Hi all,

I purchased my Maxima about one year ago and I am starting to feel the transmission is not very smooth when changing from high to low gear. So I am just wondering when should I change the fluid? I did take out the transmission dip thing to check the fluid and it is on the normal level. But I have one question, the color of the fluid is very light purple, is this the color suppose to be? Because I remember on my old Maxima(93), the color of the fluid is dark purple(close to black). So which color is suppose to be for the fluid? I checked with my local car repair shop for changing the transmission fluid is $90. Is this price decent? Should I also change the transmission filter as well?

thanks a lot!!

Ryan

 

The fluid should be red and not have a burnt smell.

You can do a drain and fill pretty quickly. 19mm bolt, let the old ATF drain (I get around 4 quarts out each time), then refill with new ATF. I believe Nissan does not recommend having the transmission power flushed, so either drain and fill, or drain, pull the pan, clean the screen and magnets, install a new gasket and the pan and refill.

 

follow my writeup if up to the challenge

 

Yep it should be red, not purple. Depending on the mileage...say a high mileage car it would be recommended that you do a drain and refill. A flush may move around large particles causing transmission failure later down the road. (As I've read here on .org)

I just did a tranny flush at 49k miles and my fluid was brown colored. After flushing the shifting became smoother, and felt like there was more power.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for your information! I think I would just do the drain and refill. I would like to ask you how about the transmission filter? do i have to change it as well? Thanks!

 

it is not a filter

 

I heard every 60k miles. I'm actually getting ready for my second flush....

 

I change the tranny at every 60k interval. Drain, drop the pan, clean the magnets, clean the screen, re-install pan with new gasket, fill ATF. Run tranny on lift for a few minutes through all gears, drain and refill with ATF.

You can skip on the re-drain and refill if you so choose, it just helps get rid off most of the old ATF.

 

I do as Scottwax does every 15k.

 

I have a leaking transmission, so I don't have to change the fluid

 

Fluid should be reddish in color.I'd def change it if it looks brownish or darker.

 

I change it every 60K. I just did one a couple weeks ago with some Redline.

 

I change every 30K but I am a little **** about changing fluids. +1 for not flushing the system drain it and your car will be happier. Flushing puts more strain on the systems because some flushes requires you to pressurize a system and components might not be built for the pressure causing wear.

 

i feel bad for not having my tranny fluid changed, but im doing it for sure this summer
and probably getting it from the dealer, not labour tho