4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999) Visit the 4th Generation forum to ask specific questions or find out more about the 4th Generation Maxima.

Car won't engage Reverse. :o(

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-03-2008, 12:18 AM
  #1  
Licensed to Spell
Thread Starter
iTrader: (12)
 
ptatohed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Murrieta (southern California)
Posts: 4,521
Car won't engage Reverse. :o(

I talked about it in the fluids forum but I'm going to post here for more exposure.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....78#post6166078

My car won't engage in Reverse. It engages in Drive but not Reverse.

Recent history:
I did a full ATF flush using Jime's method.
http://jime.homeip.net/AutoTransFluidChange.html
I used Mobil 1 synthetic ATF which I bought 1.5+ years ago and has been sitting in my garage sealed. It clearly reads "Dexron III" on the back of the package. I believe the front reads "Mercon/Dexron". It's my understanding that Dexron III is equal to our required Nissan Matic-D. So, anyway, I was pleased to see that the package read Dexron III.

Well, it turns out, I was short a few quarts and I had to go and buy some more Mobile 1 synthetic ATF. When purchasing today's Mobil 1, it only reads "Mercon V" on the package. No where does it state it is o.k. for Dexron III. I ended up using 3 quarts. So, it's about a 70/30 split with 70% being the 1.5 year old fluid from the "Dexron III" container.

I also installed a Hayden 403 cooler at the same time.

Within 2 drives (maybe 30-50 miles tops) my car now won't engage reverse!!!!!!!!!

Is it the Mobil 1 in general (but other people, even Jime, have used it successfully)? Is it because I used 1.5 year old Mobil 1 (but it was sealed)? Is it because I added 3 quarts of Mercon V (not compatible with our transmissions?)? Or are the two fluids not compatible with each other? Is it all coincidence and my tranny was ready to go anyway (I do have 100,000 miles and I have been supercharged since 80,000 miles). Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Is my tranny toast or, if I go back to conventional ATF, will my reverse start engaging???

This blows. I recommend that no one buy/use Mobile 1 ATF. It's not worth it.










.
ptatohed is offline  
Old 01-03-2008, 06:08 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
iTrader: (13)
 
fat_kid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MO
Posts: 1,524
the only time i have heard about this happening, letting the car warm up before it goes in reverse, won't go in R right away/delayed, etc, ment a tranny rebuild. don't know about the oil thing though...
fat_kid is offline  
Old 01-03-2008, 06:24 AM
  #3  
Kevlo for President
iTrader: (36)
 
Kevlo911's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Lake Orion, MI
Posts: 35,779
I used to have mobil1 ATF in my car. It sounds like you are LOW on fluid, with the car idling, check the fluid level and add some. You can mix synthetic and regular so just buy some cheapo DEX3 fluid and you should be good.
Kevlo911 is offline  
Old 01-03-2008, 01:36 PM
  #4  
Licensed to Spell
Thread Starter
iTrader: (12)
 
ptatohed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Murrieta (southern California)
Posts: 4,521
Originally Posted by Kevlo911
I used to have mobil1 ATF in my car. It sounds like you are LOW on fluid, with the car idling, check the fluid level and add some. You can mix synthetic and regular so just buy some cheapo DEX3 fluid and you should be good.
Yeah..... but I am about 3/4 up on the hatched portion of the 'hot' side of the dipstick. And the car worked in reverse a few times before it quite. I don't think I should have to fill it to the top of the hatch portion for the transmission to operate properly. Right?
ptatohed is offline  
Old 01-08-2008, 09:37 PM
  #5  
Licensed to Spell
Thread Starter
iTrader: (12)
 
ptatohed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Murrieta (southern California)
Posts: 4,521
My trans is toast. I dropped it off at a shop last Fri. The owner/mechanic swears my fluid exchange had nothing to do with it. ?
ptatohed is offline  
Old 01-08-2008, 10:55 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
iTrader: (35)
 
Snypa's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: I-75 4th_Laud
Posts: 7,396
tranny went huh
Snypa is offline  
Old 01-08-2008, 11:55 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
iTrader: (36)
 
MaxGordon7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,194
i did a a full flush and within a week my transmission was dead. I only drain and fill now.
MaxGordon7 is offline  
Old 01-09-2008, 04:48 PM
  #8  
Member who somehow became The President of The SE-L Club
iTrader: (19)
 
njmaxseltd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 16,033
Originally Posted by ptatohed
My trans is toast. I dropped it off at a shop last Fri. The owner/mechanic swears my fluid exchange had nothing to do with it. ?
+1 He's a good mechanic, listen to him.
njmaxseltd is offline  
Old 01-12-2008, 12:39 PM
  #9  
Licensed to Spell
Thread Starter
iTrader: (12)
 
ptatohed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Murrieta (southern California)
Posts: 4,521
Well, I made the 'mistake' of telling him to take his time (1. I didn't want him to rush and 2. I have another car). So he still has my car, over a week later. But that's o.k. The good news is I asked him to try to find a VLSD for me. He did! He found a VLSD from a '97 I30t. So I'm stoked about that. Looking forward to the LSD.
ptatohed is offline  
Old 01-13-2008, 08:43 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
iTrader: (11)
 
TurTLe*'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,982
u need axles to go with it =P dont forget... whats the price going to be about?
TurTLe* is offline  
Old 01-13-2008, 08:59 AM
  #11  
nycnissans
iTrader: (12)
 
secondtonone317's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Queens, NY
Posts: 1,596
Auto VLSD should be nice
secondtonone317 is offline  
Old 01-13-2008, 05:47 PM
  #12  
Insert witty catch phrase here
iTrader: (5)
 
joeahuerta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Western Mass
Posts: 178
I've seen valve bodies go for no good reason on auto trannys when I worked in an Allison shop, it happens man. Sometimes its just wear and tear. Reverse is always the first thing to go, if you had enough fluid in there, it wasn't the mixture that did it. Don't stress it.
joeahuerta is offline  
Old 01-14-2008, 09:05 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Spartuss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 638
Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF is fully compatible with our cars Matic-D.
Spartuss is offline  
Old 01-14-2008, 10:22 AM
  #14  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
91parkave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 177
that mix is probably what kileld your car next time-------Hydraulic tractor fluid and Mobil 1
91parkave is offline  
Old 01-14-2008, 01:12 PM
  #15  
Licensed to Spell
Thread Starter
iTrader: (12)
 
ptatohed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Murrieta (southern California)
Posts: 4,521
Originally Posted by TurTLe*
u need axles to go with it =P dont forget... whats the price going to be about?

I know, thanks though. And it has to be an ABS axel too as I have (rare) ABS (but I'm sure most I30 t's came with ABS).

He's thinking $2500ish. We'll see.....
ptatohed is offline  
Old 01-15-2008, 04:58 PM
  #16  
Whatchyou say?
iTrader: (5)
 
JtzMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Springfield, Missouri
Posts: 1,870
Originally Posted by 91parkave
that mix is probably what kileld your car next time-------Hydraulic tractor fluid and Mobil 1




Use what is called for by Nissan! Our cars are not "tractors" in case you might not have noticed.
JtzMax is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Lakersallday24
6th Generation Maxima (2004-2008)
10
06-16-2019 01:35 AM
Btheman80
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
8
05-01-2018 04:03 PM
doobadoo
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
2
08-15-2015 06:43 PM
BobMax
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
1
08-15-2015 12:35 PM
MikesChevelle
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
13
08-10-2015 10:53 AM



Quick Reply: Car won't engage Reverse. :o(



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:13 PM.