DoctorBill Posted November 20, 2010 Share Posted November 20, 2010 (edited) Wife out shopping. 30° temp. Transmission snapped (wife described sound) with a big rubber band snap sound as she pulled out from a stop light - and that was all she wrote. Pushed it into a side street and had it towed to a Transmission Repair Shop. Friday night - ALWAYS bad things happen on a Friday Night. Question - what is the "common" cause of this type of thing ? I would imagine there is one common part that snaps in these Pathfinder Automatics. Has 173,000 miles on it. Previous owner had Transmission Replaced too ! Are they crapy transmissions ? I want to be ready for the Transmission Shop's diagnosis to see if they try to BS me. I installed a Transmission Cooler and Changed the Timing Belt on this forum just over a year ago. DoctorBill Edited November 20, 2010 by DoctorBill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted November 20, 2010 Share Posted November 20, 2010 If it just lost all gears all of a sudden, I would check the torque converter first. I have heard of it doing this. You still have to pull the tranny but is a lot cheaper than a whole new unit! Another thing could be if the previous owner had it rebuilt and the shop did a crappy job, and it just failed prematurely. These transmissions are actually pretty good if taken care of. Usually when a cooler related issue happens you will start to lose reverse, then randomly lose front drive gears. The last 3 times I have heard someone describe the symptoms you describe it has been the torque converter. I was actually present when it happened to one person (member here and a friend of mine) the truck made a snapping noise and lost everything except part! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY1PATH Posted November 20, 2010 Share Posted November 20, 2010 (edited) my guess is that if it is the tranny itself, the damage was already done before you got it and putting the cooler on just helped it last a little longer. x2 on checking the TC first. check all the basics. Might I also recomend a superior shift transmission kit go into the replacement. It seems like a pretty simple install and its designed to correct the errors known to be common with a high mile tranny Edited November 20, 2010 by MY1PATH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted November 20, 2010 Share Posted November 20, 2010 Torque converter or output shaft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorBill Posted November 27, 2010 Author Share Posted November 27, 2010 The shop (Lois Transmission on Monroe in Spokane) tells me that there was metal in the tray when the bottom was removed from the transmission. So they are going to open it up. Crazy busy at this, the ONLY reputable place in my area that I know of. They have swarms of people there all the time - their reputation gets them mucho business. Even the Tow Truck Driver knew of Lois' place.... Probably about $2,200 for a transmission overhaul with replacement of weak parts with one of those kits mentioned earlier by MY1PATH. Told them it had been replaced via a recall by the previous owner several years ago. They will splice in my Temp sender unit 'cause I'm too old and screwed up now to be underneath any vehicle with fluid dripping in my face. DoctorBill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 For it to just let go like that does sound like a bad TC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 The shop (Lois Transmission on Monroe in Spokane) tells me that there was metal in the tray when the bottom was removed from the transmission. So they are going to open it up. Crazy busy at this, the ONLY reputable place in my area that I know of. They have swarms of people there all the time - their reputation gets them mucho business. Even the Tow Truck Driver knew of Lois' place.... Probably about $2,200 for a transmission overhaul with replacement of weak parts with one of those kits mentioned earlier by MY1PATH. Told them it had been replaced via a recall by the previous owner several years ago. They will splice in my Temp sender unit 'cause I'm too old and screwed up now to be underneath any vehicle with fluid dripping in my face. DoctorBill Did they show you the pan? If it is a gray metal looking paste it is normal, mine had a bunch of it in the pan too when I changed my filter but I was told by a Nissan tech that it is normal for a high mile tranny. Now if there were shavings on the other hand... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k9sar Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 I blew up a planetary assembly once. Lots of nasty noises then all was quiet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorBill Posted November 29, 2010 Author Share Posted November 29, 2010 (edited) I NOW KNOW WHAT HAPPENED..... The planetary Gear(s) broke. $1850. One of my students who works on racing car transmissions told me why that happens - especially in winter. The tires are spinning on ice (usually on starting forward) and then they hit clear asphalt and stop spinning - quickly ! Bam - the gear train stops quickly and the planetary gear(s) pop. He said that if I am going to pay $1900 now, I might as well have an entire rebuild done for a few 100 $$ more. Otherwise some other part might break in a year or so and again I'd have to pay another $1900.....sounded like a good idea ! So, I called and am having a complete rebuilt done for around $2200. I hope this Pathfinder is worth it......! So let it be written - so let it be done. Rameses..."The Ten Commandments" Might as well have it all done at once including the "Upgrade Kit". It is going to snow all week and here I am stuck with a Geo Metro. DoctorBill MOTHER OF GOD !.....Just called the Transmission Shop...$2,600 is going to be the Bill. All new stuff - rebuild Kit and Update kit. At least it should be better than a "New Transmission" from Nissan and certainly better than some unknown wrecking yard tranny with unknown troubles. Edited November 30, 2010 by DoctorBill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 At least you can pick it up out of the snow drifts you'll slide into... I hope you don't have any more tranny trouble. