1994 Q45 Transmission Issue

[OvrKill]

Well I searched the forums and couldn't find anything that was really related to my issue. My transmission has been going down hill for the last week or so. When I put the car into D "drive" it acts like there is no gear. But if I put it down further directly into 3rd it goes into gear and drives like normal. Once the transmission is warm I can put it into D and it drives fine.

The situation I had this last week is the transmission if VERY slow shifting into 3rd. If I let off the gas a little and let the RPMs drop to about 2-3k it will shift easier and then finally into the last gear. It has progressively gotten worse over this last week. I have checked fluid levels on a flat surface with the car warmed up and idling and if anything the level seems to be too high. The tyranny has 155k on it and when it shifts right it seems perfect.

My question is, is the transmission going out? Because once it shifts the gear is there and it drives like normal. But before it shifts if I put it into D it feels like there is NO gear there. I am pretty confused on what to do. Although I did my research before I bought my car and I knew this could be an issue, so I already have a very low mileage 95Q transmission in the garage.

Should I just try to change and flush all the bad fluids or go for the transmission swap? I need to know which option is best because money right now might be an issue getting someone to swap the transmission.

Finally, I am trying to get all the gaskets & filters I will need for the swap or the flush. How many filters & gaskets are there for a Q45 transmission? This might sound like an odd question but a friend of mine had a 90 Q45 and he said he found an inline filer to the transmission he didn't know existed.

Thanks for all the help I really appreciate it.

Keith

[elwesso]

Keith

personally what I would do is take the pan down, and inspect it... if theres a lot of shavings down there well you know your in for a treat.....

How is the condition of the fluid? is it like a bloody red, or is it like orange?

[OvrKill]

Keith

personally what I would do is take the pan down, and inspect it... if theres a lot of shavings down there well you know your in for a treat.....

How is the condition of the fluid? is it like a bloody red, or is it like orange?

It is orange, deff. doesn't look like new fulid.

[elwesso]

well get some fresh fluid in there PRONTO!

even if yo uhave to take it to a shop and have a full flush done, do that. $100 to make the trans go another 20k is certainly worth the risk... Try making your trans good before giving up!Search for my home brew transmission flush procedure.

[cturbo28]

My car has the exact same issue:

When the car is cold or sits for a while I have to put the car in 3 to get going. After that no issues driving normally in D.

OvrKill, Does your car shift slow at high rpm's? Mine at full throttle will hold between first and second gear for two or more seconds before completing the shift to second. This happens if I shift manually or leave the car in D. this might be a related issue idunno.

My redneck chevy buddy told me my AT filter needed to be changed.....?????

[OvrKill]

My car has the exact same issue:

When the car is cold or sits for a while I have to put the car in 3 to get going. After that no issues driving normally in D.

OvrKill, Does your car shift slow at high rpm's? Mine at full throttle will hold between first and second gear for two or more seconds before completing the shift to second. This happens if I shift manually or leave the car in D. this might be a related issue idunno.

Sounds very much the same as mine. But mine holds on the 2-3 shift. The problem is that it has gone WAY down hill in the last week. So now it holds on the 2-3 shift till it seems like it is never going to shift.

A car friend of mine here at work thought it might be the module on the transmission.

And elwesso I wanted to atleast get the fluid flushed, but I just didn't know if it was a lost cause because of what it is already doing.

[elwesso]

Yeah change the fluid... There was a guy a long time ago whos trans was slipping... and 2 flushes ($200) and it was working great again.....

[OvrKill]

Yeah change the fluid... There was a guy a long time ago whos trans was slipping... and 2 flushes ($200) and it was working great again.....

Thanks, I think I am going to do that. I called and priced a gasket kit so I can drop the pan and see what it looks like in their too.

Oh BTW do any of you guys think it could be the throttle postion sensor?

[Q45tech]

Never seen a primary TPS fail [other than misadjustment by techs] sometimes get a worn spot after a few hundred thousand miles.

[OvrKill]

Well I am going to do as much initial checking as I can, but I think I am going to have the transmission swapped. I bought the extra transmission from an Infiniti Tech so I am trying to see if he can do a little side work. So if there are any other problems at that point he can help out.