I just blew a seal in my automatic transmission on my 94 Nissan Maxima on my way home from work.
The trans felt like it went to neutral and lost power and I pulled over immediately leaving a puddle of trans fluid underneath.

I have 88,000 miles on the engine and have replaced all fuel injectors recently.
I live in the NYC metro area and need to make a decision soon whether to fix the trans or ditch it and buy new before I get tickets for leaving it on the street.

What does it cost to replace or repair a Auto Trans in a 94 Nissan Maxima?

Is it time to donate the car or fix it.

The cost of a new car is a big hit financially but due-able.

I thought id ask the forum this question as Im sure some of you had to make this ultimate decision.

Repair or scrap for something newly financed.

Thanks in advance.

 

For a rebuild at a shop you're looking at anywhere between $1500 and $2500. Of course, it might not need a full rebuild and could be something simple. There's no telling with auto transmissions.

If it were me, I'd probably just stick a used one in there. You can get good used ones with 3-6 month warranties on eBay/junkyards for between $200 and $400.

Even if you do rebuild and it ends up costing you $1500+, with only 88k miles on the car, it's bound to last you another 10-15 years easy. Especially since you already replaced all the fuel injectors. If anything is "weak" on the VG, it's the fuel injectors. Regardless, VGs easily go 300,000+ miles. I'd much rather "invest" $1500 now for another decade of service than having a car payment for a decade.

But then again I'm more "adventurous" than most and am a big advocate for keeping/repairing these cars. I really believe that the general logic among many consumers that old cars become worthless or "money pits" is pretty silly. I mean, I've basically completely rebuilt my two 3rd gens for maybe $5k total. And I'd much rather spend $5k over a few years time than have a car payment for ten or drop $30k on a new car.

 

Call these folks http://tbolt.net/

 

im the same way lol. on the local forum im on where 60%+ of the members have Skylines, FD, Supras, etc. i was getting owned for having more work done in my 3rd gen than its worth, but then a bunch of OG's told them to F off and gave me props for being different and invited me to some meets (and i get a ride in a guys TT Ptype Supra come summer )

the way i see it unless the frame is bent or you roll it 3 times, its always fixable. i would rather have a car ive had for years/know whats been done to it/know how its been driven than a newer car. plus they dont make cars the way they used to, newer cars interiors feel horribly tacky

plus if you ditch a 88k 3rd gen, i will rage

 

agreed with james I value repair over buying new and paying 20,000-30,000 for OBD II junk too much electronics in them basically over designed.

 

Thanks for you valued opinions. I am having it towed to a Trans shop here in Brooklyn and I will let you know how it pans out.

I decided to take it to a locally owned and respected shop than the major chain.

I will let you all know hoe it turns out.

Thanks Again, You helped convince my wife there was still life in the car after all.

 

If your able to I rebuilt one completley for $250 with a kit I found online.

 

Just wanted to add to this thread that I believe your Max is worth rebuilding the A/T, especially if you only have 88 thousand on the odometer. If the body/interior is clean and the engine is strong the go for it. I understand that paying somebody to do the labor can be pricey for tranny work but this generation of Maximas have excellent reputations, especially the VG/VE blocks. I'm surprised the tranny is going with only 88 thou on her but I'm guessing your not the original owner who obviously was really hard on the A/T, didn't do the PM's on the A/T or both.

 

Had to replace my '91's A/T at about 85k. It's gone another 100k more, so well worth the investment.

 

Jus wanted to know what seal did you blow??? If you blew an axle seal, then I may not cost too much to replace those. Thats what it sounds like you blew, in my opinion. I once blew an axle seal in my 87 maxima, and it sounded like it was in neutral, and a pool of fluid was all over the ground. I tried to use transmission stop leak, but it only lasted for a little while until it too was bak on the ground. As soon as I replaced the seal. The transmission was bak to normal. Check those axle seals first!

 

Do you by any chance have a write-up (or helpful pictures or anything) for this? I've always heard that auto trannies were ridiculously hard/tedious to rebuild. Not true?

