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How to tell if used trans is bad

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Old 03-28-2014, 09:21 PM
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How to tell if used trans is bad

Hi Guys,
My first thread on the forum, I've spent 6 months looking at the wealth of information on here, its great!


Anyway I have the usual bad input shaft bearing,
I picked up a used one out of a 97 for $125, I had to pull it. It didn't have any fluid in it, the owner said it ran good, but had not been driven since thanksgiving. He was parting it out because of some kind of title issue. Like an idiot I already paid him for it, so I was stuck with it.
So I have the trans on my garage floor. Is there any way I can tell if the input shaft or diff bearing are shot? I took a look inside with my inspection camera and could not find anything. It looks like there is a passenger side output shaft leak. Which would explain the lack of fluid.
When I tipped it sideways, some fluid spilled out. It was actually really clean, and the did not smell burned. Good red color. ( Not sure if that matters in manuals like it does in autos). There is no play in the input shaft that I can feel, is there any way to tell if it's shot? I don't want to spend a weekend installing it only to have it not move. Thanks
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Old 03-29-2014, 05:43 AM
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Open it up and give it a once over. Check any bearings for play, replace the seals, etc. It's not a difficult job and will give you a self made guarantee that it'll run for a while.
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Old 03-29-2014, 07:09 AM
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How do I "open it up"? I picture hundreds of little parts exploding out. If I do, do I have to replace anything just from opening it up?
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Old 03-29-2014, 09:48 AM
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You can check the FSM on how to pull the trans apart, or there are probably some reliable threads on here. I think its just some bolts and gasket sealent that hold the halves together, don't quote me on that though.

If you do pull it apart make sure to seal the case halves up really well. I had my 5spd rebuilt when my input shaft bearing went bad, i also had other bearings replaced while it was open. Long story short the idiots at AAMCO didnt seal the case halves up right, i went on a road trip, made it a couple states out then boom no more trans. Cost me $2,863 all said and done.
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Old 03-29-2014, 10:58 AM
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Damn, sorry to hear that. They didn't replace it under warranty?

I was going to crack open my old one when I got it out, but I figured as long as I have this one already out, why bother working on the one in my car just to swap it back it.

Is there a way to replace the ISB without messing with the rest?
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Old 03-29-2014, 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Derpington
idiots at AAMCO
absolutely. lol

Originally Posted by Finkle
Damn, sorry to hear that. They didn't replace it under warranty?

I was going to crack open my old one when I got it out, but I figured as long as I have this one already out, why bother working on the one in my car just to swap it back it.

Is there a way to replace the ISB without messing with the rest?
here ya go.

http://web.archive.org/web/200806120...ca/mvp.php/805
http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...te-up-pix.html
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Old 03-30-2014, 08:23 AM
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Thanks guys, Ill do some reading
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