How can I tell if my transmission is slipping?

[CStalin]

Recently my q45 has been acting weird. I don't know how to explain this perfectly, but around 30 mph my car will hesitate like it doesn't want to shift into the next gear to go faster, then it will finally shift and go to the next gear. It only happens sometimes, ususally around once or twice a day. I told my friend who said it was my transmission slipping, and that I should get my transmission fluid changed. So today I'm going to make an appointment to get my fluids looked at.

Is this my transmission slipping? Because I don't know if I want to keep putting money in this car if I have to go pay $3000 for a new transmission.

[maxnix]

Because I don't know if I want to keep putting money in this car if I have to go pay $3000 for a new transmission.

I presume you have done nothing in the way of transmission maintenance? What si the condition of the ATF (white papaer towel test)?

Or little other maintenance, since you don't want to keep your car?

$3K is the home run replacement cost with a few little other odds and ends to come out with new parts and a Nissan rebuilt from Joe.

[qship96]

According to one of your other recent posts, you bought this car 4 months ago with 204,000 miles on it----what made you think you wouldnt need to put money into such a car? Never seen ANY old car with over 200,000 miles that didnt require ongoing injections of cash to keep rolling down the road.

Many of the replaced parts are ready to be replaced again at this stage of the game.

[CStalin]

I knew when I bought it, that it had things wrong with it. I just wasn't aware that it might have transmission problems. It just started doing this about a week ago. The engine runs perfect, for something that has many miles on it. I was fully intended on fixing all the minor problems with it, but I feel like it would be a waste of money fixing all those small things, and then have my transmission go out, so I can spend another $3000 dollars on top of the other $1000 dollars it will need to make everything in perfect working order. I have a list of maitenence records, from the previous 2 owners. The only thing I have done to my car is have an oil changed, a few belts replaced, replace an abs relay and some other minor things. I think the last time my car was fully serviced was in 2006 with 201,000 miles.

I'm going to check the fluid myself when I drive my car next.

[qship96]

According to your last post, it seems the car was only driven 3,000 miles in the last 3 years, then sold to you. Have you combed through the most recent service records from last owner to determine what kind of problems/repairs were completed in the last few years before you bought it? I would look to see if the transmission has ever been replaced or even serviced. 200,000 miles is a extremely long life for these trannys, especially if they have not recieved frequent fluid replacements since brand new.

[maxnix]

$3K - $6K to restore a car with 200K+ miles is nothing.

What else can you drive for the money? Clapped out Civic?

[CStalin]

Nothing to you, but for somebody who works 5 hours a day for minimum wage, that's a lot of money. I wouldn't mind putting 3+ k into it, but not all in one main essential part of the vehicle. I bought this car with the intention of making it nice.

And I would rather not drive a civic. I enjoy the individuality I get with my q.

I went through all the records, and the farthest they go to is 2002 when it needed a new alternator. As far as I can see, there has been no real maintenance to the transmission. When I bought the car, the owner said a friend gave it to him, who has a lot of q45's.

When I check the fluid tonight, I'll post the results.

Is there a way to check and see if the transmission has been replaced?

[Raxephon]

Best thing to do at this point is to drain the atf, drop the pan, replace the o-ring and filter, reseal pan and gasket and refill with your preferred atf.

You can also pick up another auto off ebay for around $200 or if you have a nearby upull, you can pick one up for around $100.

If the auto in my green Q craps out the $3k for a new transmission will be spent on conversion parts to make it a manual like my flat black one.(Yes, its a manual. The only thing keeping me from updating my manual swap thread is waiting on the driveshaft to get here)

[CStalin]

I went to Aamco and they told me my transmission was fine (for free) and that my air mass flow has a problem. (?)

How much do you think it would be to get that repaired?

[slybydesignq45t]

Figure out how to clean the MAF first. Be prepared to purchase a new OEM one if you don't do it right. Its about $430 bucks, well worth it. Do not let the red extender touch the little thing in the MAF body. Use up to half the can of MAF cleaner on all connectors and the MAF itself. Let dry for about 20 minutes. Put back on and start her up. If you still have problems buy a new MAF.

[qship96]

Never seen a defective mass airflow meter cause transmission problems- are you sure he didnt say throttle position sensor?

Did you look at color/level of transmission fluid yet? have you changed the fluid?

[Q45tech]

You are trying to drive a car that was designed for someone making $150,000 per year and who had $300,000 in liquid assets. A used version of this car is a little more economical to own but not much but such a car still needs $75,000 per year in income or less if you don't pay rent or mortgage.

[maxnix]

Going to AAMCO for transmission work or diagnosis is worse than going to a butcher for open heart surgery.

Trust your eyes and tell us about the white paper towel test.

[qship96]

Then do a few drain/fills.

[CStalin]

I checked the oil myself and it was fine, I trust the aamco people. I took it to a local mechanic that I trust and he said that my MAF did needed to be cleaned, so he cleaned that and replaced a fuel filter. Now my car runs impeccable! I appreciate all your guys help.

[elwesso]

just be watchful for the fuel pump and MAF... Does the fuel pump make any noise at idle? If so you might consider replacing it before it takes the controller out and leaves you stranded.

[maxnix]

I trust the aamco people. I took it to a local mechanic that I trust and he said that my MAF did needed to be cleaned, so he cleaned that and replaced a fuel filter. Now my car runs impeccable!

Remember Stalin trusted Hitler also! Probabaly a better bet than trusting AAMCO. YOu have to remember they survive by getting your transmission in for a rebuild, which they dont' do very well on a RE4 because they see so few (no practice) and don't replace everything like Nissan does in their dedicated rebuild line in TEnnessee (coprprate policy).

Annual changes on all filters from now on. Presume you have changed the rest of your fluids. Even ATF? Never reported results of white paper towel test.

Better run some BG44K or Redline SI1 for a couple of tanks. And no, Gunk, STP, even Techron is not quite the same.

Are adverbs not taught any more?

[q45ondubs]

if your transmission does go out since you say your low on cash.and cant afford to rebuild such an expensive transmission because it can be costly to some how ever thers always other options such as buying a used transmission for a couple of hundred and have a mechanic put it in for a couple hundred but thers always a gamble with buying a used transmission Is this my transmission slipping? Because I don't know if I want to keep putting money in this car if I have to go pay $3000 for a new transmission. [/QUOTE]at year is your q...

[q45ondubs]

if your looking for a cheap transmission i know a sight its http://www.car-part.com

and you can find a transmission on ther used and it tells you the condition of the transmission and the mileage on the trany and you can find them starting at $175 and way up...and they are all legit they ship it out for like $50 more dollas...im just leting u know its not my web sight or anything like that but i was in the same situation and i was stressing off that $3k problem but you can get it done for less than $1k if you do it right....way less than a gee....get one off of ther for like $350 and talk to a few mechanics and try to see how much they charge to put one in...if you bring the transmission i guess this is the cheap way out...