Guest edward Posted March 26, 2004 Share Posted March 26, 2004 My automatic transmission lost its reverse ('92/135K miles). Any ideas on what the problem might be / what things to check for ? All the forward gears are fine. If this is symptomatic of a shot tranny, is it possible to get a manual tranny from a junkyard to replace the automatic ? Thks, Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NissanPerson Posted March 26, 2004 Share Posted March 26, 2004 By no reverse do you mean "NO REVERSE" or "SOMETIMES IT WORKS SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T." I have the latter of the two problems. It goes in about 80 percent of the time (usually when I could care less if it does). But when I really need it it never engages. I took it in to a tranny shop to see how much to rebuild it and they said about $2500. So, 45,000 miles later I still deal with the problem. I have gotten used to not getting myself into situations where I have a life or death need for reverse, so it's a problem you don't have to fix right away. If you off-road a lot you'll probably want to get it fixed. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend getting stuck because then the difference between walking 4 miles to find someone or going home in a nice warm car will rely on whether or not your car goes into reverse. After much blabbering, my point is...you can live with just forward gears and an intermittent reverse. But, if you want reverse and have a few thousand you don't mind throwing at it, get it fixed. It should last you for the life of the car if you do (assuming you don't put like 3,000,000 miles on it or something) and then you wouldn't have to worry. It could be something else, like the linkage in the shifter, fluid or some crazy thing, but I kind of have a hunch it's not. I'm sure someone else will have a better idea that will actually fix it Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k9sar Posted March 26, 2004 Share Posted March 26, 2004 The reverse gear in an AT requires higher oil pressure than the forward gears. When I lost Reverse, it was because my rear pump had gone bad and I was not getting the tranny oil pressure that I needed. Subsequently, I had some bearing issues as well. I dropped it off for a complete overhaul (clutch discs, bearings, pump, torque convertor), etc and it ran be about $2600 and I have not had problems with it since (though the shifting is different now. It seems to run to a higer RPM before shifting). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lgranch Posted March 26, 2004 Share Posted March 26, 2004 Ksar you stated that you dropped it off to have it rebuilt. Does this mean you took it out or did you have someone do all the work? A completely remanufactured tranny for a 4wd Pathy is about $1650 with the torque converter. This is a "factory" (not Nissan) rebuild not a bench top rebuild done at most trans shops. A transmission shop really is not equipeed to rebuild a tranny. They can change a few parts and call it rebuit, but you could suffer the consequenses. GOOD tranny shops are very hard to find. A good tranny shop will repair the problem, not "rebuid" the trans. They will change the clutches, and the pumps and not charge you $2600.If caught early most auto tranny problems can be fixed. However most people will just continue to drive them untill they completely die. The problem of no reverse can be many things. The simple statement made is not enough to diagnosis the problem. Yes it can be the rear pump. It could also be a plugged flow channel or a stuck valve. Now if can change it out yourself then $1600 is a good deal if your only other choice is a chain transmission shop. Before anyone tells me of a tranny shop that is good, I know that there are some people out there that are knowledgable and honest. Finding them is the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k9sar Posted March 26, 2004 Share Posted March 26, 2004 Excellent points. I was not in a position at the time to do any of the work myself. I 'dropped off' my entire vehicle at a small trans shop near me that has done work for friends and family in the past. They said they'd pull it apart and see what's going on and give me a call. They would come up with the cheapest solution of either replacing what's bad in mine or buying a used one, ripping it open and replacing any parts it needs (if any). The prices actually came within a hundred bucks or so of each other so I chose to continue with mine since I knew it's history. I mistyped the price, it was actually $1570 ($1600, not $2600) which included a very thorough inspection of all the tranny components (while it was open), replacement parts, labor, a 5k break-in period re-open and recheck and a 20,000 mile warranty. For a long time, I had a box in my garage that contained everything that got replaced except the TC. That was a little too bulky for me to hide from my wife who nags me about not being able to pull her van into the garage. The damage I had was obvious. I didn't have to rely on someone's word that 'this is bad'. I completely avoided the larger chains like AAMCO and Cottman