Swap the infamous 'CVT' Transmission --- Feasible or Not?

[Smagegy]

HI Friends,

I see quite a few Nissans with CVT trouble ...many owners just give up and sell it to the Junk Yard or 'Mechanic Special.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIW_KNO1bQ8

How difficult is it to Swap out a USED CVT from the Junkyard? -- you can pick them up at LKQ for $350 with a 90 day warranty (of course that's a PIA, and you have to drop it and reinstall a new one if you have a defective one).

IT WOULD seem like a couple of ambitious men (one with mechanical experience) to get this done would be a few bolts and tools needed to get the job done.

Shops want 6-7k for a rebuilt ...?
What am I missing?

Your constructive input is greatly appreciated....

[Smagegy]

This man is attempting a CVT Swap on a Versa...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIW_KNO1bQ8

[AZhitman]

Possibility of getting another turd, but if it's not, you save a load of $.

Can't be any harder than swapping an automatic, AND we have the service manuals here!

Let us know how it goes!

[Smagegy]

Possibility of getting another turd, but if it's not, you save a load of $.

Can't be any harder than swapping an automatic, AND we have the service manuals here!

Let us know how it goes!

Of course (from the yard), you'd try and select a NEW TRANS with low miles.

(My buddy swapped a CHEVY TRAILBLAZER trans)....he had to take one back, but on the 2nd try, his junkyard trans worked fine.

MORE QUESTIONS;
- Will you have to do any 'computer programming' to get the new transmission to work?
- ALSO, what years are compatible with your vehicle ---- How would you find out if a 2010 will swap with a 2013?

NEED A SPACE where you can work for a few days tool...

[VStar650CL]

You should only trust a JY CVT if you can get the donor TCM along with it. That allows you to hook the TCM to the recipient to make sure there were no judder or other codes in it before it was junked, and in most cases you can leave the TCM installed and circumvent needing to program the IP values. If it reads clean, change the fluid immediately and you're good to go. If it isn't, you can take it back to the JY before you spend effort on a new headache.

[AZhitman]

OOOOhhhh.... ^ THIS!

[Smagegy]

You should only trust a JY CVT if you can get the donor TCM along with it. That allows you to hook the TCM to the recipient to make sure there were no judder or other codes in it before it was junked, and in most cases you can leave the TCM installed and circumvent needing to program the IP values. If it reads clean, change the fluid immediately and you're good to go. If it isn't, you can take it back to the JY before you spend effort on a new headache.

Hey Thanks VStar,

That's the Trick... getting the TCM.

* Info I have is they are located next to the Battery Compartment???
* Are TCMs transferable?

Here's someone on Ebay selling a TCM ...???
https://www.ebay.com/itm/262753506875?m ... &norover=1

[VStar650CL]

Yes, the TCM and ECM are both right next to the battery on most CVT models, if you want to post your vehicle, I can tell you specifically. You can keep the TCM you already have if you want to reprogram the IP's, but that defeats the purpose of knowing whether there's anything wrong with the JY transmission. Only the TCM from the donor can tell you that.

[Smagegy]

Yes, the TCM and ECM are both right next to the battery on most CVT models, if you want to post your vehicle, I can tell you specifically. You can keep the TCM you already have if you want to reprogram the IP's, but that defeats the purpose of knowing whether there's anything wrong with the JY transmission. Only the TCM from the donor can tell you that.

I appreciate your input here...

I'm researching now. I like these 4 cly Atimas... I like the way they drive (seem like a solid car). The only weakness appears to be the CVT. --- I see them for sale frequently on Craigslist.

* SO; basically, if you are going to buy a JY CVT transmission, make sure you GET the TCM that comes with the car. --- Correct?
* What kind of issues can come up doing this Job?

[VStar650CL]

Correct. There shouldn't be any issues if a scan of the donor TCM is clean, the fluid isn't badly burnt, and you replace the original TCM with the donor TCM as part of the operation.
Pitfalls:
1) The righthand axles can be a complete PITA to extract, be prepared for a possible fight.
2) The transmission electrical connector isn't like anything else on the car, it rotates out lefty-loosey-righty-tighty. Don't butcher it.
3) On gen5 Alties ('13~'18, '10D transmission) It is possible to reverse the wires to the turbine sensor (behind the starter) and the input shaft sensor (on the tailplate). The connectors are identical. Mark them during removal so you don't reinstall backward.

[Smagegy]

Correct. There shouldn't be any issues if a scan of the donor TCM is clean, the fluid isn't badly burnt, and you replace the original TCM with the donor TCM as part of the operation.
Pitfalls:.....

Ahhh... sounds like you've done this before!

...something just occued to me. The Donor car has to have working battery to test the TCM, using a code reader. --- What if you can't get electrical response?

[VStar650CL]

No, you're not getting this. You hook the TCM up to the recipient car and read it. If it reads clean, then you go to step two, make sure the fluid isn't burnt. If it doesn't read clean, you take the TCM and the transmission back to the JY and try again.

[VStar650CL]

PS - I've coached a lot of people through this. We don't do many used transmissions at the dealership, but heaven knows I've seen a crapload of blown ones.

[Smagegy]

No, you're not getting this. You hook the TCM up to the recipient car and read it. If it reads clean, then you go to step two, make sure the fluid isn't burnt. If it doesn't read clean, you take the TCM and the transmission back to the JY and try again.

