I was in the garage before and I was about to check my AT fluid. When I went to pull the dipstick I noticed it has some sort of clip assembly. I toyed around with the idea of getting a screwdriver and trying to pry it but I figured I would post something here and get some professional opinions. What is the deal with this? If anyone out there has the proper procedure for checking the AT fluid on a 05' Maxima please post!

 

don't that clip hold the dip stick in place. its like a child proof dip stick HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

 

Push in on the tab with a small screwdriver and pull up on dipstick.

 

Thanks VQ35DE!

I will check it tomorrow. Can you check it cold, or does it have to be running and at normal operating temp?

 

running................

 

No...no...no...don't check the AT fluid running or oil...or coolant....

I ran into the same issue. You can use your car key to push in the tab and then check it. Prior to that you want to run your engine to normal operating temperature. Once there, shut it down. Put it in Park, run it through the gears down to D and then back to park and wait 10 minutes and check the fluid level. This is what the tech told me at the Nissan dealership...correct me if I'm wrong anyone, but this is what I do on my 05' Maxima.

Later...Jimbo

 

thats weird, checking the at fluid running has been the way to do it for a long time.............. has it changed? well I also haven't had my 04 for long so I might not be to date on mech stuff since I always do the dealer thing, never do it myself........(talking bout chaging oil and stuff, I can check the levels myself)

 

I think you confusing engine running from engine running and the car moving Maj_Jimbo... just kidding. However to check the levels on an Automatic transmission the engine should be running.

 

Interesting situation here.

The Owner's manual describes the proper method of checking the FOUR (4) speed automatic (only found on the first 12 months production of SLs). For the FIVE (5) speed, it says the transmission fluid should be checked by your Nissan dealer.

I have no problem with this recommendation, as the new five speed tranny is not going to be using much (if any) fluid. I would be surprised if any needed to be added in the first 30K miles.

Also, Nissan recommends a fluid change at 30K ONLY for those who are following the PREMIUM maintenance schedule. For all others, there is no scheduled tranny fluid change; the service tech just checks the odor, color and consistency during routine service, and only recommends changing if he finds something going wrong with the fluid.

I have babied my Maximas, service-wise, and have driven one Maxima over 206,000 miles. But I only change the tranny fluid each 75K miles, and have never had a tranny problem.

 

but light, how proven is this new 5-speed tranny? this is the first car that i've owned that requires a ton of effort to check the tranny fluid.

 

MaxMus - Even my son, who drives a TL Type 'S' envies the Maxima's engine and auto tranny. They have excellent reputations. I have owned nothing but Maximas for over twenty years, and have never had one that used tranny fluid.

My guess is that the Nissan five speed tranny fluid has to be checked following a very specific and somewhat convoluted proceedure, and Nissan feels it would be done more consistently by their tech who has been trained to do it.

Others might say Nissan is really saying something like 'whatever it takes to get the vehicle into our service bay'.

 

People are right...the book says to have the Nissan dealer check it. Although I asked a tech in the service department when I called back to the dealership about the situation when I first brought it up in this forum and they said to check the 05' trans fluid as I posted earlier...so not sure about checking while running...maybe for the 4-speed...I would advise to check with the Nissan service department if it's an issue. Shouldn't have to worry about it too much though...if were loosing fluid...we've got problems...

Jimbo

 

I ran across that in my manual as well where they say have the dealer check it and I have to say I think that is

I will research this a little further but I am about to embark on a long trip for 2 months and I want to be sure all my levels are correct. I guess I will have to go to the Dealer in Vegas then.

 

Nik...just call up the service department and verify what the information I recevied..not saying I'm right, but they gave me the info I posted earlier in this post. There is no reason why we can't check the level of our AT fluid ourselves...if we have to start taking our cars to the dealership for them to check the fluid...than I second the

Jimbo

 

Tell me about it! I got a call in to my guy at Nissan. I am all for Dealership service but I believe we should be able to check our own fluids!

 

I just checked my 2004 Nissan Maxima Service Manual, and yes it says to check it HOT with engine running and trans in PARK. This was for both the 4 and 5-sp autos.

 

VQ35DE...and everyone else with a 05' Maxima....I just called another dealership her in Colorado Springs and talked to the Service Manager who seemed to have his act together compared to another dealership I called.

Opposite to what I said before, he said you check the AT fluid while the engine is running...so I guess it's the same as the 04' Maxima. He did mention the are seeing some of the 05' Maxima's with bolted on AT fluid dipsticks...unlike the one that I have that is clipped on. So that may be why the manual states to go to the dealership for a check because it's bolted on. He mentioned he dealt with 3 cars today on that issue and customers complaining about it. Mine is fortunately a clip on and I can pull the dipstick and it has a "hot" and "cold" reading...so even though they say to check it while the engine is running...I guess you can check it cold too. Confusing...not sure why Nissan is more detailed on this whole subject...

Jimbo

 

My dealer also said there is a small bolt that I would need to loosen in order to check the tranny fluid. Didn't know the 04's had something different.

 

Didn't notice a small bolt but I didn't look too close. I am changing the oil either tomorrow or Sunday so I will look at it then and report back!

 

JIMBO,
ALWAYS check with engine running, cold side if car has not been driven( at all),
or (MUCH BETTER TO USE) hot side if car has been driven.

 

nikv69 there is a reason why its sealed. If you want to know if you have enough fluid, look under your car and make sure your not leaking it! If you really what to make sure check all seals under cars transmission for sweats. If no leaks no sweats the tranny is fine. Just one thing I need to ask you, Why does one need to check the level of transmission fluid on a brand new car!

