Transmission wont hold over 6 quarts of fluid,please help!

[SUB ZERO CAR FANATIC]

i hate to say it but i think that is exactly whats wrong. Most people that have been a part of the topic didnt feel like the lines would be a issue,even if they were mixed up where connected. i thought that was kinda hard to believe because everything has a purpose and all 4 rubber lines that come off the 2 transmission lines have arrows,i wasnt the one who took this car all apart so i wasnt sure about several things, this being one of them! surely someone who has around the same year or one with duel radiator coolers like Q said, can look at their radiator and see which place the passenger side transmission line goes (top or bottom of radiator) please check for me someone! i appreciate all the help and insight.

SUBZEROCARFANATIC

[Haitian_King]

i hate to say it but i think that is exactly whats wrong. Most people that have been a part of the topic didnt feel like the lines would be a issue,even if they were mixed up where connected. i thought that was kinda hard to believe because everything has a purpose and all 4 rubber lines that come off the 2 transmission lines have arrows,i wasnt the one who took this car all apart so i wasnt sure about several things, this being one of them! surely someone who has around the same year or one with duel radiator coolers like Q said, can look at their radiator and see which place the passenger side transmission line goes (top or bottom of radiator) please check for me someone! i appreciate all the help and insight.

SUBZEROCARFANATIC

I really won't be able to check until daylight. I can check in my 90-93 FSM for you for now though. Hope it helps?

[GseaQ]

I remember on mine the lines split to the 2 coolers in addition to an external filter under the battery. Just see if you can get it to function without the coolers to eliminate any coincidental transmission problem.

[SUB ZERO CAR FANATIC]

Maybe you can see something i didnt,i dont see anything about the coolantlines for the transmission,i have a 93 FSM.

[Haitian_King]

Maybe you can see something i didnt,i dont see anything about the coolantlines for the transmission,i have a 93 FSM.

Nope. Not a damn. Sorry.

[SUB ZERO CAR FANATIC]

I remember on mine the lines split to the 2 coolers in addition to an external filter under the battery. Just see if you can get it to function without the coolers to eliminate any coincidental transmission problem.

WHERE AT under the battery,i dont recall seeing a filterunder my battery tray and i have been under there a few times here lately!i have 2 lines coming off my transmission, one from passenger side, one from driver side,then both of those lines split where they end at the radiator,making 4 outlets instead of 2, then you have 4 rubber hoses, 2 to eachend of transmission line where its split then there are 4 metal lines coming off of radiator,each about 1-2 inches long,long enough for the 4 rubber hoses coming off transmission lines to slide on, there are 2 lines on top of radiator,one on rt. side and one on lft. side, same for bottom,hope im not making this confusing.

[GseaQ]

Chris,

I've just been going through the '94 FSM AT & LC sections, but there's nothing to see there.

Not all cars had the external filter. It may have been a dealer installed item in response to customer complaint about transmission - maybe a TSB response.

I read a post here somewhere recently that identified which of the lines was the out and which was in. It even had diagrams. For sure each line that "tees" off will go to the 2 top rad nipples or the 2 bottom rad nipples. In other words, one line from the transmission will go to the 2 top rad nipples and the other line will go to the 2 bottom ones.

I'll try to find the post.

You should still run it on stands without the coolers to make sure the transmission's OK internally first, though.

Glenn

[SUB ZERO CAR FANATIC]

Chris,

I've just been going through the '94 FSM AT & LC sections, but there's nothing to see there.

Not all cars had the external filter. It may have been a dealer installed item in response to customer complaint about transmission - maybe a TSB response.

I read a post here somewhere recently that identified which of the lines was the out and which was in. It even had diagrams. For sure each line that "tees" off will go to the 2 top rad nipples or the 2 bottom rad nipples. In other words, one line from the transmission will go to the 2 top rad nipples and the other line will go to the 2 bottom ones.

I'll try to find the post.

You should still run it on stands without the coolers to make sure the transmission's OK internally first, though.

Glenn

Thanks for all your help, i appreciate it,ill probably up all night trying to figure this out. i went to SEARCH and found something abouttranny cooler lines, hopefully ill get lucky and find a diagram. I ALSO NEED TO KNOW IF IM CORRECT ABOUT THE LINES. IF THE PASSENGER SIDE transmission LINE IS OUTPUT AND THE DRIVERS SIDE transmission LINE IS RETURN,THATS WHAT MAXNIX(BRIAN) SAID IT WAS BUT HE WASNT SURE.

