My QX4 is F'd!

[Empty V]

So I've been having a misfire for some time now, changed out the coil pack that threw the code and the problem got better but was not resolved. I've also had a major lack in power so I changed out the fuel filter and cleaned the MAF sensor, no dice. I've also been having a trans flair in 3rd gear and my OD has been acting up so I changed my trans fluid and again no dice. One of my dad's friend's has had my code reader so I wasn't aware of any new codes thrown(have had a P0158 o2 code and just left it).

This morning I decided to drop the Q off at a trusted mechanic who is next to a trusted trans mech. It turns out my the a code for the torque converter was thrown and the clutch in the torque converter is shot so the trans will have to be rebuilt. When hitting the OD it drops down to 3rd and shifting out of 3rd takes days. Add that to the O2 sensor and the 5 other coil packs that have to be replaced plus a few miscellaneous things and I'm looking at a $3500 bill.

I love my QX4 have have put a ton of blood, sweat and money into it plus with 200,000+ miles it's value is nil. Should I fix it? Or should I get something else that I can't afford and slowly fix it as money comes in? I'm figuring that if I do have it fixed it'll give me another 50-100K before another eruption but realistically I have no idea.

Billy

EDIT: Just got a call from the trans mech and it's going to be $3000-$3500 just for the rebuild. Seems extremely high.
Modified by Empty V at 12:54 PM 3/5/2010

[buckeye3d]

That sucks. If it were me I wouldn't bother to fix it. That's a lot of money to throw at a car that has basically zero value.

[ugharin]

Ah!.. Sorry that happened.

Id say get another vehicle since you would be looking at getting another vehicle in the near future anyway.

But, slowly fix the qx4 for sure. The 50k-100k miles is could be worth it. Surmising that the vehicle is otherwise is in very good shape and you wouldnt need to anticipate other problems.

Besides, 3.5k notwithstanding, it could be worth more if you decide to sell it, vs now.

Just my opinion.

[QX4ME]

I wonder if it's less expensive to buy a rebuilt transmission and let them put it in. I happen to see http://www.automotix.net/parts....html, not sure of the actual cost.

There was a place in Oakland I bought a used engine for 86 Sentra years ago. The engine was shipped (dumped) from Japan as Japan has more restrict regulation on older cars. I only pain $200 for the engine delivered to a mechanic I chose, plus ~ $150 labor for installation.

I hope there are similar places where you can find a good used/rebuilt QX4 transmission.

[fueler]

thats an obscene price for a rebuild. **whoops nevermind my dealer prices i was thinking transfer case....

I paid a little over $1000 out-the-door for a junkyard transmission installed, and it shifts smooth as butter.

I'd get more price quotes if I were you.

[Rex]

I've been at this cross-roads myself (different vehicle) and have to say, for a "stock" vehicle, it's just not worth i to put nearly the entire value of the car into 1 repair.

I spent close to $3k replacing the trans (tried a junkyard take out first, $700 down the drain) in my Q45 and felt compelled to sell it within 18 months to get as much as I could out of the car. Ultimately, a single repair should never exceed 1/3 of the cars value.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Ouch, that sucks. Here's what I would try, look around car-part.com and see if there are any salvage yards near you with a low-mileage transmission. I searched for a few minutes in California and you can probably get a pretty low-mileage transmission from an '01 Pathfinder (I even saw one with 3k miles for only $650, and you could probably haggle even lower). Make a long weekend out of it and put in the new transmission yourself. It's not an extremely difficult job (much easier than a head gasket replacement) and I think you could have it done within two days if you have all the right tools, which I'm sure you do.

If you can't find any local salvage yards or one that is cheap enough, then I would just drive to a dealership and see what they offer for your car, test the waters a little. I think you'll be a little disappointed in what they offer you, but you never know, some dealers are getting REALLY desperate to make a sale.

EDIT: The one thing that I completely disregarded in this post was the fact that you have to lift the car pretty high to get the transmission out. This would obviously be the biggest hurdle in trying to do the swap yourself.
Modified by Pwnin O'Brien at 5:49 PM 3/5/2010

[fueler]

I've been at this cross-roads myself (different vehicle) and have to say, for a "stock" vehicle, it's just not worth i to put nearly the entire value of the car into 1 repair.

true, but when you consider that the qx4 has nearly $1000 in the lift alone, its no longer stock. Alls he needs is some wheels and hes got a very unique SUV like no other. Or you could spend thousands upon thousands more on a Tacoma. Then you would look like every other truck out there and you get to start all over finding the weak links and repairing them. And it'll only cost you four to five times more than repairing the Q. Personally, I would hate to have the same kind of truck as everybody else. Thats why the QX4 has so much appeal to me. You rarely see them, and when you do, they are usually bone stock.

[Empty V]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I talked to a friend of a friend who's been a trans mechanic for 20+ years and he's going to do a full rebuild of the trans + torque converter plus new solenoids for $2K out the door. Plus he'll probably have it done in 3 days.

The only other repairs I'm aware of are the ignition coils and an O2 sensor.

He told me that he knows the dude that quoted me the $3500 and supposedly he used to charge customers for new parts and either put in used ones or none at all. So I guess the trans mechanic that I thought I could trust, I couldn't.

Billy

[miamiheat3332]

that sucks, depending on how you want to spend your money, 2k for rebuilding yours or like pwnin said he found some trans for alot cheaper than that with not alot of miles. id try to look around more and find a good deal from a junked car or something, then just put it in yourself if you have the tools.

[KyooX4]

Man that stinks! I hope everything works out for you.

[slickroger]

Look around but if worse comes to worse by another Qx4 and strip your current Qx4 of everything you have upgraded and throw it on the new one.

Thats what I did when I rolled my first Pathy

[Empty V]

Look around but if worse comes to worse by another Qx4 and strip your current Qx4 of everything you have upgraded and throw it on the new one.

Thats what I did when I rolled my first Pathy

The first thing I did was start looking up 01-03 pathy's and Q's. But then I realized that I've got so much crap in my QX4 that it would be way too much work to transfer it all over.

Status update:

The Trans has been dropped and the torque converter is supposed to be sent out today for a replacement. Apparently they're sealed and not serviceable so they're sent out in exchange for rebuilt ones.

[GRNMACHINE]

$2k for rebuild doesnt sound out of line. And I agree with others, you have a unique Q-glad to hear you are keeping it. Without a lift a trans replacement isnt that easy-althought if you had the tools/skills you could save a decent amount.

Keep us updated!!

[platinumsprinter216]

That really sucks man. I understand how that is. I blew the engine in my pathfinder. After considering a new / used vehicle and swapping everything into another pathfinder / QX4, I ended up replacing the engine. Best move i could've ever made.

Best of luck to you.

[fueler]

yup. im on my 2nd transmission as well as 2nd transfer case... new transfer case is noisy but works, i still have no regrets. Spent all weekend in the desert, next weekend going to holcomb valley up by bear. Wouldnt trade this for any other 4x4 in the world.