1994 q45 will not shift into 3rd or 4th gear

[q45ness]

I am new to this board. I was told that this is the place to get tech help because the people here know everything. I have done a search, downloaded the service manual and it don't look good. I did the self diagnostic and everything checked out ok. One day my car just stopped going into the higher gears, no whining like fluid starvation, nothing. My fluid is good, pan drop was recent. I did another drop after the problems started and nothing, no smell, no particles, nothing. I Ohmed my revolution sensor and it ohmed to spec (590). However, when I Ohmed my turbine revolution sensor (on the 2000 setting on the meter) I got random readings. Anywhere from 1500 to 1900; spec is 2000 to 2200. I tested it when the car was cold and sitting for a minute. My Q will do 80mph in second gear and it shifts fine, reverse, everything is fine. The engine is strong as hell. I unplugged the sensors mentioned and drove with them unplugged and there was no difference. Do you think it could be the turbine sensor? Please advise. Thank you for your help. 1994 Q45 197k miles. Should I take it to a transmission shop or just start shotgunning parts at it?

[lino]

Welcome to Nico!

There are a couple of members here that would be better suited to answer your question, but are not around at the moment unfortunately. Hopefully, they'll be back soon and can give you some good advice.

If it were me, I'd go to a reputable transmission shop and have them to a test drive and see what they think. A professional opinion would be one place to start. Usually, those are free.

By doing a search, you'll see many threads that discuss the turbine sensor and other transmission related issues:
search.php

Here are some threads that I found for you by doing a search:

Transmission stuck in 3rd
post4309898.html

Torque Converter Lockup?
post4164041.html

1990 q45 2nd gear is not engaging.
1990-q45-2nd-gear-is-not-engaging-t478979.html

94Q Transmission Randomly Won't Shift Out Of 1st Gear
post5704720.html

q45 tranmission removal
post5518722.html

new owner 91 q45
post5465500.html

[q45ness]

Wow, thanks for the quick reply. I was hoping I could get a diaganois on the net, but that don't seem likely. My transmission is old, and according to some of the respected members of this board, it is done. Probably needs clutch packs/rebuild. At first it had a hard time going into OD. I would have to rev past 5500 rpms to get it into OD. Then one day I had to get on it and it went to second gear, came back to od, then the next day would not go past second. If it were line pressure, it would slip/neutral drop in all gears....would it not?
Whatever the case may be, I am getting a used transmission and I am gonna attempt to rebuild this one and keep it around as a spare. My car is in good shape, worthy of a new transmission. I read some guys on here rebuilt their transmission's for 300 bucks. It would be my first time attempting a rebuild, but it looks straightfoward according to the manual. Any tricks to it? I wonder if that guy Q45TECH will sell me his transmission he has sitting around...lol
I will get the transmission checked out before I drop it. I have no spending cash right now and I gotta truck to drive. I tried to mess with the rev sensor, but I could not get it out, it was too tight. I am not going to go through an ordeal to shotgun parts....

Oh, thanks for the support! I hope nobody on that side of the world comes over here starting trouble again. War is expensvie! And WE, the working class, unltimately gotta pay for it! I'm glad its coming to an end....

[Skibane]

Before you pull the transmission, you might try adding some seal conditioner to the ATF and running it for a few hundred miles. The Trans-X brand seems to work well, as long as you top it off every 5K or so.

[q45ness]

I will give it a try today, thanks for the advice. Top off every 5k? Does it evaporate? My car doesnt leak a drop. Oh cept a little power steering fluid. I've used trans-x products in the past with good results. I will keep you updated.

[q45ness]

I put it in today, took it out on the high way, gunned it. Its strange, It kinda hesitated like it wanted to shift for a sec, but just held second. 80 mph 5700rpm. I can do 60 comfortablly, but if I do any faster, the temp will start to rise, but I wont let it go far.....Ive never seen a failure like this. Usually when its stuck in a gear, its freakin stuck there starvin for fluid. This one shifts great cept no 3rd or 4th. I will not hold my breath on the trans-x as I think those clutch packs are gone....But I will take a stuck valve right now, hard seal, or a dam bad sensor...something....

[Lokim]

Check the shift solenoids...

[q45ness]

Will do, but the self diagnostic came up OK and I priced those puppies at over 300 bucks at the stealer. Is there a place I can get em cheaper? Are they hard to replace?