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorBill Posted November 30, 2010 Author Share Posted November 30, 2010 (edited) At least you can pick it up out of the snow drifts you'll slide into... I hope you don't have any more tranny trouble. B Sliding isn't the problem with a Geo Metro...it is "Slush" grabbing the wheels and losing all control. Then you have high snow piles in the center of the road. The Geo Metro is about 5 inches off the ground ! But then 50 mpg isn't so bad, either..... I went to the "Pick 'n Save" and took a "4 Wheel Drive" emblem off a big truck and Gorilla Glued it onto the back of the Geo just for fun. People seriously ask me where I got a 4x4 Geo Metro ! Lots of fun.... DoctorBill Edited November 30, 2010 by DoctorBill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackspawn Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Sliding isn't the problem with a Geo Metro...it is "Slush" grabbing the wheels and losing all control. Then you have high snow piles in the center of the road. The Geo Metro is about 5 inches off the ground ! But then 50 mpg isn't so bad, either..... I went to the "Pick 'n Save" and took a "4 Wheel Drive" emblem off a big truck and Gorilla Glued it onto the back of the Geo just for fun. People seriously ask me where I got a 4x4 Geo Metro ! Lots of fun.... DoctorBill Nice to hear from you again Doc; not about the tranny though!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nismothunder Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Did they show you the pan? If it is a gray metal looking paste it is normal, mine had a bunch of it in the pan too when I changed my filter but I was told by a Nissan tech that it is normal for a high mile tranny. This was what mine looked like,I wasnt sure if it was normal or not.Makes me think maybe something little went wrong with tranny 1 now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorBill Posted December 3, 2010 Author Share Posted December 3, 2010 Just got my '95 Pathfinder V6-XE back from the transmission Shop. $2,600. They charged me $50 to install the Temp sensor block in the cooler hose ! And in the return line not the output line like I had asked them to....Damn ! 12 month or 12,000 mile warranty. They showed me the Planetary Gear - the input shaft Splines going into the Planetary Gear Assembly were totally stripped out flat ! Drove it home - All was working well. Got home and had to drive UP my street to my house in the snow slush. So I stopped, shifted to Low (1) and put it in Four Wheel and started up the hill.... After a few seconds I heard this Wretched, Hideous grinding sound ! I dumped in my pants ! Tried to put it in Second (2). Grinding ! Stopped and put it in drive and then it walked up the hill like there was no snow at all....went thru the slush like a caterpillar tractor ! I immediately called the shop and asked what the Hell the grinding was all about. Was worried I had stripped First Gear out ! The owner thinks that the Four Wheel had not gone in and made that grinding sound and then dropped into 4x4 when I stopped. Scared the crud out of me ! I never had used the 4x4 before. Was he right ? ! DoctorBill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Could be, I've had my 4hi not engage fully and grind a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Could have been the auto hubs not fully engaging as well. Was it a ratcheting clicky type noise or obvious gear nose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k9sar Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 nope... tranny's shot. Take it back for another overhaul. just kidding.... if the sound was coming from under your feet, I would suspect something in the transfer case, otherwise, it just sounds like a hub issue especially since you say you have never used it in 4wd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorBill Posted December 3, 2010 Author Share Posted December 3, 2010 (edited) These "AUTOMATIC" Hubs - do they need to be lubed or are they lubed by the oil in the front differential ? I have the digital (pdf) version of the Manual and section FA describes all the noise the Automatic Hubs can make ! It looks like they need to be dismantled once in a while to be lubed. I'd really like to get manual hubs put in, but would probably cost me $500 - yes ? DoctorBill Edited December 3, 2010 by DoctorBill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 (edited) Manual hubs are about 180 dollars IIRC. With the auto hubs you have to roll forward after you put it in 4wd. If you are already in slush, put it in 4wd and accelerate, and the truck slips the hubs will sometimes make the noise you describe because the rear tires are spinning faster than the front. On the sun-visor on mine it has instructions that says you can put it in 4hi at speeds up to 40 km/h (25mph?). I never had any issue with doing this but some say it's bad for it. Edited December 3, 2010 by adamzan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Hub replacement is simple, 6 bolts and a snap ring. Like Adam said, you can find hubs from about $150-$300 depending on brand and where you get them. As for lubing the autos, they don't like much grease, they actually work worse with to much, just a light coating on the parts is all you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewebster Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 As for lubing the autos, they don't like much grease, they actually work worse with to much, just a light coating on the parts is all you need. Doh! I just put mine back on today and put a fair amount of grease in there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Hub replacement is simple, 6 bolts and a snap ring. Like Adam said, you can find hubs from about $150-$300 depending on brand and where you get them. I bought brand new Mile Markers for the wife's 99.0 for $90, same part number for the 95. Fitment is all listed in the Garage or 87-95 Section, pinned at the top. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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