I bought a 2009 maxima 3 weeks ago with 209,000kms. i did the brakes, changed the oil and today went to try and change the tranny fluid since i have no idea when the last time the owner did any of those.
I read a lot on here about how to do it and seemed just as simple as a oil change. After doing the drain and fill my car is now whining and wont go past 10km/hr.
Here are my steps in what i did.

Bought 6 Liters of tranny fluid from a nissan dealership.
Drove the car for 10-15min before doing the change to warm it up.
Put the car on ramps, and shifted through the gears. P to R for 5 plus secs then into N for 5 plus secs then D for 5 plus secs and back down to park doing the same thing. (read and seen ppl do that before the change)
Turned the car off
Removed the drain plug and waited 15-20 min
Hand screwed the drain plug back in so it would stop dripping while i remove the pan. Since i didn't know when this was last done i figured I'd remove the pan see whats inside and clean it.
Once the pan was off it was dirty, had gunk all over the magnets and light gunk around the side of the pan
I cleaned the pan and magnets, used some brake clean and wiped it dry with a shop rag making sure no lint or anything was left behind.
Next i removed the mesh filter had a couple small pieces of metal and replaced it with a new one i had bought from napa
I then bolted back the new mesh filter
Then i was going to use the new gasket that came with my filter kit but the metal one that came off the car was in good shape and figure i would trust it as it seemed more oem, but couldn't find anything about it, if it was oem or not. but read that those types of gaskets are usually good till you notice something wrong with them.
Once everything was tight i thought i was at the last stretch and filled it up with 5 liters of nissan CVT NS2 tranny fluid since that's what came out.
Went to start the car and it started up fine, i read to let it run for 5 min, and about 2 min in it started to whine, so i put it in each gear thinking i missed a step but that didnt do anything.
I shut off the car and didn't know what to think, maybe since it was on ramps it needed to be level. So i start it up again and the same whine happened but i rolled it off the ramps and checked the level.
The level was at the 2nd notch so i let it run for 2 more min thinking it needed to circulate, but it kept doing it.
Turned the car off and thought maybe add just a bit more in case it needed it, so i did that and started it up same thing, went through the gears again and it kept doing it.
Maybe it needed to drive a bit so i drove it from the garage to the end of the ally and once i turned onto the main road i had no power and started to head back
Almost didn't make it back the car lost all power and i stopped the car put it into drive and it didn't want to move i put it into reverse and it moved, again into drive and very slowly made it back into the garage.
What is going on? What did i do wrong? Did i just wreak my new car?

 

Are you sure the fluid is Nissan fluid? Did you use 999mp-cv0NS2?
Are you sure you have put back enough fluid (not overfilled or underfilled)?
Have you ever heard gaskets should never be used after they are out?
Did you disturb anything on the valve body when you cleaned or when you took the screen off?
Did you use the napa screen? In these cars you don't use non OEM parts in sensitive areas, ever.
Did you drop anything in the dipstick tube?
Have you checked ECU for codes?

It's either the fluid, or you messed up something in the fluid pickup tube past the screen, or valve body.

 

I'll have to go check the bottle of CVT fluid, but the parts guy looked up my vin and got me Nissan ns2 fluid. I put the right amount in and now might of added a bit too much as I thought adding a bit more would help. The gasket was stuck onto the car and before I reused it I keep researching if I could and found a article saying the metal types are reusable if they are in good condition and this one was. I didn't touch the valve body at all and I did use the Napa screen cuz the one i took off had a bit of metal in it and didn't want that to get mixed back into the tranny. Didn't drop anything down the tube and No codes on the car.

 

I believe this is the first time in 210,000kms (130,000miles) that it's been changed. Could the new stuff maybe loosen the old gunk stuff and it fell into the filter clogging it?

