Water Gushing sound from transmission?

[D-Maxima]

Hey guys

Ive noticed for a week or two when I take off from being completely stopped that my transmission makes this wierd noise like fluid is running through the transmission (Auto 4spd, 3rd Gen 92)

From what I can tell nothing is running strange as a result and the gears are shifting normally. The only odd thing to happen is that driving from work just sitting in the traffic the car started to idle strange like it was missing or something and by the time I got home it was fine.

I have never had the transmission serviced and I have had the car for about 18 months now and Im not sure how often previous owners did, if at all. They took good care of it but one cant assume these things these days. I will get it serviced after I change my oil next, but what could this problem be? Would it need a flush?

[Stoner425]

Dude, Stop using your car as a submarine on weekends! Seriously, though, are you sure you're not hearing the movement of the coolant in the heating system? I know that's what I hear with the stereo off and windows up in my 03 Altima 3.5.

[D-Maxima]

But I love deep sea exploration

it could be the coolant I guess it sounds like its comin near the shifter though...but i feel that you could be right...plus i think the worst coz its always in the morning while im driving to work when i get all pissed off about it lol

hey i see its your first post..welcome to NICO!

[johnnyd6404]

Dont do a flush, drop the pan and change the fluid 2 or 3 times over the course of 1k miles to completly remove all old fulid. You dont want to send all those shavings in the pan back through the trany its bad it can ruin your transmission.

[D-Maxima]

is that what a auto-transmission shop does to service it just flush it? This is the first auto car ive had...

[MinisterofDOOM]

No, but it'll have the same effect or better. Draining the fluid doesn't get everything out. Changing it, then driving <100 miles, changing again, driving <100 miles, and changing one more time will do a great job of getting old, dirty fluid and contaminants out.

I agree that it could be coolant or AC noises you're hearing. Is the noise affected by rpm or gear? If it doesn't change with revs or moving the shift lever from forward to neutral to park, etc. you can be pretty sure it's not trans related.

[D-Maxima]

yeah after that first post saying maybe coolant i tend to agree with that theory. Plus my coolant keeps going low and there are no leaks, that I know of, which leads to the next mystery for me....unless the top radiator hose i put on leaks but ive checked about 10000000 times and there are no green stains anywhere maybe its trickling out somewhere?

and no it doesnt make a noise when changing into drive, reverse etc or changing through gears jsut when i start it in the morning or after long period of time sitting there (parked at work for the day)

[mtcookson]

Definitely sounds like coolant to me... there was an issue with the third gens where the heater core was a little too high making it difficult to fill the system properly allowing air pockets. I can't remember if the 92's were included but what you may do is get your car on a good incline and add some coolant to it.

The best way is to start with the car cold, get it on the incline (or jack the front end up), pop off the radiator cap, start the car, then start filling it up and let it get up to temp. As coolant slowly circulates you'll probably see air bubbles coming out of the radiator, just keep topping it off and when there are no more bubbles you can put the cap back on and test it out.

[D-Maxima]

I will try that out on the weekend at the local shops there is a pretty steep hill there to do that.

yeah every time i check the coolant reservoir (approx every 2 weeks) it is empty and i top it up to max every time. and the coolant isnt leaking into the oil (thankfully).

[D-Maxima]

Definitely sounds like coolant to me... there was an issue with the third gens where the heater core was a little too high making it difficult to fill the system properly allowing air pockets. I can't remember if the 92's were included but what you may do is get your car on a good incline and add some coolant to it.

The best way is to start with the car cold, get it on the incline (or jack the front end up), pop off the radiator cap, start the car, then start filling it up and let it get up to temp. As coolant slowly circulates you'll probably see air bubbles coming out of the radiator, just keep topping it off and when there are no more bubbles you can put the cap back on and test it out.

works like a charm! took the radiator cap of and turned it on and just stood there and laughed when i saw bubbles coming through

that wasnt even on an incline i will do that this week sometime hopefully it gets all the air out!

[mtcookson]

Good deal! A nice little trick a friend of mine at a performance shop taught me, works wonders.

There's a chance your car may not need the incline, I just can't remember for sure. Nissan changed the heater core design later in the 3rd gen's life fixing the issue. Definitely won't hurt to do though.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

The FSM and Haynes go into depth about how to keep airout of the cooling system. I have not followed them to a Tbut my experience shows to watch the car closely while theair will work its way out of the cooling system. Keep theoverflow resevoir on max while your working with this problem

[D-Maxima]

OK so here's a twist.

I dropped the old man off to get his car serviced. After work I went and picked him up to pick the car up. I went in to hear what they tried to say about his rotors (tried to bull**** him to spending $1000 on rotors/ pads and said it was illlegal for them to ley him leave, Dad said 'what law is that?')

So anyway we went out and one of the staff at the dealership says, 'hey mate, do you know your car is leaking coolant?" I turn around and there is a steady trickle coming from under the car!

i popped the hood and spotted where the leak was, it seemed to be coming from a hose coming from the heater unit back to the engine block, and was dripping like a tap.

i topped up the overflow and drove it home. the old man said he didnt see any leaking on my drive home at all and we filled the overflow up to max once we got home and ut appears to have stopped.

Havent looked at it closer yet but will do soon but, shiit could this have anything to do with air in the system?

[mtcookson]

Nah, not likely. The coolant system actually pressurizes to raise the boiling point so it could just be that the hose was near its death and finally gave away leaking coolant.

Just to be on the safe side, I'd also inspect your radiator cap and make sure it seems to be functioning properly. I've seen some get some buildup around the spring which could cause the system to over pressurize. It won't be likely, but good to check anyway.

[D-Maxima]

Sorry havent visited this thread in a while.

radiator cap is fine..no build up or anything like that.

I took my car to the local shops which has a pretty steed hill in the car park and got rid of some more bubbles..now the water trickling/ gushing sound seems to have gone away for now.

still havent had the leak i mentioned above checked out but i havent noticed any leaking for a wek or two so dont know whats it going on...i guess it may be shot, might get the hose replaced for good measure when i take it in for the 12 month major service.

a tip for anyone who repeats what mt cookson said about removing bubbles from the system, do it on a good incline and make sure the car is as cold as possible. also, fill the radiator up enough so you can see bubbles coming out, but dont fill it as much as you can...this will allow for the system to heat up a bit and the coolant to move up when getting hot plus not overflow to quick and get all over your radiator.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

My 95 leaked a little antifreeze after I changed it. It would do itinfrequently.

The first time was due to the hose running from the AICV to theupper intake. It would only leak there when it was warmin up.I fixed that one ok. New hose with clamps.

I really never found the leak the second time. I leaked infrequentlyand I would check it hot, warm,cold, no luck. I only found some crustedstuff by the radiator hose and I think the engine coolant sealed itselfthere. No antifreeze on the garage floor anyway.