2001 SE, auto, 110,000K

Here's the symptoms...

1. Shift 1st to 2nd: bang/clunk under moderate acceleration

2. Shift 2nd to 3rd: engine revs about 500rpm until 3rd gear "catches", frequently a quiet squealing sound right before the catch.

3. Sometimes after traveling on the highway, or driving continuously without slowing down below maybe 25mph, I will come to a stop. Then when attempting to accelerate again, the car feels like it is in 2nd gear. If I keep accelerating, it usually violently clunks into 1st gear.


So.............
Obviously the transmission needs work. Hopefully just a rebuild, hopefully NOT completely replacement.
From the above symptoms, whats your guess?

Just wondering if anyone has an idea regarding
how long it will be in the shop, and approximately how much it will cost including labor.

Also, is it a bad idea to go somewhere other than the dealer for this?
I'd like to save as much as I can, but I don't want the headaches of a bad repair.

Thanks in advance for the suggestions and moral support

 

Couple more questions guys....

To avoid the dealer diagnosis fee, would a trip to Autozone and their scanner be able to diagnose?

Used vs. new, is a new tranny worth the extra cost, or do you think a used would suffice for a car with 110K?

 

If the car is still in good shape and was taken care of 110K is still a relatively new Max.

A new or rebuilt (or getting yours rebuilt) tranny is the way to go. Buying a used one without pretty good specifics on it is like betting on a roulette wheel.

Unless you plan on dumping the car. Then buy a used one, pray it lasts a couple weeks and trade it at a dealer.

 

Transmission codes are not retrieved using a typical OBD11 scanner. 'IF' there are tranny codes, you would need the Nissan Consult tool to retrieve them.

You haven't said if you checked the fluid, and what color it is and if it smells burnt, if you've followed manufacturers instructions regarding change interval, etc.

Either way, you are looking at some $$.

 

If the trans was already slipping, would it still be a good idea to do a fluid change.. Or would it just make it worse?

 

If a fluid change had not been done during all those miles, and the tranny wasn't having issues, I would say don't change it now.

If I were him, I would bring it by a reputable mechanic, NOT AAMCO, and not the dealer.

 

I had the fluid flushed/replaced at about 99K, prior to that there was only one or two incidents where the car would not shift from park into 1st. These new and more extensive problems have started about 1-1.5 months ago.

Like an idiot, I actually haven't checked the fluid since this started I'll do it tomorrow and update...hopefully I can get to a dealer and have them check it out.

Anyone have any idea what the deal is with this squealing??

 

Checked according to the users manual, both hot and cold levels were normal.
Smells a tad burnt, but color isn't all that dark.

Probably going to skip the dealer all together and see what the trans-shop thinks tomorrow.

 

yea your fluid is burnt....lol!!! clutches are goin....because if u just had ur fluid flushed/replaced and its brown like that within 10k miles. somethings going on in there.

 

in some cases it can get worst, in others it may be good. how is urs slipping?

 

drive it til it fails then swap in a jy tranny for small $ should be under $500 shipped with new fluid. spend a few hours putting it in, bamn you're done. it's really not that hard either.

 

unless your automatic is vlsd like mine and it ain't gonna be cheap + good luck finding one :P

Mine doesn't slip, it makes a squeak sound when it shifts from 2nd to 3rd.. :P

It has less than 61k on it.. :|

 

Update...

Was driving to Hartford this morning, getting on the highway...it shifted from 1st to 2nd smoothly, 2nd to 3rd with a 1500rpm rev/slip in between (biggest yet), caught 3rd for a sec, then was going back and forth between 2nd and 3rd.

Couldn't get it to stay in 3rd, couldn't get it to catch 4th. At 35mph in 2nd gear, I drove off the next exit and to Main Street Transmissions in Manchester, CT.

Mechanic is going to look at it today or tomorrow, quoted me $2100-$2250 for a rebuild And about a week for repair time. Sound about right to everyone?

 

How much does a new one from Dave B cost? I know he has the best deals on 6mt's, are auto's more expensive? My 06 6 spd with hlsd was less than 2 g's and 400 for the swap.

 

Not sure, kinda a moot point right now anyways since I waited and pushed it to failure. Now I just need the car back asap so I'm not paying out the @ss for rental costs.

 

going to cost $2093 for the overhaul