Q45 transmission reliability:

[96Qowner]

I'm curious about the life of the average transmission. Mine is at 162,000 and seems to be strong. How about everyone else?

Lets list it like this: Year and model, mileage, pan drop or not, cooler or not, any other pertinent details

1996 Q45162,000 milesNo pan drop and filter change (that I know of - bought it as third owner, 147,000)No coolerI suspect somewhat irregular fluid changes.

Dennis and techs, you also knowledge of a lot of customers over the years - chime in with whatever you know from that, if you would
Modified by 96Qowner at 9:20 AM 2/12/2005

[Jesda]

First transmission: Crapped out at 53k. Clogged factory cooling the likely culprit. Replaced by dealer under warranty.

Second transmission: 142k, annual M1 flushes over at least the past 70k. Got a big transmission cooler two years ago. First-gear start added fall 04.

[rsiwicki]

95 Q45 now at 148K120,000 miles (lost reverse function - never had a problem or a hint of a problem until one day the car would not go backwards - rpms just rev'd)No pan drop and filter change (unless the dealer did it during the 60K or 90K service)No cooler until rebuilt at 120K

[Jeff Williams]

Layla: 216,000 miles - replaced factory transmission at 105,000 - previous owner hit brake drum @ 80 MPH & trashed it. Doesn't like going into "D" when it is cold. transmission flush @ 160K. Doing 2nd transmission flush & filter change next month.

Lola: 112,000 miles - original transmission. regular pan drops & had Amsoil synthetic oil swapped around 80K. Shifts like a dream. Nice & smooth, when driving easily, and hits 2nd at 6,500 RPM, when pushed, which is very rarely.

The key to transmission life is servcie, and don't abuse it. take it easy when it is cold, and keep the WOT shifts t oa minimum (try to finish the race, before the car shifts).

[elwesso]

I had 130k on my old 94 and it shifted beautifully.. Not as new but very good...

[tkd_q45]

120K+ on my 92 w/o any problems - still works great! Added transmission cooler around 100K-ish.

Dealer serviced till 90K - flushed around 105K replaced w/Mobil 1.

We'll see how our 94 & 96 hold up - both have 100K & 111K and still shift like they should. Will be adding transmission coolers to both as well as loading up w/Amsoil.

[terribleto4e]

just hit 190k yesterday, and i think i did the first transmission flush on it..lol only 3k ago

the trans chatters randomly like where the torque convertor is trying to lockup at a certain area it chatters, but shifts beatifully and strong other then that

we will see how long she lasts...within the next few months shes getting a cooler+valve body and solonids

[Mark86T]

Bought mine with 53,000 miles on it. Did transmission filter & synthetic fuid change then. Now has 78,000 miles on it (25,000 miles put on in only 15 months of ownership) & I drive it hard all the time. It has been drag racing (at the track) twice already. My friends comment on how they can't even tell when it shifts while riding with me. Addition of transmission cooler & another fluid change are scheduled for 80,000 miles. Another fluid change soon because merely dropping the pan & draining what is there does not remove the 12 or so quarts of fluid in the transmission. Plus in this Vegas heat & how hard I drive my vehicles, the transmission cooler is needed for longer life in my opinion.

[Rex]

I'm right at 110k on the stock transmission (AFAIK), and beside nice smooth shifting, I really feel like it would break the tires loose if I had about another 75-100hp with how firm it shifts.

No cooler yet, but very few "traffic" miles.

[96Qowner]

*bump*

[96Qowner]

Never did get many answers on this thread, and since the subject came up again, can some more of you contribute please?

[maxnix]

Never did get many answers on this thread, and since the subject came up again, can some more of you contribute please?

Read Q45tech's posts for the definitive transmission maintenance and performance posts.

Abused or non-maintained ones have less longevity and performance, as one would reasonably expect.

[96Qowner]

Well, I sure don't mean to be a pest, but I was hoping to get actual, real numbers from posters with cars of their own. The maintenence, I already understand. Just trying to gauge how long people can expect their trannies to last.

Clearly, if you install a cooler, and you keep good fluid in it, and change it often, it'll last longer, but since most of us haven't had our cars since they were new, it might be useful to know how long others have lasted.

[szh]

1991 Q45. Bought new. Infiniti replaced the AT under warranty at 15k or 20k miles (without my asking for it!) when they were installing an additional cooler. I am not sure why ... I was just impressed by the fact that they flew up an Infiniti tech from Los Angeles and he said to replace the transmission "because it did not sound right!"

Flushed at 60k miles. Changed ATF every 30k miles. Traded at just around 100k miles in 1998. No problems with the AT during that time.

1995 Q45. Bought with 54k miles on it (lease return at dealer.) Flushed at 60k miles and at 90k miles. But it failed at 104k miles. Installed an external cooler (the B&G that is commonly mentioned here) when the replacement AT went in at 104k. Had one minor problem with AT spraying when a cover on a line (where they put the external cooler in) failed, but the dealer fixed that and did a flush at no charge.

Sold the car at 120k miles and it was running beautifully (The AT spraying over the engine compartment spooked my wife and she made me sell the Q45 and buy my current M45 - at least, that is my story and I'm sticking to it!)

Z

[redmanfx]

92 Q45aTranny lasted 259KRegularly maintained with filter changes, pan drops and fluid changes as per maint guide by 1st owner. transmission cooler installed last 6k of transmission's life. Was not on until I purchased car. Origional drive shaft changed with transmission and transmission mount at 259K.Have heard this is unusually long life for a Q45 transmission, so I'm thankfull.

red

[I_build]

I have a 94 Q with 132k in FL drained fluid from pan & filled twice since 70K service at 70K had a flush done. transmission still shifts smoothly, but I've had a vibration @ 75mph since I bought her with 60K. Possible drive shaft.... But not sure because sometimes it's there and sometimes it's not??? Go Figure....