[GseaQ]

Chris,

I've been looking at diagrams in my '95 manual. AT section page 114 identifies the OUTLET as being the drivers side and the rearmost tube. The IN is on the passenger side and closer to the front of the transmission. The OUT tube goes to the TOP radiator nipples (both sides).

After all this is over you should seriously consider teeing into the return line (from the bottom of the rad) after they merge back into the single line back to the transmission and run the fluid through an external cooler. That way your fluid will run at less than 190 degrees - which I think is too hot.

Glenn

[SUB ZERO CAR FANATIC]

Chris,

I've been looking at diagrams in my '95 manual. AT section page 114 identifies the OUTLET as being the drivers side and the rearmost tube. The IN is on the passenger side and closer to the front of the transmission. The OUT tube goes to the TOP radiator nipples (both sides).

After all this is over you should seriously consider teeing into the return line (from the bottom of the rad) after they merge back into the single line back to the transmission and run the fluid through an external cooler. That way your fluid will run at less than 190 degrees - which I think is too hot.

Glenn

SO THE 95 MODEL TRANSMISSION IS THE SAME AS MY 93?? ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU DO YOU KNOW HOW TO BLEED ABS PUMP, I TRIED THE USUAL PUMPING AND BLEEDING FRONT CALIPERS AND THEY ARE STILL GOING TO THE FLOOR. THANKS.

[GseaQ]

Chris,

The transmissions are the same with regard to the cooler line locations. The '93-'96 had a slightly higher 1st and 2nd gear ratio than the '90-'92.

All I got on the bleeding is from the FSM. First thing it says is to "turn off ignition and disconnect ABS actuator connectors or battery ground cable." Then "bleed LR, RR, LF & RF in that order." I seem to recall there are a couple of bleeders on the actuator assembly itself. If there is, I'd bleed those, too, but the FSM doesn't say so.

Glenn

[qship96]

Did you get this sorted out yet?

[96Qowner]

Darn, sorry I wasn't here last night. I believe this is the radiator diagram you're looking for - it's on Q45.org:

http://www.q45.org/trannycooler.html

I haven't done this myself. I know elwesso has - maybe email him if you know you're stuck. The diagram looks like the two tanks are vertical. You can at least see by the ovals and circles how you might have connected them wrong.

[Fridge]

Chris,First off I am not in any way a expert on Q`s But I have been working on cars since I was a kid many many moons ago lol. The placement of the hoses should not make a lot of difference unless there is a check valve in the line somewhere. One of the first things I did was install a external cooler the one in my radiator was stoped up although it did not do what yours is doing.

On most transmissions there is a vent somewhere on the top of the body of the trans to relieve the pressure on the case if this is stoped up you will blow seals and it will blow out the dip stick tube.

Hope this helps

[SUB ZERO CAR FANATIC]

Did you get this sorted out yet?

NO i havent,not yet! i was told last night on here that my lines might be crossed, transmission lines going to radiator, i was told before that passenger side transmission line was the output line, now ive been told the one on the drivers side of trannyis the output line.

[qship96]

Quick,down and dirty way to bee 100% sure is to have someone start car while you watch the 2 disconnected metal lines-the one that spurts out atf is output of transmission-be sure helper shuts car off quickly once you see which line it is!

[SUB ZERO CAR FANATIC]

Darn, sorry I wasn't here last night. I believe this is the radiator diagram you're looking for - it's on Q45.org:

http://www.q45.org/trannycooler.html

I haven't done this myself. I know elwesso has - maybe email him if you know you're stuck. The diagram looks like the two tanks are vertical. You can at least see by the ovals and circles how you might have connected them wrong.

it looks like the lines coming from wes's transmission have 3 out's, two on one line and the other line doesnt split at the end,just single outlet.both of my transmission lines split at the radiator end, thus giving me 4 outlets,meaning i have 4 rubber lines coming out, so my question is that i need to know for sure that output line(assuming its drivers side transmission line) goesto both right and left top posistions on radiator,that is the big QUESTION!!!Hopefully someone got to look at their radiator today!!

[SUB ZERO CAR FANATIC]

Quick,down and dirty way to bee 100% sure is to have someone start car while you watch the 2 disconnected metal lines-the one that spurts out atf is output of transmission-be sure helper shuts car off quickly once you see which line it is!

you are correct my friend,unfortunetly....i dont have the luxury of a helper, i have to do it all my self, so i have to think of another way, same thing with my brakes,havent done them yet cause i have no one to pump brake pedalwhile i bleed air and fluid at calipers!! it sucks not having help sometimes!!

