1994 Infiniti Q45 Gears having a hard time shifting

[goofyfran]

I have a 94 Infiniti Q45 and the car is not shifting or getting into gear easily. Also, once I get to 60-70 mph it feels like it is not going into gear. How do I fix this problem? How much does it usually cost to fix? There is approx 140K miles on the car.

[elwesso]

Welcome to NICO!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it sounds like a new trans is in order... When the trans starts slipping that means the clutches are toast as well as the pump and theres no simple fix for that....

Youll be looking at about 2500 installed for a new factory transmission...

do you have any maintenance history? How is the fluid level and condition? Does TRANSMISSION MALFUCTION come up on the display?

[goofyfran]

No, we just got the car this summer... so, no history. And, nothing shows up saying anything is wrong.

[goofyfran]

Also, all of the fluids seem fine.

[elwesso]

The only "easy" thing i could see this being is being a little low on fluid... check the trans fluid with the motor warmed up and the engine running in park..... Does it look bright red? if its a burnt yellow color or even dark then your trans is done.......

I let me Q get about 2 quarts low after a fill one time and it did this exact same thing.... However, if you've been driving it like this for a while I expect the worst from your trans!

When you install a new one I would recommend putting in an external cooler.

[goofyfran]

If I purchase a transmission from a salvage yard, how much should I expect to pay? It doesn't seem worth fixing the trans at the new price when the car is barely worth $3k

[maxnix]

If I purchase a transmission from a salvage yard, how much should I expect to pay? It doesn't seem worth fixing the trans at the new price when the car is barely worth $3k

Worth to you and market value are two different things.

When you get to reading the posts, you will find very few have had success with junk and takeout transmissions for the reasons stated in the post.

You will also discover most used G50 require $3K to $6K to restore them to as new OEM operating specifications, or a facsimile thereof. Not to do so means you are just thrwoing away your initial investment, and casting your fate to the gods of deferred maitenance by whose grant you received the deeply discounted price you paid.

You can obtain the Ininiti Dealer performed service history when you register your car with Infiniti Customer Care as the new owner. Be prepared to write as they won't send it, and likely the early years will be archived.

Welcome to the richest source of Q45 knowledge beyond the FSM and TSB. Read well and you will be rewarded.

If only we could get all prospective purchasers to read the Article on buying a used Q45 before they actually did!

[maxnix]

Also, all of the fluids seem fine.

White paper towel test?

[elwesso]

If I purchase a transmission from a salvage yard, how much should I expect to pay? It doesn't seem worth fixing the trans at the new price when the car is barely worth $3k

No offense, but if your going to have that outlook on the car then you need to get rid of it! You need to think about the car being worth 50,000 and maintain and treat it as such, not as a $3000 car... There are even members on this forum that do not abide by this rule... Doesnt mean you have to go to the dealership and get raped everytime by greedy service writers, you just have to be smart... I certainly do not have that sort of money, but I feel I maintain my car as good if not better than when the car was brand new, and im sure it runs as good if not better than new..... A hard thing to TRUELY say about a 14 year old car!

Like Brian said, even prime used transmission suffer problems... Most used transmissions are ridden with their own problems. Ideally youd like to find a really good used transmission that is FRESH... They realy start to go to crap when they sit for a while, unlike engines which can sit somewhat indefinitely and the internals are still as they were... Transmissions will get nasty if left sitting for years... if you could find one that was known good and is no more than 6 months old, i mgiht consider that route.......

If you want to get another 100,000 miles out of your trans, a used trans is not the way to go... If you want to get another month out of your trans, then go with the used one.. Ive seen so many people say "well I dont have the money for a used transmission, blah blah blah...." They get SO stoked about their used trans and it goes in and doesnt work as it should.... Its definitely a gamble.... In its defense, you CAN get 3-4-5 used transmissions before you spend enough to get a new trans, however you still have to pay labor if you cant DIY... If you strike once with a used trans, say $500 for a trans and 5 hours @ $70/hr= 850.... Thats 850 gone and you get another one, you better hope thats good because if its not then your over what a new one cost... $500 is about average as far as used trans go.. JUST BECAUSE they spray paint it and make it LOOK pretty does not mean its pretty inside!

$2500 installed for AS NEW OEM trans that can last 100-200k miles is a bargain compared to other brands....