01 qx4 not going into reverse

[HG50]

Hey guys, my qx4 isn't going into reverse after it to operating temp. For instance i warm the car up when I get in it after its sat for hrs and it will go into reverse. It will not however go into reverse sometimes after I drive 35 miles to work. Sometimes it takes a little bit of throttle to get it to go in but I stopped doing that cause I heard it was bad. It started doing this for about a week now. So once I got to work today I sat in the car with it in reverse for about 30 sec and I wouldn't get into gear.

Sorry for te ramble, has anyone had this issue?

Fluid is filled and I also did a quick drain last tues. No burnt smell or anything.

Thanks for any help


Chris

[eduJ]

What you are experiencing can be a number of things, but it sounds like it can be leaky piston seals. As the fluid warms out, it leaks through the seals more readily and so the transmission doesn't build enough pressure to put it into reverse. Usually reverse is the first to go, because I think it requires the most pressure. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do because replacing them would mean taking the transmission apart and that would cost big money.

Did you experience a delayed engagement into reverse before this happened (say, a 2+ second delay)?

Short of a rebuild, there are some things you can do, but are probably not permanent fixes. Some people have added additives into their fluid which swell internal seals and that has remedied the situation. I have seen on some forums where people added TRANS-X into the transmission and the problem resolved for 30k miles. It might be something you want to try to squeeze some more miles out of it before you decide what to do with the car. Most of consider it a band-aid solution, but it might be right for you depending on what you intend to do with the vehicle. Do some research and use at your own risk.

[HG50]

Well first off thanks for responding.

I did notice the transmission with a couple second delay with it getting into reverse about 12 days ago. The car wasn't drivin for about 6 of those days. My mechanic recommended to see a shop and check out what they have to say. I haven't heard of the transX, reviews seem like it works most of the time. I was gonna get the Lucas stop slip fluid but I think I'll go with the Crc transX.

I'll let you know what happens, and again thanks for the response


**After some more research seems that the transX isn't sold over the counter in California, this state sucks. I'll see what I can do.

[eduJ]

You can try Amazon.com.

In addition to adding Trans-X, you might also want to do a drain and fill of the transmission fluid. I use Valvoline Maxlife and it claims to have seal conditioners in it which might help your situation. Hope this works and let me know what happens.

[HG50]

Well I've been gone for a while. Update is that transmission lost all function of reverse. So I went to a Nissan/Infiniti used parts place and bought a transmission from a 2003 qx4 which had 90k on the transmission. 4 hrs later I had reverse and way to drive to work. Drove it for a few thousand miles and ended up selling the qx4 in June. Its been a while since I've had a new car so so i treated myself to a new 4runner. The 4runner is a lot bigger than the qx4 and so far I'm liking it. Took it a few times to Rowher Flats and played around in the dirt and climbed some rocks.

Met up with the new owner not to long ago to give him the oem intake/exhaust and Im glad hes taking good care of the car.

[zach7685]

I love that 4Runner!