[Lokim]

You gotta take the transmission pan and valve body off to get to 'em. Find out which pins are for which solenoids, and apply 12V directly to the solenoids one at a time. If it clicks, it's good, if not, no good. Page AT47-50 are the diagnostic pages in the manual. Follow them TO THE LETTER! Go through the diagnosis procedure first, then apply voltage to the solenoids. You shouldn't need to take the pan off to hear them, just get a mechanic's stethoscope @ Harbor Freight (<$5) and listen while applying voltage.

[q45ness]

Thanks for the advice!! I hope I don't apply 12v to the wrong pin and fry something. Is that possible? I thought my Q was down to just one gear today, but it shifted so dam smooth with the trans-x, I couldnt feel it go to second. I will go through the motions when I can and keep you guys updated. I hope this turns out to be, "I fixed my Q for five dollars thread."

[Q451990]

I hope this turns out to be, "I fixed my Q for five dollars thread."

Every Q owner's dream! If it works out that way I'll change the title of your thread just to celebrate

Did you replace the filter screen when you did your most recent pan drop?

Heath

[q45ness]

No, both filters have not been changed. Thinking about a magnafine for the external after reading posts. My prob is acting more like an electrical problem that an obsolete CEL system can't find IMHO, but if that is suspect by you than it will be taken seriously. I will take that advice one way or the other. I am gonna check out the solonoids before it gets dropped again.
Yeah, that would be great!!! I've got a lot of resources and a above average mechanical ability. If it can be done...IT WILL BE DONE!!

[q45ness]

Ok, I got a meter and some time today so here is the verdict.

Solonoid A: 120 ohms (200setting), 120 ohms (2000 setting)

Solonoid B: 5.63 ohms (20k setting) 198 ohms (2000 setting)

Valve A: 120 ohms (200 setting)

torque converter solenoid 124 ohms (on 2000 setting)

These readings were taken from the AT control unit on the drivers side kick. Test was taken while cold, and while driving, as per the manual. I did different settings since I am not to handy with a multi meter (yet), but they seem to be fried with those high readings considering the Resistance should be 10-20 ohms. Ya think? Please advise. Thanks for your help guys! If you guys rule they are toast I will check again just to be sure. I will replace the solonoids and if its fixed. You guys will just PLAIN RULE!!!

[Lokim]

If spec is 10-20 ohms and you're getting any readings outside that, they are junk. Replace them. If it doesn't work after replacement, get a used transmission and put the new solenoids in it prior to installation. The only downside is that the solenoid pack is pretty expensive.

[q45ness]

its a 300$+ set from the stealer, gotta buy em all, unless there is something I don't know. I am in no position to buy em now. I am gonna check em one more time, but I am convinced they are FUBAR. Its like the whole dam pack fried. What could have caused that?? Any advice on the valve body? Is it straightforward?? Please advise....

It would be better than buying a used transmission for 650$ with an unknown history...

[Lokim]

The valve body is pretty easy, just get the pan gasket and filter kit, and the sandwich gasket for the VB. There could have been a short in the pan, or a bad TCM. Try to find a used TCM here on NICO ( I think Infinitiguy19 has one) for a good price. That's cheap insurance.

[q45ness]

I have a NICO ECU 91 two stage on my 94. Could it be stuck in 2nd and 3rd perhaps? I believe OD could be next rev out of my "stuck in second" problem, but the shift is smooth as satin into third. I had to reach 70 mph and about 5500 rpm to get it in OD. My car is old though, its old enough to drive and is sitting there. Kinda like me, when I was sixteen...

[q45ness]

I am about to go do a thorough test of the solenoids, but before I do that, one quick question. Would the car manually shift into 3rd if the solenoid was bad? Mine does not shift into third manually. That is my last question before the next plethera of tests and the gloves come off....please advise...

[q45ness]

I know I am grasping for straws, but its a 300$ non refundable shot and I'm drunk. Maybe I should do the 12 volts and shut up......perhaps??? Motor 300k+ transmission 200 maybe? really???

[qship96]

I know I am grasping for straws, but its a 300$ non refundable shot and I'm drunk. Maybe I should do the 12 volts and shut up......perhaps??? Motor 300k+ transmission 200 maybe? really???

Babbling while drunk is never a good idea!!!

[q45ness]

I got my stethescope today, I am gonna go out there tomorrow and face the music. I think my solenoid "B" is fried...