 

I just checked the bottle and they sold me P/N/ 99998-CVTNS2

 

 

So you dropped the Pan, changed the screen and did not change the filter? Ok. But having said that, when I dropped the Pan, it did take a bit over 6 qts to fill it back to the "full" when warm. Warm it back up, running thru the gears and check. My bet, you are either low or you fubar'd something up with the screen (or dislodged something that got caught in the external filter that is restricting flow). As a TEST ONLY, if all else is good, bypass the external filter with a bullet connector or a pen you can cut down and see if it makes any difference.

 

i just got back from Nissan bought 5 more litres to re drain, maybe get more of the bad fluid out and check the pan and screen again for any damage now or if the old fluid clogged it. I filled it cold and when I started the car to let it warm up after 2 min it whined so I shut it off but since it was on ramps I restarted it put it into each gear before I backed it off the ramps and onto level ground. Well it was running and whining I checked the fluid it was at the 2nd notch, went thought the gears again. In reverse the noise went quieter. Was also thinking maybe it had too little so i added 100-200ml more but that didn't help. This morning I checked the stick after it's been sitting in a cool garage and the level was past the max level. Does it go higher up the stick when cold? Thought when it's hot it goes higher. Brand new screen, didn't touch it. How could I dislodge something into the external filter? I was very careful not to touch anything but the pan and screen.

 

Also just found out the CVT fluid i used is the correct kind for that car, the only difference in why the bottles may look different to some is mine is in liters since im from canada and the other bottles are in quarts (american)
That's what the parts service said at the dealership. That's why they are package differently but both are the same stuff. Round 2 here i come.
This time im only going to add 4.2 liters then start it and let it warm up and add as needed. But as im adding more and if the car makes that sound should i just let the car keep whining to warm up?

 

The bottles seem legit.
Try another drain and fill. You might try Lt. suggestion of overriding the ext filter.
Keep us posted and good luck.

 

So far I drained the car from the plug for 35 min. A cold drain since I didn't want that whining in the tranny to start up. Also found a video saying a cold drain is better cause the valve that allows tranny fluid to flow closes When it gets to its high temp, and a cold drain has the valve open since it's cold, not sure if that's true or not but I did it cold this time. The pan is clean took it off again to check and the mesh screen is clean no metal at all. I had about 5.5L (5.8qts) Come out of everything from the car, pan and screen. Last night I added 5L plus 100-200ml later on thinking that's why the car was making the noise. This morning when I check the level it was way past the max level. (8hrs later). Now I just clean all the bolts and about to put it all back together.

 

Just took one last look at the screen still has a bit of metal

 

So, I am going to comment about a different Nissan but.......
i was doing a lot of research on my wife’s 2013 pathfinder tranny flush and from what I’ve read/found, yours could be over serviced. There is a drain plug on the tranny next to the pan that needs to be unscrewed (while vehicle is running on a LEVEL surface, not up on ramps) when the stream turns into a drip the tranny is at the correct level. Also a laser thermometer is needed. I YouTubed a bunch of videos and these were the major takeaways

 

I've always done a drain and fill, and replace the drain plug o-ring and change the CVT oil filter and have had no problems at all, refill with close to 5 qts and it's done, I have no desire to remove the pan and touch anything inside. My wife's 2012 has 90,000 miles and my 2010 at 140,000 with no problems. The whine in a CVT isn't a good sign, but I don't want to misguide you either. If you can't resolve the whining issue definitely bring to the dealer for proper diagnosis. On level ground fill it with 3 qts first then start the car let it warm up, check the dipstick and keep adding until the level is up to the second notch up to the cross hatch area.

 

I've never dropped the pan either, but be sure it isn't over-filled. With the standard plug drain and fill I use about 4.3 liters, FYI. As far as the dipstick, if the car is off and you check it will read way high...engine on and hot (thoroughly hot...Nissan says something like 20 minutes plus of stop and go to fully warm) is the only way to accurately read the stick.

