went for my 48K (km) service abt. 3 weeks back and asked the dealer to do the auto transmission fuel change ( as mentioned in the book) .. but was told it was not necessary for my car .. that I needed to do it at 96K instead... reason being my transmission is a "K" type ... he told me there were two diff. transmissions in the maxima (for auto's) .. i believe teh other one was a "J" type...
he mentioned all the "high end" maximas' .. especially one with the triptronic's have the better transmissions.... anyone here know anything abt, this?

 

Wow, a dealer that suggested that you not have a service done that you asked for? I am at a loss for words.

 

When the 04 Max first came out, the SE got the 5 speed automatic, while the SL got the old 4 speed auto.

So yes he is correct. For the first ?8 months or so the Max had two different auto transmissions.

 

Dude thats wrong... You need to follow your schedule in your manual. I believe the trans needs to be changed at 30K. I know i am going to do mine around 25K, and mine in the trip-tronic, and uses ONLY the K-Type. Also make sure you use the correct fluid or it will destroy your transmition. LAter..

 

The assembly line for '04 Maximas began running in January 2003, although none were shipped to the dealers until the first week of March 2003.

Maxima SLs manufactured from January 2003 until February 6 2004 (almost 13 months) had the old style 4 speed auto tranny. This is a good time-tested tranny, and does not require the special fluid the 5 speed tranny does.

Beginning February 6 2004, the SL was converted to the same 5 speed tiptronic auto tranny that the SE had from day one. This tranny requires Nissan's special fluid.

Nissan's top level maintenance program for the '04 Maxima recommends changing the 5 speed tranny fluid (using only the special Nissan fluid) at around 30,000 miles (around 48,000 kilometers). Nissan's two lesser levels of maintenance recommend only that the tranny fluid be checked every 15,000 miles (around 24,000 kilometers) and replaced only if the technician finds something such as wrong color (polluted), burnt odor, dirty looking fluid, etc.

If you indeed have an '04 SL with the 4 speed auto tranny and do normal driving (no trailer towing, etc), 60,000 miles (around 96,000 kilometers) would be a perfectly good time to change the tranny fluid.

Like others, I am impressed that the technician was so open and honest with you.

 

[QUOTE=lightonthehill]

Good information. Its nice to know that there are honest ppl out there.

 

Light - excellent post as usual. Good info.

 

Light-I am grateful for and impressed by your knowledge and how clearly you articulate what you know. Thank you for benefiting us.

 

Thanks light... tho mine is a 5 spd se 04. not SL. according to what u have said, the dealer shd. have done the transmission oil change then, right?

 

tubells - not necessarily.

He should have checked the tranny fluid very carefully. Should it look and smell fine, he should have said a fluid change was not necessary at this time, but he would gladly do one if you want.

Under the top (of three) levels of Nissan maintenance outlined in the Owner's Manual, the 5 speed tranny fluid would be changed at 30,000 miles/48,000 kilometers. But for normal driving under normal conditions, changing this early might be considered 'babying' your car. It would be sort of equivalent to changing your engine oil at 3,000 miles/4,800 kilometers; won't hurt a thing, and gives you peace of mind.

But I feel he is a bit off base by stating the 60,000 miles/96,000 kilometer numbers unequivocally.

With this tranny, at the very least, the fluid must be carefully checked again at 45,000 miles/72,000 kilometers. Changing the fluid at this point would be sort of equivalent to changing the engine oil at 3,750 miles/6,000 kilometers (normal interval). This is the point at which I plan to change my tranny fluid.

Should the fluid still be fine at that point, then the next check would, in fact, be due at 60,000 miles/96,000 kilometers. Changing the fluid at that point would be sort of equivalent to changing the engine oil at 4,500 miles/7,200 kilometers. Probably fine, but a little longer than most like to wait.

Should you be doing much of your driving in very cold or very hot or very dusty or very hilly conditions, pulling a trailer, driving mostly in congested stop-and-go traffic, or pushing the car hard, I would insist on a tranny fluid change at 30,000 miles/48,000 kilometers. Even in normal driving, I think it might be a good idea to not go far past 45,000 miles/72,000 kilometers before changing.

Just my opinion . . .

 

thanks again light... got to see the dealer again soon... he did not even check .. just told me that I do not need to do it till 96K (KM) (that did shock me .. dealer saying no to work!! ...do not know what they got planned)

but once again thanks and especially for the miles to KM ( i used to do it ..but it's nice to see it being reciprocated (if that's a word)!!

P.S.. mine is just normal driving .. no trailers/hills and mostly hwy. etc. (get the extreme cold tho..) but I'll sure take ure advice and get it done @ 72 K (KM), if not before..

 

I just bought an 04 SL and I assumed/thought that all of them had the 5 spd auto in it, the car will be delivered this week/next, can I tell by the vin which tranny is in it?
Greg

 

Built date. Early 04SL have 4 speed. Ask Lightonthehill, he can tell you about vin.

 

Ok, any idea what the before/after build dates are for the 5 spd auto?

 

I got mine in Nov 03 and it was built in May I believe. I got stuck with the 4-speed...

 

Does the 4 sp still have the manual shift capability and how much difference is there between the 4/5 spd auto?

Also, since you got yours in Nov 03 I assume that is was built in May 03?

 

I bought mine in Jan 04 and it had 5 speed

 

no it don't.... only the 5sp have the manualmatic tranny..

 

As Tek said, no manual matic. And as for difference, I'm not sure.
And yes May 03...

 

As long as I have the autostick option then that means I have the 5 sp auto, right?