since they seemed to dwell on how fast they could do the work as opposed to how well and how long they will stand behind it. Granted, if you want a quick turnaround, don't go to a small shop but this one was extremely thorough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest edward Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 OK, (all) that information helps. $1600 seemed to be the most common dollar figure I got poking around elsewhere for a rebuild. There is actually no reverse at all. I will probably start with a few simple things flush/fluid/filter/linkage and see if that helps. Then its off to find a good transmission mechanic . . . Thanks for the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fsuball13 Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 (edited) So today i go outside to my pathy, and there is no reverse. My reverse worked fine, as of 6:00 last night. it was all of a sudden. Got online and saw this post. I went to the dealership (just to see what they would say) took them 15 mins to say "oh its gonna run about 4000 for a new transmission" Ive got a 96 pathy with 118,000 miles on it. i was hoping this wouldnt be the case. I went to a local Nissan specialist shop and they said it could be some drum thing in the transmission. i have no idea what he said. they said if everything else works then theres no way its a completly blown transmission. does any1 have any idea what drum he is talking about? they knew a lot more about it than the dealership did. no way im going to the dealership. im so pissed for this crap. nothing has ever been wrong with my pathy then all of a sudden its got no reverse. i take it thursday for them to take it apart. THIS SUCKS. thanks for an info. oh and its got full transmission fluid and all that. Edited March 30, 2004 by fsuball13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k9sar Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 sorry... I know mainly the 90-95 era pathy. If there was no significant change in the trans when they went with the new body, I can dig through my books and see if there is anything that could be called a 'drum thingie' and let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaritimeMan Posted March 31, 2004 Share Posted March 31, 2004 Maybe a torque converter? Thats about the only drum thingy in a auto that I can think of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pathoffroad Posted March 31, 2004 Share Posted March 31, 2004 The sprag and planetary gear assembly is built inside a drum of sorts, for what it's worth. A big one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k9sar Posted March 31, 2004 Share Posted March 31, 2004 There appears to be something called a clutch drum. I noticed it in the AT section of my service manual but was on my way out to dinner so I did not look further into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Boy Posted April 2, 2004 Share Posted April 2, 2004 Nah, there are definatley talking about tye whole gear box drum thingy. Ya know, that drum thingy not workin to good. Probably a good reflection of the type of workman ship that goes on there if they can't take the time to calm, reassure and explain to the prospective customer what they think are their best options and what could the possible cxause of the problem. How many times have you gone to a mechanic as the last resort all fired up cause you can't figure it out your self???? ALL MECHANICS SHOULD SEE THEM SELFS AS GRIEF/MENTAL TRAUMA COUNCILORS first and formost. We need consoling when are babies are sick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k9sar Posted April 2, 2004 Share Posted April 2, 2004 ... and don't forget to top off your blinker fluid, right 88? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pathoffroad Posted April 3, 2004 Share Posted April 3, 2004 My cross-drilled stainless steel brake lines make my Pathfinder faster than yours. *seriousnod* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NissanPerson Posted April 3, 2004 Share Posted April 3, 2004 Guys, I can't take this suffocation, the sarcasm is too thick for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Boy Posted April 3, 2004 Share Posted April 3, 2004 Seriously!!!!!!! Its aimed at the "Nissan specialist" Not you!!!! We just drive the things right?? Basically he didn't give you much to go on and that is total B.Sht. Cheer up, my tranny is getting overhauled on tuesday coming. I couldn't figure out what the weird noises were, so i said bugger it, i'll sort it once and for all............................ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Cheers, keep smiling, and remeber 90% of trans mechanics were fired from working at McD's, trans rebuilding was the next best option.(I like that one Igranch) Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChromoTech Posted April 16, 2004 Share Posted April 16, 2004 check the fluid levels on the tranny, transfer case. when my fuid was low it would take alittle while to enguage into gears P R N D 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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