If you take the plastic breather box off up to the MAF in the engine bay, you can get to an access point that is right on top of the transmission being held by a 10mm bolt. Is it ok to add the fluid there after I drain it? Or does it have to be added back through the actual fill hole on the side of the transmission? Thanks for any help!

Edit: 2002 Nissan Maxima 6-speed.

 

the speed sensor hole plug on the diff?

yes thats where i always fill them.

 

If you look on the very top of the transmission, there is a cap being held down by a 10mm bolt. Just a cap, no sensor. If you remove the breather tube up to the MAF, It's very easy to see.

 

After researching a bit, I believe that's where the speed sensor used to go before they switched to using an ABS sensor as a speed sensor. I have no sensor there, just a cap with a 10mm bolt holding it down. I'm assuming you are talking about the same one? Thanks for the help.

 

yes. thats where the speed sensor used to live. yes thats the same hole.

 

Thank you! I appreciate your help. <3

 

just cut the wheel all the way to the left and the fill hole is right there. I use a funnel with a tube. I change my gear oil every January. I also went with a drain and fill plug bolt off a Volvo since I hate Allen bolts..

 

Every year?! I went with an Amsoil fill from 2010 through 2020. Changed it when the axle seals were replaced and it still shifts great.

 

having fresh fluids help with longevity. I'm at 360,000 miles and every January I take care of all the fluids. I use Penzoil Synchromesh in the gearbox.

gear oil breaking down can cause axle seals to start leaking...

 

What Volvo did you get them off of? Those T55 bolts are pissing me off right now. I'm not going to put them back on after I change the fluid out. Also, thanks for the tip. I have a lot more room than I thought I would when I turned the wheels all the way to the left.

 

Funny, I've stripped a couple Allen's on my new to me '06 and have been replacing them with proper bolts from PYP yards 🤓

 

just go to eBay and search for Volvo M18 x 1.5 oil drain plug. it's also longer than the OEM Nissan plug so it puts less stress on the threads. If you noticed in the picture, I started using green synthetic fiber washers to also reduce doing damage to the threads on the transmission case. mine had a few threads pull out over the years but these longer drain bolts were a big help. I also had drain plug issues as seen in the second picture below...

 

Thank you very much! Yeah, I know eventually that's what's gonna happen to mine if I keep using those T55 bolts.

 

I believe the OEM drain and fill plug is a 10mm allen. a regular flanged hex bolt is way better..

 

each their own. ive yet to strip out a drain/fill plug on any car. only time ive had to deal with one is if someone else damaged it prior (quick fix with a nut and welder. then replace with OEM plug)

 

allen heads have a tendency to accumulate dirt so it's best to clean them out before putting a bit into the head for removal. I never liked allen bolts and I hate torx bolts even more. I actually ditched the torx bolts on my flywheel for allen bolts

 

true. i used to feel that way until i got seasoned in the shop. now i love them. triple square (xzn) can suck my ***** though.

 

I've taken them out three times before and It's a pain in the *** every time. I ordered those other bolts from ebay and they should be getting here on Monday. Got some Redline MT-90 a couple weeks ago. The guy I bought it from about 4 years ago put ATF in the transmission instead of gear oil and I drove it for 5k miles until I realized it. Hopefully the MT-90 helps it out until I can either rebuild it or find another used one. *sigh*

 

dam, try some Penzoil Synchromesh first that way you don't waste a ton of money on fluid for no reason. Autozone stocks it but usually each store stocks just 2 bottles..

 

I may do that. I was thinking that I didn't want to put the MT-90 in this transmission if It's not going to help out with the bearing noise I'm getting. Hopefully I can find a used 6-speed in the future. Such a shame because it ran fantastic when I first bought it. :/

 

may be hard to find a 6 speed Maxima transmission . may be easier and more cost effective to get a Sentra SE-R Spec V tranny and throw it's gear set and differential into your transmission. you mainly just have to change the bell housing. a few years back I picked one of for the differential and got it for $350. I returned the tranny minus the H-LSD to get the core charge back.

 

I can use up to a 2006 Maxima, correct? I will definitely keep a lookout for a Sentra spec-v. So basically I would need to take all of the internals out of the spec-v transmission and throw it into my Maxima case? Thanks a bunch for the information.

 

02-06 Maxima, 05-06 Altima SE-R, 02-06 Sentra SE-R spec V all have gear sets you can run in your case.

 

That's a ton of help. I really do appreciate it!