[TBrack]

This same thing happened to me last year while I was in Nashville for IA. Took it to 3 different shops and no one could figure out what was wrong. After being stuck in Nashville for 4 days, I took it to the Nissan dealership and traded it in for a cube (thanks Obama, you sucker!). Anyway, good luck with your problem I wish I could have figured out what was wrong with mine, I miss the old girl.

[q45ness]

Im sorry for your loss. You shoulda came here and asked! These guys are the Q gurus!! You have to either come here or go to an Infiniti stealer with a master tech older than 18 with Q experience or you might as well have a four year old do it!!! Thats what these guys say. I still cant get time to test for the click and I cant do nada until I do. If they click I am going to blame the TCU, but solenoid B is off the ohm charts! Thanks for the encouragement!

[q45ness]

I went out and did the deed (pages 47-50) today with my buddy. We just used a screw driver to listen at the transmission pan. I ran the voltage through the TCU connection only (not under the car) and pins 6 and 7 are dead. No click no spark, FUBAR as per Lokim. Therefore Shift Solenoid "A" and the "B" are toast? I don't know whether to be sad or freakin jump for joy since its gonna only cost about 400$ and I dont need a transmission

Or do I need a transmission? Shift A and B are the only two shifters. Am I in some kinda limp mode? Is there something else to check before I drop all my F you money on solenoids, transmission filters, one time bolts external cooler and gaskets. The Oracle of Delphi has nothing on the Q Gurus. Also, is there a cheaper way to do the soleniods? Please advise masters of the Q. Thank you for the help!!!

[Lokim]

You could try a (gasp!) used solenoid pack... Look around, try Google Shopping once you get the part number. I swear I found a new set a few months ago for under $250. How did the transmission shift prior to failure? If it shifted well, get the solenoids. If it shifted like crap, get another trans.

[Q451990]

Where do you live q45ness? If you have a www.pull-a-part.com or similar junk yard nearby, it might be worth a try. You could take a small 12V battery with you to test them before you take the time to drop the pan...

Heath

[q45ness]

Thanks for the quick replies! I live right outside of STL, MO. I can't believe the car is still shifting with them both fried. I had my buddy at the pan listening, the other two solenoids were loud and clear. The car shifted great before this happened. Hell, it still shifts just fine now, cept no 3rd or 4th gear. Shifts even smoother with the trans-x and lubegaurd red in it!
All I need to do now is find the parts and its on. Ive got a little money, but not the 375 (at least) it will take at the stealer! Once I drop the pan, I will be doing the 12v test on A and B before I pull the trigger on the parts just to be sure. I think its strange that I can still shift with no solenoids, but there was not even a little spark at the TCU connection when voltage was applied to the pins. There was a little spark for the other ones. Maybe this is something I should not try and understand and just do it!
I will try to find a used pack if you guys so suggest. Applying 12v is an easy way to test them. Any help try to find the solenoids and such is greatly appreciated. Thanks again...

[q45ness]

Today alone, Ive tried local junkyards, ebay, and the classified ads here. I heard there is a guy "goodie, a Q45 undertaker" on here that may be able to help. How can I contact him? I know its a used part, but I have bought used parts b4, injectors, fuel pump. I don't like to do things twice. What are the odds a used one is on its way out, contaminated etc? All it has to do is click and its good? Should I just get the "upper" solenoid pack?? I'd rather ask now than 400$ later and find out I coulda did this for half the $$$$. At the same time, its about to get real cold out here and I wanna go ahead and try and get er done asap. Please advise...

[OwnerCS]

Hey - There's someone parting out a 94A down the road (Hwy 67) from you here in LIT. I've seen the car, the active suspension is gone, I understand the transmission worked when it stopped running. I believe the car lost a fuel pump or FCU or both.. I've tried to call the guy several times over the past few days and the recording says the phone has been temporarily disconnected. Makes perfect sense to me to run an advertisement then shut down your phone -- LOL. I'll keep trying to reach the owner. If you don't find the parts before I finally reach the owner, I'll be glad to help.

[goody90q45]

..... I heard there is a guy "goodie, a Q45 undertaker" on here that may be able to help. Please advise...

I parted out 3 Q's but never removed a transmission or sensors. Sorry I can't help.

Have you ohm tested the external transmission sensors? The bundle of 3 or 4 connectors is at the aft end of the transmission at the driveshaft. It's getting more common as our transmission's age for the revolution sensor or turbine revolution sensor to go bad. Easy to follow instructions for ohm testing (15 minutes) are in the transmission section of the FSM (AT-75?).