[Haitian_King]

MY firend has a 93 Maxima that requires the release button to be hled down while the trunk is opened by hand. To avvoid problems when he's alone, he's tied a string to pull the trunk up while he's holding the button.

Similar circumstance, but different.

Perhaps you can use a stick to push the brake pedal while bleeding?

For watching the fluid movement, could you place a video camera in a spot where it can see it? Then you can start the car, then turn it off and review the tape to see what's what under the Q.

[qship96]

juat ziptie a plastic sandwich baggie on each of the 2 metal lines coming from transmission,start and run engine for 10-15 seconds and shut off

go look to see which baggie is full of atf-thats the transmission output line

[Haitian_King]

juat ziptie a plastic sandwich baggie on each of the 2 metal lines coming from transmission,start and run engine for 10-15 seconds and shut off

go look to see which baggie is full of atf-thats the transmission output line

A very good idea. MUCH less complicated than the camera deal.

Sub Zero. Do his method.

[SUB ZERO CAR FANATIC]

juat ziptie a plastic sandwich baggie on each of the 2 metal lines coming from transmission,start and run engine for 10-15 seconds and shut off

go look to see which baggie is full of atf-thats the transmission output line

Good idea! You know whats wierd........last night i couldnt sleep,had the transmission issue bothering me so i got up and went out to work in the shop for a while,i pulled 1 rubber line off one trannyline,then pulled 1 rubber line off opposite transmission line,(not know whichline is supply and which is return) so that still leaves 2 rubber lines,one to each transmission line, anyway i pulled one to see if there was fluidin the line(im thinking to myself which ever line has fluid in it should be supply line,since im assuming the fluid is not circulating like it shouldbecause it over flows from fill tube if i try and check it when its not running)so i pull first line off and fluid starts coming out, i push it back on and tighten it, then pull second line from other transmission line and fluid is comingout of this one too!!! Im puzzled,if i werent having trouble with the fluidoverflowing from fill tube when car is not running it wouldnt puzzle mebecause i would think its circulating like it should(because of the fluid coming out both supply and return line ). hope im making sense to everyone. so i dont know what to think now,i was expecting to pullone line off of transmission supply,one line off transmission return, and which everline had fluid coming out was supply, but they both had fluid coming out!!!can somebody please tell me for certain which side is output ........driverside or passenger side transmission line?? if not i guess ill have to try the bag technique

[Haitian_King]

You lost me.

Try the baggie thing. Sounds very promising. Try the camera thing for the hell of it too. I just want to see it.

[Fridge]

Dude you are making this way to complex. Couple the two lines together coming off the transmission. Start it up again and see if you have the same problem. If you do it is not the cooler lines. Also get rid of the stock cooler they sell one in jegs that will fit in front of the radiator and works much better!

[Haitian_King]

Dude you are making this way to complex. Couple the two lines together coming off the transmission. Start it up again and see if you have the same problem. If you do it is not the cooler lines. Also get rid of the stock cooler they sell one in jegs that will fit in front of the radiator and works much better!

I thought the B&M cooler was the status quo for G50 ATF coolers? Is this Jegs one any better?

[SUB ZERO CAR FANATIC]

Dude you are making this way to complex. Couple the two lines together coming off the transmission. Start it up again and see if you have the same problem. If you do it is not the cooler lines. Also get rid of the stock cooler they sell one in jegs that will fit in front of the radiator and works much better!

i already no that connecting the lines together is going to let it circulate " DUDE" YOU OBVIOUSLYdidnt read the last several post,or you did and you too dont know the answer. That was my main question,which side is output which side is return,no one seems to know,and where do the output lines go top of radiator? I would assumethe top since they flow top to bottom,but i would like to know for sure.Anybody can sit here and speculate or guess, but no one really knows!!Guess ill go to ask it now .com or whatever its called. you ask a questionand a master tech replys to your questions,if your satisfied with his response you pay a couple bucks or whatever you feel is fair. thanks everybody for your help and efforts seems like i still have the unanswered questions of which side is supply,and where do supply lines go, top or bottom! anyway thanks everybody,when i find out the answer ill come back and let everybody know, so it wont be a mystery to everyone! thanks

SUBZERO

[GseaQ]

Chris,

The top hose connections on the rad (both sides) are for the fluid from the transmission OUTLET line and the bottom hose connections on the rad are for the fluid to return to the transmission via the INLET line. I'm sure it would be impractical, if not impossible, for the factory to reverse the positions of the lines flowing to and from the transmission, while leaving everything else the same as other years. We just put a '95 transmission in our '92 and everything was a perfect match (we do use external B&M coolers, though). The '95 manual is quite clear that the drivers side pipe is OUTLET. Just curious, did you ever join the 2 lines together to check the transmission's functioning?