[maxnix]

Depending on tire diameter, if it is there at 45 mph in 3 and 70 mph in D, it is the transmission support.

[3Q Jay]

FY33 [but with the re4r03a--yes, Brian i checked the plate]: presently 87k. bought at 78k, pand drop/mag clean/filter change at 78k. no cooler. no known changes prior to 78k, i suspect drain and fill at 30k service. 8qts dino following my extended drain. shifts fine, a bit firm on the 1-2.

The key to transmission life is servcie, and don't abuse it. take it easy when it is cold, and keep the WOT shifts t oa minimum (try to finish the race, before the car shifts).

Jeff-no disagree on the 'don't abuse it', but why the specific caution on minimising WOT shifts? while i don't redline the fy33, i DO redline the v35 almost daily [after full warm-up, of course].

[pretzelboy]

If I can't shift at redline occasionally life ain't worth living...I'll pay the price. Those 1st gen Q's are calling you---dump the g35

[vicQ45]

i have 100-110k(odometer only works when it wants) on mine. everything works, but when it's cold it delays as much as ~2.5 seconds between 2-3 shift. what would cause this and does it mean my transmission is on its way out? is there an easy or somewhat cost-effective way to fix this?

edit: oh yea flushed about a month ago with M1 and added a cooler over spring break

[Q45tech]

Preventative maintenance -----before you or an expert notices problems, works.

After the fact, after problems show up is very hard to smooth over, much less heal!

Hard to correlate a few examples to a 50,000 or 100,000 car population.

25 of the same model year is a start based on 10,000 [+-].

The one thing I do known is no 90-95Q where we replaced the transmission [with a factory reman plus auxillary cooler] and gets annual flushes has failed in 5 years [in ATL that approximates 60-90k].

My 1994 brand new [not a reman] replacement [at 50k] lasted 185k in mine and is still going with 30k in another car: Mobil1 and annual flushes with aux cooler and 1st gear start.

They will last with proper annual maintenance.

[maxnix]

...when it's cold it delays as much as ~2.5 seconds between 2-3 shift. what would cause this....?

Perhaps your problem is not warming the car to operating temperature before driving it? In TX, shouldn't take too long, even in what passes for winter here.

What was the color of your ATF when you exchanged the fluid?

[vicQ45]

it was fine when i had it flushed, but when i bought the car it was a little burnt. could it be due to blockage? i always warm it up when i can

[maxnix]

Well, if it was burnt, there is some varnish depostis, at least. There was a thread on upgraded shift solenoids recently. Might check Q45tech's posts closely on using the BG cleaner for transmissions.

Are we talking new motor oil light brown color, used motor oil brown, or abused motor oil black? If no red present, not good. Color is a great indicator of wear.

Always let the car idle for a couple of minutes before you leave after an overnight cool down, then drive like you are 80 if you must drive it before it warms up.

[vicQ45]

it was a nice brownish red color. did't look -too bad- but it was obviously on its way out and you could definately smell it. i just recently had it flushed with a BG machine and replaced with M1, but that didnt seem to solve the problem much. i always try to warm it up as much as possible before i drive it. could the reason that it does it worse when cold be due to the fluid thinning as it gets hotter and allowing it to flow better or no? i can live with it for a while if i have to, so long as it isn't causing any damage to my transmission. that's my main concern

[guadofreak]

155K here. Regular flushes with regular ATF. Shifts PERFECT!

[Jeff Williams]

FY33 [but with the re4r03a--yes, Brian i checked the plate]: presently 87k. bought at 78k, pand drop/mag clean/filter change at 78k. no cooler. no known changes prior to 78k, i suspect drain and fill at 30k service. 8qts dino following my extended drain. shifts fine, a bit firm on the 1-2.

Jeff-no disagree on the 'don't abuse it', but why the specific caution on minimising WOT shifts? while i don't redline the fy33, i DO redline the v35 almost daily [after full warm-up, of course].

In my silver Q, layla, it takes a very long time to shift, from second to third at about 6,300 RPM. It just seems that the Q is designed for smooth shifts. When I am pedal-to-the-floor shifting, I can feel the clutches slipping like crazy. If I let off, during the 2-3 shift, it clunks into gear, with very little slippage.

I bet the G shifts a lot faster at WOT.

Sorry for the late response.

[JedCoop]

190K on my '92 - but it shifts slow before it gets warm.

Bought the car with 84K & Orig. trans. Have done a few drain & fills.Only dropped the pan once at 144Kwhen I switched to synthetic fluid.

[Jeff Williams]

Lola has full synthetic fluid, and shifts perfectly at 115K. I think I might get some Amsoil systhetic fluid for Layla.

[3Q Jay]

In my silver Q, layla, it takes a very long time to shift, from second to third at about 6,300 RPM. It just seems that the Q is designed for smooth shifts. When I am pedal-to-the-floor shifting, I can feel the clutches slipping like crazy. If I let off, during the 2-3 shift, it clunks into gear, with very little slippage.

I bet the G shifts a lot faster at WOT.

Sorry for the late response.

no worries, Jeff. i totally hear where you're coming from now. that would unnerve me to have that 'dead zone' where you're slipping near redline. must be a b**** if you're running a 1/4, or a long street race.btw, I'm impressed that you still run it out to 6300+ wit 217k miles! what a beast!

yes, the G shifts firm and sure, right at 6600. but the manumatic is VERY unforgiving [long delay]... when you blip the upshift at say 6300, it will hit the rev limiter for a good second before the shift completes.