The reason why I can't go out and look is that the car is being shipped and I am debating getting a used Y pipe from Squint and he advised me that his Y pipe only fits the 5 speeds...

 

thats correct....

 

Whew..Now I need to decide to get the used cattman ypipe or wait for the redline..
Any opinions?

 

Welcome to the Fam Greg

 

Mine was bought in FEB 04 and has a 4 speed auto

 

ALL 04 SL is four speed and the Se is five. the SL only got five speed on the 05 model

 

No. Only the early built 04 SL's (built '03 to early '04) have 4 spd, the ones built later in '04 have 5 spd.

See post #5 http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hlight=5+speed

 

Not true. I have an 04 SL with the 5 speed.

 

Hey I hope you dont think i took your screen name, I have had Maxedout for a while but use it on other sites, I had to add a 4 because it was taken on this site..

 

Me too. Count me as lucky....

 

Bro its just a screen name plus their different anyways good choice though it must be being from new york that we think alike

 

FEBRUARY 6TH, 2004.

Remember that date.

Not because that was the day smoke and coral sand were added to the Maxima color mix (although that is true).

But because that is the day Nissan switched from the 4 speed auto to the 5 speed tiptronic in the 2004 SL.

Look at the build date inside the driver's door.

Although Nissan did not begin selling the 2004 Maxima until the first week of March, 2003, the '04 assembly line was actually underway in late January, 2003.

All 2004 SLs built between January of 2003 and February 5, 2004 have the 4 speed automatic tranny. All 2004 SLs built between February 6, 2004 and July 2004 (end of '04 run) have the 5 speed auto tiptronic (exactly like the SE) tranny.

 

Thanks! That is good to know.

 

Hey im new here, just gota quick question for u guys

Im looking to get a pre-owned max

my two choices are they are goin for the same price!

2004 SE with 21K
2004 SL With 26k

I really like the sl basically because of the leather int, However im worried because the SL-had the 4spd auto and the SE has the 5spd, I have a heavy foot......

My question is what is the major difference between the 4spd in the sl and 5spd in the se,

Does the 4spd decrese performance

how is the 4spd, any recalls or problems vs the 5spd auto


thanx alot

DJfris
Berlin,CT

 

Well, I can think of two differences between the 4sp and early 5sp tranmissions. Some of the earlier built 5sps (I can't remember if it is only for SEs though; might be both SEs and SLs) shifted hard while cold. They put out a TSB for this and takes about 2 hours to apply the fix (basically reprogramming the shift points while cold). Another difference is that (if I recall correctly), the 4sp SL gets an estimates 20/27 MPG while the 5sp SE gets 20/28... I'm sure the later 5sp SL's also got 20/28.

Does the SE come with leather (I'm guessing not)? Does each have HIDs? If they were both equal, I'd go for the SE (less miles, 5sp tranny) - but I'm biased that way.

Good luck.

 

djfris - The four speed auto is an older, but dependable tranny. It requires little maintenance, and the maintenance it does require is fairly low-tech. For routine family driving, it actually has some advantages over the five speed tiptronic.

But you said you have a 'heavy foot'. That in itself does not require the five speed tiptronic. But if you are one who would like to play with the tiptronic (as many here do), or normally drive rather sportily, then you should look hard at the Maxima with the tiptronic.

The reason the SL has the same price with more miles is because there is a ton of stuff standard on the base SL that is only available via option packages on the SE. Additionally, most SLs are ordered with the Driver Preferred package, which costs only around $700 on the SL. But that same Driver Preferred package on the SE costs over $3,000 (adds far too many features to list here).

I personally would have absolutely ZERO interest in a 6th gen Maxima without the Driver Preferred package. Why buy a near-luxury vehicle in a stripped-down version?

The difference in vehicle performance between the SE and SL is almost insignificant UNLESS on a curvy road. But the difference in comfort and convenience between an SE without the Driver Preferred package and an SL with the Driver Preferred package is HUGE. Please try to do your 'homework', as well as drive both these cars, before you decide.

If the SE has the driver preferred package, give it first consideration. If not, look hard at the SL.

Just my opinion.

 

This is my situation:

By the end of this week I must decide what Max to take I have a choice
of the 2004 SL(4spd) or 2004 SE(5spd auto)

THE SL Has the standard features including the sky view
and also the 4spd trany which is a big minus for me

The SE has the sunroof, and the better tran

Im only really worried about the 4spd auto, i really have a heavy foot and like to really drive my cars!

The SL has some nice features I would want like the leather and the hids, but the 4spd is holding me back

What are your opinions

Thanks

 

...if I'm not mistaken it's a 5 speed auto last I checked?

The skyview roof is standard for both trims. The sunroof is an optional ($1,000) option you can include. The engine is the same. From what I've read is that the SE's suspension is much sportier than the SL's. Quite frankly they're pretty much the same it's just a personal preference if you really want a 6 speed as opposed to the 5 speed automatic.

I know that didn't help any but just wanted to point those things out. Good luck on that decision.

BTW, the HIDs are also optional in the SE and not to mention the SE is a bit cheaper I guess than the SL. So you can get the Elite Package (as I have) and still have a fully loaded Maxima with all the optional features (minus the sunroof). But as I said it's a personal preference.

 

EDIT: NismoMax80 corrected me. SL tranny was changed mid 04.

I think you'd be happy with both but personally I would go with the SE. I like being able to open my sunroof. HIDs can be installed later. Leather seats I can live without or if I really wanted to, upgrade later.

 

Um, SL tranny was changed mid 04.

No one ever said the 4speed was ever bad. 5th gens have it. If you seem to dwell that much over it, why are you even considering it? Just get the SE and mod features if you need to.