92 Q45 transmission problem

[kdkrone]

I have a 92 Q45 with 94,000 oringinal miles. My transmission was replaced at the Infiniti dealsership under an extended warranty at 80,000 2 years ago after it failed (I don't understand how the bands work in an automatic transmission but the transmission did not seem to engage.)

The transmission was replaced by Infiniti with a stock transmission, and I installed a separate transmission cooler. All was fine until yesterday until I was pulling onto a freeway and I noticed a sort of "growl" as I shifted into third gear. It was like the sound tires make when they hit a rough patch of pavement but without the vibration. I backed off and the growl ultimately went away when I hit 10mph or so. I accelerated in 2nd gear to 40 or so and there was no problem, so I backed of and then slowly accelerated to 40 allowing the transmission to shift into 3rd. That seemed to reproduce the situation. There was no problem attaining speed of 60-65, just the noise.

Thoughts? Am I looking at another transmission? Should i have it towed to a mechanic asap?

Thanks in advance,Ken K
Modified by kdkrone at 4:16 PM 9/2/2005

[qship96]

check fluid level carefully,twice,before anything.

[elwesso]

So the transmission only has 14k miles on it now??? Id almost have to doubt the install, because even remans should go MUCH longer (50-60k)

[maxnix]

I wonder if it is a solenoid failure?

What's the condition of the fluid?

If it is good (and it should be) and you are in the boonies, maybe a pan drop and inspedtion is in order.

[kdkrone]

The install was my local dealer. The fluid had been changed after 1000 miles, I believe--I will have to try to find my receipt.

ThanksKK

[kdkrone]

check fluid level carefully,twice,before anything.

I will do that. What is the issue about check it twice?

ThanksKen K

[DAEDALUS]

Just to make sure both readings are the same. Not hard to misread a dipstick. You probably know, but check it with the car idling and parked on a flat surface.

[kdkrone]

(Daedalus, Thanks for saving me the embarrassment. no, I did not know that the fluid should be checked with the engine running. I had just taken a digital photo so show how far above the mark the fluid was!))

OK, the fluid seems to be just fine. It is at the C of Cold on the stick, just above the XXX hash marks with the engine running for just a few minutes. The color is a light color with a smidge of brown, like a light sienna. It is not sticky or charred. It is not brown. (varnished) There does not seem to be any water in it.

ThanksKen K

[kdkrone]

Maxnix,

I am not exactly in the boonies but there is a limit in the number of mechanics who are not employed by Infiniti----like zero. I live in Fresno, CA. I have taken my car to Jerry Tucker in San Diego and thought he was just great, but I don't think I should drive there (400 miles) in second gear growling starts in 3rd gear).

What is the symptom of solenoid failure?

ThanksKen

[DAEDALUS]

If the fluid isn't darn close to new in color it needs to be flushed. It may or may not help, but it won't hurt, and the cost isn't bad.

[kdkrone]

I can have it flushed. Now that I have an auxiliary external cooler, does it make sense to pay for the power flush or will it be acceptable to just have a gravity flush? Is there any reason to have it done by a dealership or can anyone handle it?

Sorry to be such a dolt about it but I have essentially no experience with automatic transmissions. I am extremely discouraged with what a vulnerable spot it seems to be in an otherwise great car.

ThanksKen K

[DAEDALUS]

No such thing as a power flush that I'm aware of, the shop machines will exchange the fluid using the car's own pump to move the fluid. Gravity drain and refill leaves behind a good portion, requiring 2 or 3 tries to get near the same results as a machine.

[Q451990]

I would certainly work on some "factory goodwill" if it only has 14K miles!

Heath

[kdkrone]

Yes, I will work on the goodwill end!

Ken

[kdkrone]

My understanding from the service dept is that they have two levels of service, one which uses a machine to flush the fluid from the reservoirs in the radiator and another service which does not. A year ago, I think the prices were about 150 and 90 dollars, respectively.

Ken

[DAEDALUS]

2 levels of service, one of which does require equipment. But the machine does not have its own pump. At least no machine from BG or Robinair does.

The only power required to operate the system is the vehicle's transmission pump, making the system truly portable and simple to hook up.

http://www.bgprod.com/products/transmission.html

[kdkrone]

What are people's feelings about the BG versus Infiniti transmission flush services? What is considered "best"?

Is it worth using a cleaner first such as the BG product? Are there preferred brands of transmission fluid? Thoughts about synthetic transmission fluid?

ThanksKen K

Modified by kdkrone at 3:11 PM 9/6/2005
Modified by kdkrone at 3:37 PM 9/6/2005