1st let me say i luv this board, people actually help u here unlike other boards. Anyway i am going to buy a 4th gen SE and was wondering about the transmission. I read somewhere that the 3rd gen has weak tranny's does this apply to 4th gens as well.

For daily driving & the occasional street race does the 4th gen need a tranny cooler? If so, when i purchase my 4th gen how do i check if the tranny is in good condition?

Thanks again

92 Maxima GXE
99 Sunfire GT (Soon to be traded in)

 

Are you talking about an auto or 5-speed tranny? 4th gen auto tranny is pretty strong in my opinion. Many people recommend getting a Valve Body recalibration (VB upgrade) which will make your tranny shift faster and firmer. If you plan on racing your max then get a tranny cooler too.

 

Auto!

 

Road test the vehicle.

When you shift from Neutral into Drive, can you drive away immediately or is there a delay? A delay is a bad sign.

When the transmission shifts, does it feel as if it is in Neutral for an instant? That is called "flare" or "breakaway" and it is a bad sign.

Does the transmission shift when you think it should? If it shifts way too early or way too late that is a bad sign.

Does it downshift when you floor the accelerator? A delayed downshift (or none at all) is a bad sign.

Can you feel the shifts? You should, but they should not be made with an uncomfortable jolt.

Drive at highway speed and test the O/D OFF button. Make sure it works.

There are several tests you can make with the fluid on the automatic transmission dipstick.

1) Level. It should be up to the full mark.

2) Color. It should be bright red and translucent. A brown or black color is a sign of fluid degraded by excessive heat, and/or worn friction materials. A milky pink "Pepto Bismol" color is a sign of water contamination.

3) Odor. It should have a clean oily smell. A burned odor is a sign of fluid degraded by excessive heat.

4) Feel. Wipe the dipstick with your fingers and then rub your fingers together. It should be smooth and slippery. A "gritty" feeling is a sign of worn friction materials.

 

I have never had any problems with the tranny in my 95. If you are planning to race i would do what andyxxl said, i don't race often enough to need these upgrades, but if you [plan on racing, they are definately worth the money.

 

I have never had any problems with the tranny in my 95. If you are planning to race i would do what andyxxl said, i don't race often enough to need these upgrades, but if you [plan on racing, they are definately worth the money.

 

I would get an automatic transmission cooler regardless of whether you are into racing especially if it gets as hot as it does where I live.

 

? a delayed downshift is a bad thing? mine does that all the time...I just thought that was characteristic of the max's auto tranny, a reason why i'm looking into the VB mod.

 

The VB only makes the shifts firmer/quicker, they do not change the shift points AT ALL.