im buying a 98 max with over 200k on the trans i wanted to know how long does the 5 speed trans start to f**k up i have heard some have problems is there anything i should be aware of???

 

around 100K then they die... usally.. lol

 

were you being serious?

Mine is at 242K, the clutch was changed at 210K, but the tranny itself is fine. All synchros still work perfectly. It does have some chatter when there isnt any strain on the drivetrain (engine and car coasting have same angular velocity).
Transmissions don't die. Their life depends on how the driver treats it, how often it is taken care of, and in some rare cases, bad machining.

 

I am serious, are you not aware of the problem with the 4g trannies with input shaft bearings and/or the differential carrier bearings?? I'd love to say its RARE but its not, it happends, and happends often unfortunately....

Im always prepared for the worst.

 

I guess I got one of the good ones.

 

Plan on replacing the tranny some point down the road. especially if you are going to try and drive it like a brand new car.

 

I got screwed when I first bought my 96 Max with 159,000 miles on it. Unfortunately the guy I bought it from knew I was going to buy it in advance. I heard from a number of people that before I bought it he let a bunch of people take it out and have a field day with it. In other words beat the living **** out of it. I picked it up and drove it home and this was my first stick car so I didn't know what felt right and what didn't as far as the transmission goes. My friend drove it the next day and told me the clutch didn't feel right. I was told by the seller that it was a performance clutch. My friend still told me something wasn't right. The next day which was 2 days after picking the car up, I got in and went to put the car into gear. It started grinding and wouldn't go in. I looked under the car and noticed gear oil literaly pouring out the bottom. I got it towed to a mechanic. The throw out bearing was bent to hell. As for the tranny, It was beat on so bad that it cracked the tranny case along with the bellhousing and was dumping out gear oil. So I picked one up that had 95,000 miles on it for a good price. I'm now at 206,000 miles and haven't had a problem. Still shifts like new.

 

they can last a long time , as long as u change your the tranny fluid every 30k, don't drive it hard, be nice to it and it will be nice to you,after time they start to whine a little

 

200k on a 1998 would suggest to me lots of highway driving which is easy on the transmission. That said, any car with 200k on it will likely need some work. You must be getting a heck of a deal, or I'd suggest looking for a lower mileage version. Maxima's aren't too rare.

I don't know what Nissan recommends for manual transmission oil replacement, but I bet its not too frequent.

Richard

 

I always use Redline MT90. Regular 10W90 weight gear oil. It can only be GL4. If you put GL3 or GL5 in a Nissan tranny, it will eat up the brass synchros.

 

Unless you're buying from a dealer expect about a grand in repairs shortly after you buy it. Thats just how it seems to go when I buy used cars privately. As long as you don't race/beat the transmission/engine these cars are quite reliable.

 

You meant 75W-90 right?

 

depends on how u drive it

 

yeah I did...woops. I was combining motor and gear oil

 

I've been using 75W-90 GL-4 Amsoil synthetic. Seems to work great. Tranny shifts like butter.

 

if it is working fine, just take care fo it and take the chance.

 

All depends on how the previous owner drove, maintained, the car. Good Luck on your new purchase.

 

About 5 hours.

 

So how often do you guys change manual transmission oil? Is there a sticky somewhere of how that is done?

Thanks

 

I went to a jiffy lube to change tranny fluid..they couldn't figure out how to do it..i'm at 100k..and it's 70 bux at dealer

 

It depends on many things: how smooth the driver engages gears, how often the car is launched, how stiff the clutch is, how often the oil is changed, and how accurately the bearings are shimmed at original assembly.

I haven't heard of many trannys going without any problems at 200k, but then again the only people we hear from are upset that they have a tranny problem.

With 200k on the clock there is no way to know, so unless you have evidence it was rebuilt I would consider it to be a risk factor.