Transmission question

[fastpathy35]

My transmission has gone out...there's supposed to be a difference in the pans I know bc of the two types of gaskets. I have a 4x4, but I had to use the 2wd transmission pan gasket. My question is; are there differences between the 2wd and 4wd transmissions. Can I buy either one and just bolt transfer case to it? Thanks in advance

[Towncivilian]

How has it failed?

You'll need a 4WD transmission.

[fastpathy35]

Sloppy shifts, 4th gear doesn't grab hardly at all. Took it to a transmission shop they said it was bad. I don't know, the overdrive light isn't on, they ran diagnostics and drove it a little bit. I noticed it started with getting on the freeway, downshifting to 2nd to accelerate, it slipped for almost a full second while it slowly engaged. I changed fluid and filter old fluid was...well, used ,but not burned, and there wasn't debris or flakes in it. Aside from the long, sloppy shifts, 1st 2nd and 3rd will hold under WOT.

I've driven my pathfinder hard. It's not been babied, so I expect stuff to tear up. The only thing that throws me off is everything happened within two weeks, the 4th gear issue wasn't there on my way home, the next day, it wouldn't hold gear. Truck has 162k miles. Aside from driving hard, regular maintenance is always kept up.

[Towncivilian]

Try cleaning your MAF sensor (use MAF cleaner spray only) and change the fuel filter if it hasn't been replaced in the past two years.

Before dropping money for a new trans, try a full fluid exchange using Matic D fluid. You can find steps in the general information thread in my signature.

[fastpathy35]

Matic d was used last weekend with no change in the way it acted.

[Towncivilian]

With a pan drop, you changed at most 5 quarts of the fluid - about 50% (total capacity is approximately 9 quarts). Doing more drain & fills would be wasteful.

[fastpathy35]

Pan drop was to check for debris and change filter before flush . I also cleaned off the magnet in the pan.

[fastpathy35]

I would love to find there is an alternative fix, or actually a less expensive issue. I'll try MAF and fuel filter tonight. If I can't find a change, I will be ordering a transmission tomorrow. My truck is terrible on fuel, and I wrecked my bike the night before last. (What a run of luck)

[Towncivilian]

Oh, you didn't mention having a full fluid exchange. Did the shop do it? What fluid did they use?

I've read of a dirty MAF sensor causing transmission shift issues. I'd try cleaning your throttle body too, use throttle body cleaner only.

Hope you're ok after the bike wreck!

[fastpathy35]

I did it, I do all my own work. Nissan matic d. I used valvoline import or whatever it is on my last change. I'll try all of that in a couple hours. I'm fine, really sore, a little scraped and bruised. I yanked it out of the ditch and rode it the last 200 yards home lol.