 

Already been through the process your best way is to use print outs from all data and follow step by step instructions.rebuilding

 

Auto trans aren't that hard it's more a memory game of how things came apart as it is how it will come back together.

 

Tip: I suggest always consider used transmissions junk, and in need of a rebuild. Been around to long, and seen to many cases of used transmissions taking a dump quickly to consider the cost "savings." pay now, or pay more later...

If you want to rebuild it yourself, the biggest thing is taking your time. Work in a clean area, and plan to make a mess. The clean area is to keep track of all the little parts. You may want look into a haynes book, or something. It isn't a easy task, but not impossible. Your other option is buying a rebuilt. One of the more common routes. Price shop. Get quotes at local tranny shops for a rebuild, and find out how much a rebuilt tranny will run you. They do a core charge, so make sure to work out a way to get the old one back.

Depending on if your fluid is clean or not, a new torque converter might be in order as well. If your fluid looks like a heavy metal flake paint, that I'd all in the converter...

 

All data is more informative on the automatic transmission. Your gonna need snap ring pliers to be able to disassemble the transmission.

 

Call these folks :http://tbolt.net/index.html.....they've been in business for over 70 years.....they can solve your problem....

 

+1 .. because most consumers are dumb asses when it comes to cars.

Just with some cars, it gets pretty annoying fixing something once every 3 weeks.

I was in the same boat as you donowprod. I think my tranny went out around the same miles with my 93'GXE. But I was an 18 yr old douche bag who thought he had a race car. Got rebuilt maybe 3 times after that. Hopefully they do a good job on the rebuild for you. Paid, $1400 with a 6 month warrenty. That was a loooong time ago though. Prices probably went up.

 

Well I got the call from the shop telling me that my trans axle had came loose from the transmission and caused damage to the transmission. He said that's why my car felt like it was in neutral and the gears were grinding when putting it in park.

I had the CV joint boots replaced at a local shop a year back during my NY state inspection instead of replacing the entire trans axle. I kinda remember the mechanic telling me they had a problem getting the trans axle in and it came loose on test drive. I guess this is a direct result of that almost a year later. Wont go there anymore.

The tans shop said for the entire rebuild and new trans axle with 1 year warranty it will be $1800

Not as bad as I thought but not great either. Better than buying another car at the moment.

 

Rebuild your a/t, its worth the investment...you should look into a stick trans, its probably cheaper and less problems.

 

Hmm, if the axle just popped out it shouldn't damage the transmission internals and shouldn't need a rebuild. Should just be able to pop the axle back in and re-fill with fluid and be good to go.

Of course, axles shouldn't pop out. The passenger side axle physically CAN'T pop out assuming it's bolted to the carrier bearing as it should be. And the only way the driver axle should/could pop out is if the snap ring isn't on the end of the splines (maybe it came off for some reason and the shop didn't re-install it before putting the axle in?). So, either way, that shop that did your CV boots goofed. I'd almost bet they just plain didn't bolt the axle back to the carrier bearing.

Nonetheless, that's a fair price on the rebuild. And the one year warranty is decent too. Alot of tranny shops just give a 6 month

 

Tell them the best you can do is $1500.. It's Brooklyn after all

 

Yeah I say fix it as well. You can finance a new car car, but unless you buy brand new with a warranty you could have problems + payments. I've been mulling this over a lot lately. I need to spend about about $1500 on my Maxima right now with suspension, power steering, and cosmetic issues. I've been tempted to take that sum and drop it on a new car. But if you look at it from a strictly mathematical point of view if just doesn't make sense. Why spend 20k to fix a 1.5k problem? And what does 20k get? A corolla? I'd rather push an old Maxima than drive any new car (that I can afford.)

 

^ +1

update?

 

I know how to rebuild automatic transmission it is one of the many things I was taught at college for automotive technology. Easily I could and would charge someone $1,000 to rebuild there automatic transmission. Most won't argue with that price once told by shops $1,600-$1,800 dollars to rebuild it.