I think my SE 20th Anv is being affected by the auto-tranny slipping problem.

I'd like to take it to my dealer to get it fixed. Do dealers put up much fight for TSB issues?

 

First, fully camouflage the car. A green tarp with leaves and twigs taped to it should suffice. You will need to cut a small window with which to see out. You will *not* need the McGuyver armor plating for this one..besides the extra weight would warp your rotors the first time you tried to stop.

Second, use the A-team to create a diversion.. Once the service manager is distracted, move your car into the service bay. No one will question the shrubbery moving around the lot as this is the migratory season for most migratory bushes.

Pull into an open bay, exit, drop and roll underneath the car in the next slot. Exiting the other side of the other car, casually approach the tech working on the other car and ask him when he will have time to do the Tranny TSB on your car. Be persistant as he might not see it at first with the camouflage. Call it the 'Sherwood Green' maxima. At this point he will need to see the paper work. Hopefully, your loyal sidekick will have gotten into the duct work, located the Cat5 cable for the laser printer and disabled it.

This should buy you enough time to have the TSB done by the confused tech. Even after the work is done, they will still disavow any knowledge of maxima trannies having any problems much like they do when you just ask for your car to be checked for slippage. While you could walk in and just *tell* them the car is slipping with or without TSB and ask the SM to 'take a look at it', the McGuyver method is much easier IMO.

 

The sarcasm on this forum is second to none! I love it!

Thanks TimW

 

 

after your 4 or 5 visit to your 3rd dealer, you tend to get alittle less than optimistic. There is no 'right way' to ask the SM. some will act like there is no problem and no TSB, and will gladly argue with you about it. The largest dealer here (and its pretty big) swears they have *NEVER* seen a max slip. They have maintained this position for 2 years. I got another dealer to do the TCM but not the solenoids. But I couldnt get them to drive the car in the morning (cold) to get it slip. They either forget or totally blow it off. they refuse to check the tranny for metal as per TSB even tho they identified enough slip to do the TCM replacement.

I've made them aware of it, and pointed out that it is a safety issue. I have told them it has almost caused a accident (its only slipped 2 or 3 times). I've given up, either the tranny will get worse and slip 100% of the time and it will get fixed under warranty or I will get nailed trying to merge across a few lanes of traffic. Either way, I've got side air bags and don't risk it when its cold. Seems like it would be cheaper just to fix the cars in the long run.

 

Thanks for the info.

I guess it's not that bad. I'm not even sure what I'm experiencing is "slippage". Weird thing is my car doesn't appear to fall into the applied VIN's or manufactuer dates noted in the TSB, but I still question it.

Worst case scenario, I'll talk to the owner of the dealer, he's a friend of the family

 

ignore the VIN range. If you have the delayed shift / big RPM jump between shifts / bad smell / squeal (any of these) then have it looked at.

 

Just find a dealership that will handle it right away by the outcome of your phone coversation. I had my dealer do the soleniod and actually called me back to ask me if that fixed it. I am now going in for the TCM.

Mark

 

Is that the uhh... Traction Control Module?

 

here is my story .. i am in westbury NY Long Island ... i work next to the dealer ..... so far service for rattles and warped rotors were fix with no problems .... now for the TSB on the tranny ... was prepared for war .. took the car ..took the entire TSB .... check in guy was cool .... 1 hr later they call to test drive ..Rob my friendly tech sat in the car and i showed him what happens ...they never saw this before .... now of for the surpise ... the TSB said to replace the solonoid pack first then the TCM if slippage contunes ... which means two times dropping the fluid etc ... this guy just ordered the solonoid pack .. the TCM ... all the screws ... the gasket ..the whole works ... he said .. i will change it all one shot .... i smile .....

waiting for parts ... will keep you guys posted ... any one near Westbury Long Island should go here for the repair ... no hassel ....

neil

 

I'd rather drive 1400 miles to your dealer than mess with my dealer again.

 

ya you get used to it.

 

Does thing mean I have a slipping tranny.....When it shifts, the tranny shifts gears, but the rpms don't drop when the gears are shifted. Is that a problem? The family Nissan Quest doesn't do that...it shifts like it is supposed to

 

Hehe....that was a pretty good read

As for me, I just went in there and described them the problem. Even though you have a TSB printed out, they still might not perform the job. They have to agre that your car have the symtoms that's described in the TSB first.

Good luck.

 

That is right! Here is what I did. Since my tranny only slips sometimes I knew I would not be able to replicate the slippage for them.

So I said this: "I do not feel comfortable having one of your techs drive my car over the speed limit to replicate the problem do you?" "The slipage only happends at full throttle at the top of second gear which is over 65mph, again I don't want you techs breaking the law in my car"

He said "no problem" and fixed it without even a test drive!

Mark

 

Good idea...hmmm...wonder if I can get some of my rattling problems fixed that way

 

Maximam:

how was the tarnny after the fix ... shifting wise? any improvements? besides the 2nd gear not slipping ?

neil

 

My tranny always shifted real firm and quick so that was never a prob. The prob was full throttle 1st to second shifts, there would be a delay sometimes between actual shifts. I got the solenoid fixed and that did not fix it so I am going back to do the TCM. I am going to tell them to save my old TCM just incase it shifts smoother or slower cause I love how my Max shifts right now. I just have it slip once every 5-6 full throttle runs, so it doesn't bother me much.

Next is a VB job or Level Ten, then I am going SC!!!!! The race with a 3rd gen Camaro the other night was too close! After 60mph I walked his @$$ though! LMFAO!

Mark