95 Q Transmission fluid leak

[Bayarea Q]

Hey guys,

I was hoping you could help me out with this leak I noticed while getting my oil changed. It seems to be leaking out of the back of the transmission where the drive shaft attaches. There is a little box / bracket area with a lot of wire hanrness....they are soaked with transmission fluid. I'm guessing this is a common occurance? 103,000 miles.

Is there a gasket that just needs to be replaced? I hope.....

BYW, there is not enough of a leak to ever leave a puddle under the car. But I can hear the fluid burning off the cat. converters from the fluid leak.

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

[maxnix]

Is it coming down the wire hareness (is it saturated) on the driver's side of the transmission to it's junction at the rear of the transmission?

If so, your turbine sensor needs replacement. Not ggod because the transmission needs to be decoupled from the motor, so lots of labor. Do replace the rear main bearing seal at same time since it is a $10 partl.

[Bayarea Q]

Manix,

Thanks for your reply. The fluid seems to be coming from the wire harnesses only. What I mean is there is no visible leak anywhere else. My tech looked (with a light) with me while on the rack and the wire harnesses were just saturated. He was stumped as to where the leak was. Says he needs to pull the drive shaft and replace a seal between it and the transmission.

I wanted to get your opinons first as I use this tech for simple jobs on my Q. If it's a big job I want to take it to the local Infiniti dealer so a Master Tech can do the work.

I really hope I don't have to drop the transmission. Could it be something else? I hope......

Thanks

[GuidoInc]

I also had the same leak you described. I had bought a spare transmission of ebay and used the turbing sensor from it. I had a independent shop drop the transmission and swap it out. They charged me $700 to drop the transmission. I lived with the leak for about a year but got tired of putting a quart a week in and having that buring smell from fluid blowing back on the exhaust system. I was told that there is a possibility of the fluid catching fire.

[Bayarea Q]

Thanks Guido....I think you guys are right.

Damn that's a lot of $ to drop the transmission. Was your independent shop familiar with Q45's? I'm just wondering if I need to take it to the dealer or can I trust a good tech with no experience on this one??

Thanks again,Robert

[GuidoInc]

It was an auto repair place that specialized in Japanese engines and transmissions. I met a private individual that does work for me (stuff that I can't or don't have the time to do). Maybe ask someone from this board if they know anybody in your area that will do it.

[GuidoInc]

I called and asked the guy at the indepent shop, "I need to have the transmission dropped and the turbine sensor replaced. Can you do it and how much". What scared me about them doing the job is that they said they never have seen a turbine sensor leak. Maybe try a chain transmission shop like Eagle Transmission, if they got them in your area, around Dallas they have a better reputation then Aamco.

[Q451990]

There are two turbine sensors... one is the very difficult one to reach on the upper left side of the transmission. Another is located near the rear and is much easier to replace. The ECU/TCU uses the sensors to monitor input and output revolutions to determine how much slip is taking place in the transmission.

I'd say clean the transmission up with a can or two of brake parts cleaner, and then check it closely to see where the leak is starting. I'm not sure what it would take to replace the rear seal in the transmission or the rear sensor, but I doubt the transmission would need to be dropped.

Heath

[Bayarea Q]

thanks guys,

I think I'm just going to bite the bullet and bring it down to the pros. I've changed the fluid & filter a lot, so I hope it's the easier of the two sensors to reach.

[GuidoInc]

You have the same exact symptoms that I had and it was the harder sensor to reach. The one that requires dropping the trans. The fluid works it's way though the wiring covering and then exits at the plug part at the end of the trans. It looks like it is coming from the rear. When you do get the trans drop get that rear seal replaced also.

[Bayarea Q]

Guido,

your right about the leak some how only comes out the wire harness. It's a very light leak, as I have not had to add any fluid. Was your leak consistant, or did it get worse over time?

[GuidoInc]

It seemed to get worse but not drastically. It started right after I had the transmission flushed at Jiffy lube. Q45tech says the trans fluid wasn't changed often enough to prevent acid build up that ate the seals. If it's a slight leak I would put off dropping the trans.

[Q451990]

If it's a slight leak I would put off dropping the trans.

Me too! Since a great portion of the cost on a transmission replacement is the labor cost, I'd just keep the fluid topped off and let it drip for a while. I know it's a pain, but paying for that labor twice wouldn't be fun either. There's a way to get to that sensor without dropping the transmission, but I don't know how to do it, and it involves stretching the motor mounts to their limit and then some as I understand it.

If you're ever making a road trip to Southern Cal, I'd call http://www.jerrytucker.net and see if they know how to do it without dropping the transmission. At 103K, you're getting close to a new transmission unless the maintenence was really good - not to say it won't last another 50K, but it could start slipping tomorrow too.

Heath

[Bayarea Q]

Heath,

My transmission does have 103K on it but it really is in exellent condition. I bought my Q early 2001 with 48K. I did a flush @ 60K, 75K, and another flush with pan drop & filter change and change to Mobil 1 @ 85K. The pan drop @ 85K (May have been done @ 60K but not sure) was perfectly spotless, and nothing but a light scum on the magnet. Drives perfect and really hasn't changed since the day I bought it.

I actually think this problem has been around for a year or two, as I heard the exaust crackling along time ago. But I just assumed they got really hot from the V-8. Anyway, I have never had to add fluid. Just checked again and it was fine. It must be a really slow seeping type of leak.My question for you experts is, am I doing any possible damage to the transmission? Like losing pressure?

[Bayarea Q]

Just thought I would add that another reason I would like to fix it is that all the mileage I put on my Q has been freeway mileage. I use her to commute 5 days a week roundtrip 90 miles. So from reading many of Q45 Tech's post I don't think it's unreasonalbe to assume another 100K out of the transmission. Of course with same maintanance & driving.

[maxnix]

It started right after I had the transmission flushed at Jiffy lube. Q45tech says the trans fluid wasn't changed often enough to prevent acid build up that ate the seals. If it's a slight leak I would put off dropping the trans.

Mine occurred at 29K after the fluid had been BG exchanged at 24K, but was over filled by a quart. Maybe the cleaner is bad for it? I know some technicians avoid the chemical cleaner altogether when doing a fluid exchange.

I think Q45tech had some remark about the fluid destroying the harness or plug couplings. It is an expensive fix (get the sensor and rear engine seal from Joe!), but necessary.

Not as bad (relatively speaking) as the $400 labor charge to pop the plenum to tighten a loose clamp on one of my coolant hoses.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

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