Cheers,Glenn
Modified by GseaQ at 2:10 AM 3/10/2008

[SUB ZERO CAR FANATIC]

Chris,

The top hose connections on the rad (both sides) are for the fluid from the transmission OUTLET line and the bottom hose connections on the rad are for the fluid to return to the transmission via the INLET line. I'm sure it would be impractical, if not impossible, for the factory to reverse the positions of the lines flowing to and from the transmission, while leaving everything else the same as other years. We just put a '95 transmission in our '92 and everything was a perfect match (we do use external B&M coolers, though). The '95 manual is quite clear that the divers side pipe is OUTLET. Just curious, did you ever join the 2 lines together to check the transmission's functioning?

Cheers,Glenn

HEY GLENN!........WHERE YA BEEN? I HAVENT HAD A CHANCE TO DO ANYTHING SINCE WE LAST TALKED EXCEPT PULL 2 OF THE RUBBER LINES LOOSE ,ONE FROM EACH transmission LINE, I FIGURED WHICHEVER LINE WAS OUTPUT LINE WOULD HAVE FLUID COME OUT THEY BOTH HAD A LITTLE COME OUT, NOT MUCH. THE FIRST ONE I PULLED HAD THE MOST, AND A HELL OF A LOT OF AIR CAME OUT THE FIRST ONE ALSO

[GseaQ]

Sometimes work gets in the way of reality. I've been monitoring the feedback from others, but didn't really have anything more to add. I think you can have this sorted out in short order.

I normally would have advocated what we did - bypass the rad coolers completely and just use the external cooler - and for you I think this would still be the best move (even though it gets quite cold there). Some say the rad coolers actually help bring a cold transmission up to operating temp faster and I didn't doubt it until a few weeks ago. Then it was pointed out that the rad coolers cannot heat the transmission fluid until the thermostat opens anyway for coolant circulation. The transmission won't engage 4th gear until the fluid temp is up. I find that happens after about 3-4 minutes of easy driving, no different than with the original configuration (no external cooler). Of course I let the engine idle down to under 1000 RPM before I shift out of Park, so that may really be 5-8 minutes after a cold start.

Yeah, never mind the rad coolers. Put on an external cooler, B&M 70268. Much simpler install - 1 hose in and 1 hose out - doesn't even matter which one! Our '92's was mounted according to "NICO Rules" between the rad and the AC condenser. The '95's is mounted out in front of the condenser - in my opinion easier and more effective for cooling.

Glenn

[SUB ZERO CAR FANATIC]

Sometimes work gets in the way of reality. I've been monitoring the feedback from others, but didn't really have anything more to add. I think you can have this sorted out in short order.

I normally would have advocated what we did - bypass the rad coolers completely and just use the external cooler - and for you I think this would still be the best move (even though it gets quite cold there). Some say the rad coolers actually help bring a cold transmission up to operating temp faster and I didn't doubt it until a few weeks ago. Then it was pointed out that the rad coolers cannot heat the transmission fluid until the thermostat opens anyway for coolant circulation. The transmission won't engage 4th gear until the fluid temp is up. I find that happens after about 3-4 minutes of easy driving, no different than with the original configuration (no external cooler). Of course I let the engine idle down to under 1000 RPM before I shift out of Park, so that may really be 5-8 minutes after a cold start.

Yeah, never mind the rad coolers. Put on an external cooler, B&M 70268. Much simpler install - 1 hose in and 1 hose out - doesn't even matter which one! Our '92's was mounted according to "NICO Rules" between the rad and the AC condenser. The '95's is mounted out in front of the condenser - in my opinion easier and more effective for cooling.

Glenn

WHAT DOES THE Q LOOK LIKE THAT YOU ARE SELLING! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ASK FOR HER? POST ME A PIC OF IT HERE IF YOU CAN WHAT COLOR IS INTERIOR&EXT.?? I NEED TO FIND OUT IF THE 95 Q AND MY 93 TRANNYS ARE THE SAME,BECAUSE BRIAN HERE ON NICO SAYS THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE LINE IS OUTPUT ON transmission!??! BRIAN=(maxnix) takeit easy