I'm going down to a local shop tomorrow to look at the JDM transmission for my 94 Q45. Any suggestions on how to tell if this is a real JDM with low miles and not just a transmission from a local junkyard?
Thanks
David
jdm transmission
Re: jdm transmission
David - I wish I had an answer. If you can get the pan removed and look for any sludge around the pan magnet or valve body assembly that is about all you can do short of taking the transmission apart. Today my 17 yo son and I tore apart the original transmission that failed in my Q over 2 years ago. I plan to post some pictures of the findings. It was quite disturbing to see the amount of garbage that was in that transmission pan and shards of metal inside the transmission especially after I had pulled the pan and changed the filter and fluids about 800 miles before it failed. I think when members from this forum see the pictures they will be shocked.
All I can say is that I when I received the rebuilt transmission from Level 10 I had a new speed sensor (the one that sits on top of the transmission) installed because I hope this transmission will never need to be removed for a long as I plan to own the Q.
After seeing the shards of metal and garbage (what appears to be some type of organic matter) that was tossed around inside my Q's original transmission, I will be changing the stock Infiniti filter to a Magnafine product sooner than later. I only have 20,000 miles on the Level 10 transmission and it is still in warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles. As far as fluids go, the owner of Level 10 instructed to use Nissan Matic S fluid to maintain the warranty. On any used transmission be sure to get a warranty and completely flush the fluids. Be sure to replace the under-hood mounted external filter and go with a Magnafine or equivalent with your replacement transmission if your under-hood filter has any age. The Infiniti Q45 external filters are crazy expensive and require new hoses and mounting bracket to be purchased when the hoses may not be relevant. Also, this may be a good time to install an external ATF cooler.
I know this won't make you feel any better but, Honda Ridgelines 2006 and newer are experiencing a corrosion problem with the ATF fluid radiator fittings at an alarming rate. The issue is surfacing at a regular clip on vehicles when 100,000+ miles is reached. The corrosion problem results in the Strawberry Milkshake of Death (SMOD) where coolant and ATF mix and the transmission fails. Owners experiencing the SMOD are having to fork out over $3,500 to replace transmissions over a fitting washer corrosion problem. Since Ridgelines are rare and incompatible with any other Honda, the chance of finding a transmission from a wrecked vehicle are somewhere between slim to none. I will be changing my Ridgeline's ATF fluid cooling method to an external Hayden cooler like the one many Q owners use in the next month. So be glad you have some transmission alternatives as it could be a lot worse.
All I can say is that I when I received the rebuilt transmission from Level 10 I had a new speed sensor (the one that sits on top of the transmission) installed because I hope this transmission will never need to be removed for a long as I plan to own the Q.
After seeing the shards of metal and garbage (what appears to be some type of organic matter) that was tossed around inside my Q's original transmission, I will be changing the stock Infiniti filter to a Magnafine product sooner than later. I only have 20,000 miles on the Level 10 transmission and it is still in warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles. As far as fluids go, the owner of Level 10 instructed to use Nissan Matic S fluid to maintain the warranty. On any used transmission be sure to get a warranty and completely flush the fluids. Be sure to replace the under-hood mounted external filter and go with a Magnafine or equivalent with your replacement transmission if your under-hood filter has any age. The Infiniti Q45 external filters are crazy expensive and require new hoses and mounting bracket to be purchased when the hoses may not be relevant. Also, this may be a good time to install an external ATF cooler.
I know this won't make you feel any better but, Honda Ridgelines 2006 and newer are experiencing a corrosion problem with the ATF fluid radiator fittings at an alarming rate. The issue is surfacing at a regular clip on vehicles when 100,000+ miles is reached. The corrosion problem results in the Strawberry Milkshake of Death (SMOD) where coolant and ATF mix and the transmission fails. Owners experiencing the SMOD are having to fork out over $3,500 to replace transmissions over a fitting washer corrosion problem. Since Ridgelines are rare and incompatible with any other Honda, the chance of finding a transmission from a wrecked vehicle are somewhere between slim to none. I will be changing my Ridgeline's ATF fluid cooling method to an external Hayden cooler like the one many Q owners use in the next month. So be glad you have some transmission alternatives as it could be a lot worse.