 

licnyc,

While saying as long as your tranny is not leaking then you do not need to check the fluid on a new car is all well and good, I am embarking on a drive that will take me to my winter home in Nevada. That is 2600 miles in 3 days. I like to be able to make sure all my fluids are at proper levels before, during and after the trip as well as repeating the process for the return trip. I am changing the oil tomorrow and I will see if my tranny dipstick has the bolt or not. I will also be changing my oil again at a Vegas Nissan dealer after I get out there and I hit 3000 miles. Where I will have the transmission fluid checked and tell the service manager that this tranny dipstick design SUCKS THE FAT ONE and then I will proceed to do this to him

 

Valid question.

I would also ask why one would need to check the wheel allignment on a brand new car? Well, I should have done that on my 04. The rear wheels were not properly alligned (I can't prove it, but am certain this was the way it was delivered to me). By the time I found the problem (which took a while because of tire rotation and the mis-allignment not being very bad), I had cups on the inside tread on all 4 tires. I will be buying new tires earlier than I would have if the allignment had been correct.

IMO it is simply prudent to check your tranny fluid level from time to time.

 

I think Nissan's approach must be sort of like mine.

I check/change the engine oil very regularly, and check the water level in the battery, the washer fluid level, the coolant level, the brake fluid level, the power steering fluid level, etc, but never bother with the auto tranny fluid.

I think I ignore the tranny fluid because, in over fifty years of driving, I have never had the tranny fluid level change unless I had a leak. And if there is a leak, I know it at once by one glance at the garage floor, and have it fixed immediately before the mess is tracked into the house.

I feel Nissan's recommendation of having it checked every 15K is sufficient.

I also feel Nissan understands that most folks checking the tranny fluid will be thinking primarily (as several stated here) of fluid level. Nissan knows the tranny fluid level rarely changes to any significant degree, but that it is very important (especially in their new hitech five speed) to know what color the fluid should be, what it should smell like, and how to detect degeneration or contamination of the fluid. That is why they would like a trained professional checking the fluid every 15K.

Nissan also knows that, barring a problem, or unusually severe service, tranny fluid often lasts for 100K or longer. Unless an interim check indicates degeneration, I always change every 75K, and the fluid coming out at that time is usually in decent condition.

In the event the fluid in the five speed tranny needs changing, or somehow is slightly low, the new fluid has to come from Nissan, anyway.

Having stated what I feel must be Nissan's view, I also understand there are many who have always faithfully checked their own tranny fluid, and this new approach by Nissan will not sit well with those folks.

In fact, I feel Nissan has not explained their new approach to tranny fluid checking in a manner that would be acceptable to many drivers. I was not pleased with the coverage in the Owner's Manual. Were I a fairly new driver (driving less than ten or fifteen years), the manual would leave me both confused and frustrated.

 

Though I agree with Lightonthehill I have to say that waiting to change AT fluid for 75k is not a good idea. Especially with NY driving. Maybe this new 5 speed AT design can help the fluid stay cleaner longer but 75k is quite a long time. I also have a little bit of an issue with Nissan's reco of checking AT every 15k. For everyone on this forum who take better car of their cars than they do themselves maybe, since we find leaks usually the second they start but the person who doesn't fuss over their Max wouldn't be on top of a leak. I would think that barring a leak it is a good idea to check AT fluid at least every oil change and I am changing my AT fluid at least every 25-30K. It is raining here so I am changing my oil probably tomorrow and installing a Mobil 105 filter! I will get that AT dipstick out!

 

Most of my mileage is on fairly open interstates (I avoid Atlanta interstates if at all possible). Were I living anywhere near New York, not only would I change my tranny fluid more often (probably 30K?); I would probably be afraid to even own a 6th gen Maxima. I don't even like having it out of my sight in the (formerly) genteel deep south.

Should my service tech find anything suspicious when checking the tranny fluid, I would change, even if I hadn't reached 30K. I fully expect to have a fluid change suggested by my service folks well before 75K, and, as I don't wish to jeapordize the 5 year power train warranty, I will comply.

The posters on this board probably represent only a few percent of the total number of Maxima owners, but that few percent includes mostly very avid (can I say ****?) owners. The percentage of non-Maxima.org owners who would personally regularly check their tranny fluid is probably in the single digits.

The large morass of folks who either don't know/care what a tranny is, or would not be checking, or, worse, would be adding WalMart, KMart, or even brake or power steering fluid to the tranny is what Nissan is trying to protect against.

I understand the position of we '*****', but I also understand Nissan's situation.

 

Understand VQ35DE...I guess you didn't see my post a couple up...

I understand everyone's point of view here, and I understand Nissan's point of view. I do agree with the folks that want the ability to check their fluids when going on long trips and may not be in an area where our Maxima's may be serviced by a dealer. Understand that we shouldn't have to worry about it, and it shouldn't be an issue...but I guess it comes down to simple "Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services" (PMCS) as the military calls it. As some of you know, I'm a military man...we do a -10 level maintenance on our vehicles everytime were about to use them. This involves checking all the fluids and other stuff. Bottom line, I like having the ability to check my AT fluid every now an then and letting Nissan service it when necessary. It comes down to "some" folks in the room having that assurance that their fluid is at the right level...anything else...could be an indication of a problem, such as a leak. I have a 05' Maxima...so it shouldn't be an issue, but am from old school and checking all my fluids is something that makes me more comfortable about the engine...no car is perfect and certainly no engine is perfect...just my 2 cents...or I guess a buck five now...

Jimbo

 

After I changed the oil I got a screwdriver and got the dipstick out. There was no bolt. Tranny wasn't hot so I will check it along my journey!