1999 QX4 transmission question

[tookaflyer]

Hello to all, newbie to site, but have read several (hundred?) posts. I have 2 teenagers, looking for used cars, I found a 1999 QX4 (190k miles) seems to have been well taken care of. I got it for less than 1k, However, yes here it comes, 1st, there is an oil leak, appears to be main seal. 2nd, when you start it up and drop into drive, nothing. . but if you manually shift to 1, all good. continue manually to drive still good, and then will continue to work fine(shifting automatically) until you turn it off. My buddy\mechanic spent 5 min in it with me and is leaning to something electrical. I went in pretty blind thinking\wishing i got a diamond in the rough, so worst case I can scrap it or part it out. I have not done any real troubleshooting so no codes, buddy says transmission fluid "looks" good. Sorry for lack of info, but looking for a place to start from one of you experts. . any assist would be appreciated. thanks

[Towncivilian]

Welcome to NICO!

Please try pulling transmission codes by following the steps described on page AT-45 of the factory service manual.

[tookaflyer]

thank you kind sir, may take a day or 2, i know i need to put some money into it, just trying to get a feel early if it is something "easy". . . so to speak.
thanks again for the info

[tookaflyer]

thanks for this forum, i have found and used much valuable info. 1999 qx4, i put a new transmission in it in aug and so far all is good. i do have an issue with rear suspension "bottoming out" even with just me in car, florida urban driving no off road, not even any hills. . i put some off the shelf shocks on it, no change. spoke with my mechanic, also a good friend and he thinks air shocks would work, but i can't find any ar. any thoughts?

[Towncivilian]

There is even a TSB for this issue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5mpmm ... sp=sharing

It would appear the springs and bump stops are the issue here. Your shocks are basically new, so they should be fine.

Have you changed the fluid in your new (used?) transmission yet? It would be beneficial especially not knowing the service history of the transmission. If it is a rebuilt transmission, even more reason to exchange the fluid since break-in wear is occurring again, plus there is likely crud from the rebuild process floating around - transmission shops aren't exactly clean rooms.

[tookaflyer]

thank you, my mechanic buddy said the same thing, so we discussed options and were considering the air shocks pressured down since i am not towing anything. but alas, we will revisit. yes the transmission fluid has been changed, it was completely remanufactured. (i learned that in florida you can call a part "rebuilt" if you change 3 items. . . including gaskets. . it is a good shop, been around 25-30 years with very happy customers, i spoke with several before i spoke with them. . . Trico transmissions in Largo Fl if anyone ever needs a transmission shop.

but thanks again, I will continue to work on the rear suspension.