 

It depends on how the car is raised(example hoist vs ramps) On my ramps today (10 inch height) I drained exactly 5 quarts. Before I started draining level was on top cross hatch area (CVT temp was 158F using CVTz50 app). I ended putting 4.6 quarts and will check it tomorrow. I suspect I need few more ounces to add.

 

That level you had before is perfect, Mine is always to the end of the crosshatch or slightly above. That's where we want it more or less in that range.

 

Well no luck, a lot went on yesterday.
Going to try a few new things Tuesday night. If what I do fixes it I'll explain everything I did. If it doesn't I'll still explain what I did but probably end up going to the dealership. Wish me luck.

 

Hope all works out for you! Keep us posted!

 

It might be all coincidental. Have you test drive the car well before you bought it? Probably that tranny was on its last leg anyway just needing a last push to its misery

 

Strong possibility, I believe that maybe exactly what's going on!

 

That metal looks a lot like the cvt belt. It is probably hetting ready to let go (sorry)

 

I'd say have a serious talk with the seller since you mentioned you bought the car recently (weeks). How much did you pay btw and how is the car's condition overall?
​​​​​

 

Darn what a nightmare, I have 200,000 miles almost and bought my 09 with 168K three years ago, I changed the fluid twice within two weeks each time to get most of the old fluid out and did the filter during the second time also and did'int have any problems, I poured 5 bottles in each time during the drain and refills and did'int remove the pan.Did everything you did except pan removal but did the filter.... My guess is maybe it was just never serviced at all.....see if the previous owner has any information or maybe carfax the vin # if that's even possible over there. How did the old fluid look? What color ? Good luck.

 

I don't think that CVT was properly maintained beforehand, If that had fluid changes at the proper intervals this wouldn't have happened. The CVT belt needs to be properly lubricated with fresh fluid every 60,000 miles, I change my fluid and filter every 30,000-35,000 miles.

 

I do the same steps you do and have had no problems.

 

Thanks for all your help and responds. Just finished taking it for the 20min drive and topped it up, right at that 2nd notch.
The max is back working. ... I'll see how it does over the next few days/weeks.

 

So what was the fix ? 2nd notch lol

 

2nd notch is the fix for not over filling lol.
i did a lot on Friday. But very long story short. Today I got my External filter in from the dealership and I wanted to ask the service techs a couple questions like if the internal filter style matters, maybe the one I put on made too much or too little fluid drain to the Pressure control solenoids. But since the dealership didn't want me to talk to any of their service techs And told me I would have to bring my car in to get someone to look at it, I went back home and put it all back the way it came. Dropped the pan again for the 4th time, Clean the old internal filter And used that. And replaced the external filter. Added in less fluid then I took out. Waited a while before starting and it worked. Drove it for 20 min and added more fluid to get to that 2nd notch. Heading to bed for work. But if you guys are interested in the long story I shall let you know everything I did. Now bed, work, replace my fog lights, clean garage lol

 

Glad that worked out for you, let us know how it goes as the days go by, good luck!

 

I would suspect the pump that circulates the fluid was sucking air, it lost its prime. Now the air has worked itself out of the pump and all is good. Just my $0.02 opinion, and I really do feel sorry for the OP, it's like that expression: No good deed goes unpunished.

Cars be like that sometimes to their 'best of intentions' owners.

 

So you basically removed the "new" filter and put the old one back on. So, in the end you just did 4 drain and fills and cleaned the internal filter and replaced the external filter.

Good to know and glad you got it worked out.

 

this kit makes the job easier and gets more fluid out. Change the external filter too at same time

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nissan-Maxi...0-b558a600c0cb

 

this kit makes the job easier. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nissan-Maxi...0-b558a600c0cb

 

I know this is kindof late since the post but I ran across this post today and I had the same exact problem but I solved it. It was that the new screen was two fine and wouldn’t let oil through and was starving the transmission. I reinstalled the screen I took off with no other changes and the sound went away.

 

its 100% due to the aftermarket Napa filter/screen. Sometimes the filter nozzle is too tall compared to the oem