Hook up the 'Donor TCM' to the 'Recipient Car'...then read the codes. IF codes come back clean, its good. ONLY then would I move to Step #2.

Correct?

[VStar650CL]

Correct.

[Smagegy]

Correct.

thanks VStar,

So this sounds like you're just checking the 'new TCM' ... but the 'New Transmission' could be faulty with a good TCM --- No?

Lets say the TCM checks out fine (no bad codes),...does this mean 'the New JY CVT' is Good?

[VStar650CL]

The transmission has absolutely no "smartwork" inside. If the TCM is code-free, then the odds of the transmission being bad anyway are near zero.

[Smagegy]

The transmission has absolutely no "smartwork" inside. If the TCM is code-free, then the odds of the transmission being bad anyway are near zero.

Wow... that's interesting.

--- At the Rate people abuse their cars, these are trannies are dropping dead all the time.

Is there a compatibility chart for these CVT transmissions?

[VStar650CL]

The abuse people give them is almost always simple lack of maintenance. There's only one rule with CVT's, change the damn fluid. 30K works for most people's habits. My wife and I are both leadfeet, so her '13 gets it every 20~25K. If that tran-ny doesn't make 250K, I'll be plain peeved.

There's no cross reference chart that I'm aware of, and you can't really even go by model-year reliably. On the gen5 Altimas, for example, the '13's, 14's, 15's, and '18's all had minor differences from one another. The only ones that cross 100% are the '16~'17's, but those had crap Valve Bodies. None of that matters when you replace the TCM and transmission as a mated pair, all 6 years will bolt up and the donor TCM will already be programmed for any internal differences.

[Smagegy]

Thanks Vstar,...

This project sounds ambitious, but I have confidence my Gear Monkey friend (and I) can get it done.
One thing that concerns me is 'Height to work on' --- we're basically working in my friends rear garage and we don't have a lift ---- I was thinking about buying a set of these Mini-lifts to help with this job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUZPB0O ... 1&index=51

What do you think?

[VStar650CL]

There's nothing wrong with those mini scissors lifts, the three people I know who own them all say they work great. You'll definitely need something for a transmission job. It's positively not something you want to try from the top on a tran-sverse Nissan.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I would think you could also just take a jump pack or something to the junk yard with you to energize the car and scan it on site instead of taking the TCM home with you, no?
It should save you a trip and a conversation with the junkyard staff.

[VStar650CL]

I would think you could also just take a jump pack or something to the junk yard with you to energize the car and scan it on site instead of taking the TCM home with you, no?
It should save you a trip and a conversation with the junkyard staff.

That's fine if the JY left everything in the car, but even Pick-and-Pulls usually yank the engine and trans before they block it. However, most junkies record the VIN of the drivetrain parts when they pull them, so if the TCM is still in the car it can be matched up and pulled. Checking for DTC's in the donor car is pointless if the transmission is absent, that creates a whole slew of new DTC's and makes anything but judder codes indecipherable.

[Smagegy]

I would think you could also just take a jump pack or something to the junk yard with you to energize the car and scan it on site instead of taking the TCM home with you, no?
It should save you a trip and a conversation with the junkyard staff.

That's fine if the JY left everything in the car, but even Pick-and-Pulls usually yank the engine and trans before they block it. However, most junkies record the VIN of the drivetrain parts when they pull them, so if the TCM is still in the car it can be matched up and pulled. Checking for DTC's in the donor car is pointless if the transmission is absent, that creates a whole slew of new DTC's and makes anything but judder codes indecipherable.

Ok... you got me... What is DTC ?

[VStar650CL]

Diagnostic Trouble Code.

[Smagegy]

Diagnostic Trouble Code.

Thanks V,

The Yards down here, don't pull the motors nor Trannies. There's a couple of independent Gear Monkey/Entrepreneurs that PULL motors and trannies, and they do it every day. They must pull 2-5 motors a day. (they must be making some $).

THIS BEING the case; If the transmission and TCM are on the car at the Yard, can I check the TCM in place?

[VStar650CL]

Yes.

[Smagegy]

I would think you could also just take a jump pack or something to the junk yard with you to energize the car and scan it on site instead of taking the TCM home with you, no?
It should save you a trip and a conversation with the junkyard staff.

I just thought of something... in the above, you'd have to take the DONOR TCM to the 'Recipient Car' and test it on the 'Recipient Car' (with the BROKEN transmission in place) ---- CORRECT ?

So, testing the TCM at the JY is a waste of time... Yes or No?

[VStar650CL]

It occurred to me after yesterday's post that testing in the JY is only feasible if the JY gives you the keys. The TCM won't talk with the ignition off. In any case, it will take about 30 seconds on an Altima to pop the TCM connector and connect it to the donor TCM for a code read. So yah, it's probably a big time-waster trying to pre-check it in the JY.

[Smagegy]

It occurred to me after yesterday's post that testing in the JY is only feasible if the JY gives you the keys. The TCM won't talk with the ignition off. In any case, it will take about 30 seconds on an Altima to pop the TCM connector and connect it to the donor TCM for a code read. So yah, it's probably a big time-waster trying to pre-check it in the JY.

That does create a problem (but still worth the effort); the only solution is 'have a key made' or 'hopefully the JY has it (or its still in the car, on the floor somewhere). OTHER-WISE, a Locksmith would have to make one.---

What would be the easiest way to have a key made for a JY Car? --- I hear you can buy 'Transponder Keys' on Amazon and bring it to a Locksmith (might be cheaper that way). ???