and it was running strong at 180k when he got rid of the car) so I trust the guy at the shop. Plus, $1000 was a great price
Where did you go for the re-build? i am really strapped for cash right now, but i could put it on my credit card, i only have like $1,500 left on it though
10-09-2003, 05:13 AM
#13
Originally Posted by Blkmax95c
Where did you go for the re-build? i am really strapped for cash right now, but i could put it on my credit card, i only have like $1,500 left on it though
In Chicago there are lots of small shops that repair things for cheap so I don't have to go to the dealer or big chains (like Midas and Pep Boys). I only go to Pep Boys if something happens to my mom's Civic since it's still under extended warranty.
10-09-2003, 08:24 AM
#15
Originally Posted by maxNYC
When people rebuild transmissions, dont they use factory parts? Are there actually beefier parts used in these rebuilds.
but he also said it would not be worth it to do on a maxima. it would cost $1000 or so just for the parts. should just do a 5spd conversion for that price plus the labor.JaTaN:
i thought it was bad to go to small shops? because they do not know as much, or they will not do as good of a job? and how about the warrenty, did they offer you a good one?
Chris
10-09-2003, 12:43 PM
#16
It's bad to go to some small shops UNLESS they do good work. I only go to 2 shops for repairs and both of the owners know what they're doing (they tell me the exact problem and exactly how much it'll cost for free - none of that "pay me $90 to see what the prob is" bull sh*t).
I go to 1 shop for most of my repairs and the guy there gives me good prices (way cheaper than the dealer or big chains) and I trust him with my car (he takes good care of it and tells me if I should fix it now or later). They don't rebuild trannies so I couldn't do it there.
The 2nd shop does good work too (my dad usually goes here for repairs) and they give us good prices (the tranny rebuild was $1500, but he told us he'll do it for $1000 to replace the regular stuff and to fix the problem I had). He actually told us: "it'll be $1000 and you can go ask around for other price quotes and you can come back here for the repair" and he was right Other places wanted $1000+ just to replace the regular stuff PLUS more to fix the problem (car wouldn't go in reverse).
You really can't tell which shops are good unless you have previous experience with them (my dad had his car repaired at different places to see how good they were and he only trusts these 2 shops so I'll do the same). I got it rebuilt there b/c they did a great job on my dad's old Accord.
All shops I asked said they give a 6 month/6000 mile warranty.
I go to 1 shop for most of my repairs and the guy there gives me good prices (way cheaper than the dealer or big chains) and I trust him with my car (he takes good care of it and tells me if I should fix it now or later). They don't rebuild trannies so I couldn't do it there.
The 2nd shop does good work too (my dad usually goes here for repairs) and they give us good prices (the tranny rebuild was $1500, but he told us he'll do it for $1000 to replace the regular stuff and to fix the problem I had). He actually told us: "it'll be $1000 and you can go ask around for other price quotes and you can come back here for the repair" and he was right
Other places wanted $1000+ just to replace the regular stuff PLUS more to fix the problem (car wouldn't go in reverse).You really can't tell which shops are good unless you have previous experience with them (my dad had his car repaired at different places to see how good they were and he only trusts these 2 shops so I'll do the same). I got it rebuilt there b/c they did a great job on my dad's old Accord.
All shops I asked said they give a 6 month/6000 mile warranty.
10-09-2003, 01:56 PM
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
DUDE ALL I GOTTA SAY IS STAY AS FAR AS YOU CAN FROM AAMCO THEY TOTALY SUCK.
I cannot find a way to possibly stress that enuf hence the caps. If I had a chance to redo my trans i would have purchased the 3000 trans from nissan and did the swap myself. AAMCO is a nightmare you do not want to have. Please take my words of advice and follow up if you do not believe me. And for those of you that have doubts please exit to www.google.com and search using the words: aamco sucks
HAVE FUN AND I TOLD YOU I WAS RIGHT
I cannot find a way to possibly stress that enuf hence the caps. If I had a chance to redo my trans i would have purchased the 3000 trans from nissan and did the swap myself. AAMCO is a nightmare you do not want to have. Please take my words of advice and follow up if you do not believe me. And for those of you that have doubts please exit to www.google.com and search using the words: aamco sucks
HAVE FUN AND I TOLD YOU I WAS RIGHT
10-10-2003, 05:36 PM
#20
Originally Posted by silver99
DUDE ALL I GOTTA SAY IS STAY AS FAR AS YOU CAN FROM AAMCO THEY TOTALY SUCK.
I cannot find a way to possibly stress that enuf hence the caps. If I had a chance to redo my trans i would have purchased the 3000 trans from nissan and did the swap myself. AAMCO is a nightmare you do not want to have. Please take my words of advice and follow up if you do not believe me. And for those of you that have doubts please exit to www.google.com and search using the words: aamco sucks
HAVE FUN AND I TOLD YOU I WAS RIGHT
I cannot find a way to possibly stress that enuf hence the caps. If I had a chance to redo my trans i would have purchased the 3000 trans from nissan and did the swap myself. AAMCO is a nightmare you do not want to have. Please take my words of advice and follow up if you do not believe me. And for those of you that have doubts please exit to www.google.com and search using the words: aamco sucks
HAVE FUN AND I TOLD YOU I WAS RIGHT
wow, i guess you were right. who whould you sugest for someone to do it then? thanks
Chris
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