Sad for me to finally be parting ways with my 2008 Nissan Maxima. Bought it brand new with 15 miles on odometer. Today, it has 268,759 miles as I let it go. All those miles have been some really fun miles. Top speed I have hit on this car is 130. Car has always done me right.

I gave it to my brother who used it for 10 months. Then I went to Dallas to pick it up 3 weeks ago. On my way back to Houston, it died just at 85 miles from home and 93 miles from my mechanic.

I called AAA and I was lucky my free tow covers up to 100 miles. The tow truck driver told me if I did not have 3A, the tow would be about $475.

Well, towed my car to my mechanic. He said new transmission. I towed it to dealership using free AAA again. Dealership said needs new transmission. Cost $6,200 for everything with warranty on new transmission. I said I will not fix it.

Towed it to another local shop. Said $3,800. They said they will buy a new transmission from the dealership and have to have dealership program it to the car when done. I just gave up then and put it up for sale on Craigslist for $1,000 firm.

Got a total of 9 calls with 3 serious buyers. First serious buyer made excuses not to meet when I was off, so I asked second person to come look at the car. They came and saw the car and really loved it. Like they said the condition is pretty remarkable.

To my surprise, they said they are going to tow the car immediately to go and cross the border into Mexico. I was shocked. But they paid me, I signed everything over to them and took last pictures of my beloved 2008 Nissan Maxima. I really loved this car. And car still looks and handled great! Too bad the CVT lasted only 268,759 miles. They were miles well spent.

Now I am left with only my 2012 Infiniti QX. I hope my Maxima has a great life over in Mexico when it is back on the road.



And some last shots of it after it died on the freeway and getting towed. I will miss this Maxima. After 12 years and 3 months of ownership and use. Still looking clean! Last dometer reading: 268,759.

It died and the car was on but stepping on the gas would only rev the engine. I just coasted until I stopped here. 85 miles from home. Car starts, but put it in any gear and nothing happens.

95 miles ride on tow truck to my mechanic.

Next ride to the dealership for real diagnosis. Failed transmission. Needs new one. $6,500 for new one with warranty. I refused to pay. Towed it to another repair shop where I left it for 5 days until it sold yesterday.


They paid me $1,000 for my car and immediately started taking the bumper off to hook it up to this Ford Explorer to tow it straight to McAllen and then cross over the border to Reynosa, Mexico.




Farewell, Maxima. Enjoy living in Mexico and keep up going as fast as I know you are. On your last trip, you proved to me that you still got it!

 

Link to my maintenance thread for my 2008 Nissan Maxima. It served me well. Now I hope it serves the next owner well.

PetitFrereMaxima's 2008 Nissan Maxima maintenance thread...

 

What Infiniti QX do you have?

 

Trannys are $350 all day long from a yard. Bout a days work to replace. Narco messkins got a good deal.

 

I drive a 2012 Infiniti QX56. If you want to see my build and adventures, click on my link to my thread...

2012 Infiniti QX56 maintenance and adventure thread...

 

Well, I wish I knew where to find one and find someone to put it in. For I really hurt seeing this Maxima going away. And going away to Mexico. I have to go look for it someday. I should have put a tracker in that Maxima before selling it!

My local mechanic could not locate a transmission from the junk yard. 2 specialized transmission shops quoted me $2,500 and $3,100 respectively to rebuild the transmission.

Dealership quoted me $6,200. The last transmission place quoted me $3,800, saying they will buy a brand new transmission from the dealership..

I just looked at my Maxima and told her it is ok if we part ways now. She shed a tear, but I wiped it for her. She has served me well. My last trip from Dallas, it could still get to 120 like when we first met each other over 12 years ago.

I say 12 years and 3 months with all the 268,759 miles I put on her is some consolation that it is ok to let her go. Maybe I should have really put a tracker on her so I know where she is at when she goes to start her new life in Mexico.

 

Lmao I have one sitting collecting dust. 108k I think was on mine.

 

I can't seem to part ways with mine. I'm finally replacing things and getting it back on the road. Not many Houston Maximas left on here anymore. I did see a really clean looking max the other morning on Magnolia turning left on 288. Black with what I saw was the sarona rear bumper (never liked the kit but this one looked clean).

 

I have an 07 with 112k miles and want it to last another 5-6 years. Do you have any tips on prolonging the life of the cvt besides changing the fluid every 30k or so miles? I've heard the timing chains are bad on these cars, anything else I should worry about?

 

Just curious, how often have you changed the fluid in the past?

 

Unfortunately it doesn’t look like it’s ever been changed. I bought it last March at 104k miles and last month when I changed the radiator because the transmission line going to it was rusted out and the cvt fluid was pure black. It didn’t have any metal pieces and the car doesn’t shift weird but I am worried about the transmission. The rest of the car is in mint condition and the previous 2 owners looked like they took great care of it just not the cvt fluid

 

I spoke to somebody who said he worked at a transmission shop for a couple of years. He said that if the tranny fluid was not changed at 60k, he wouldn't do it now (my 08 has 125k), since it may dislodge some gunk and make things worse.

 

A month ago when the transmission line was leaking from the radiator I lost about 2 quarts so I obviously put new fluid in. I haven’t had any issues but since I only put about half of what you could take out with a drain (4.5 ish quarts) I hope I won’t have an issue when I do drain and refill. I can’t afford to pay $3k for a new tranny or take the chance on a junkyard one so I’m in a pickle lol