Nissan Maxima: 91 Maxima Transmission just stopped

A little more ....
Wasn't "tow" to mechanic's workshop as stated ... I actually got hoisted
onto a truck. Sorry for slipup ... didn't want you to think I might have
made it worse by towing!

"Maxim" <co.nz> wrote in message
news:ZjcAc.2906$tsnz.net... 
(as 
on 
inch 
He 
thru 
there 
but 

On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 20:08:43 +1200, "Maxim" <co.nz>
wrote:
 

The Haynes manual for my 93 Maxima says there are 5 possible reasons
for failure:

1) Poor engine performance
2) Improper adjustments
3) hydraulic malfunctions
4) Mechanical malfunctions
5) Malfunctions in the computer or its network

Prsumably you can rule out # 1
#2 only relates to shifter cable (worn bushes or broken cable). If
cable was broken you would be able to feel it, if bushes were worn you
would still get some gear to work

According to the manual the 93 Maxima's auto transmission is
controlled by a computer, I assume the 91 is the same. That being the
case, you or some shop, should be able to read trouble codes from
this computer using specialied diagnostic equipment.

Other posters may have more specific info.

Your current technician appears limited. My suggestion, have the car
shipped to a Nissan dealer for diagnosis.

Al Moodie.

Maxim wrote:

 

Sounds reasonable or get a used one. Sounds like the forward clutch or the
pump has given it up.

 

Not likely the problem.
 

No one is when their car is broken.

 

Why? He probably checked the fluid, saw if was full and the shift linkage is
moving but nothing happens.

 

And he's spend years working on this kind of thing 40 hours a week.

 
 

That's not the problem. Even -if- it was, the internals of the transmission
are coming apart to stop the filter up so it still needs the transmission
replaced. This filter blockage could happen on very old american cars with
paper filters, these cars don't use that type of filter, they use a screen.

 

It quit while you were driving so this can't be it. I've never seen a
japanese shift cable break.
 

Why? It's been checked several times already.

 

It would go into "fail safe" which is second gear only mode.

 

You're dreaming.. :-)
 

No.

 

Which is why you shouldn't question someone who isn't a novice. If you don't
trust him, take it somewhere else. Think about how you'd feel if: you -are-
a professional at your job and someone who is totally clueless about what
you do for a living starts telling you how to do your job? You're going to
tell me you wouldn't feel a little insulted?

This guy knows everything you've found on the web and to start questioning
his ability to diagnose your car is insulting at best. Maybe he wouldn't
care but I'm sure he'd at least think you're being a jerk to question him
about basic stuff like this. Again if you don't think he has enough sense
to know what a novice found on the internet in a couple of hours, take it
somewhere else for a second opinion.

--

Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

I'm agreeing with Steve at Hotlanta Racing. I think you're tranny's shot.
Sounds like what happened to my 90. At this point, it's time for a
replacement or have this one rebuilt. I had mine rebuilt here in Plano, TX
to the tune of $1500. He replaced basically everything internal and now it
runs like new.

Chris
90 & 94 GXE's

Thanks Al. I have in fact now shipped my car to a proper Nissan workshop and
they'll do a proper diagnosis on Monday. I feel more comfortable with a
logical problem-solving approach than the rip-the-thing-apart-and-see plan
of the other mechanic (and of Steve T it seems). Graeme

"Al Moodie" <com> wrote in message
news:com... 
(as 

Maxim wrote:
 

Some people like to make things more complex than they really are while
others actually understand what is going on. Everything you (as a total
novice to this) hoped was wrong (because they are cheap fixes) can't be the
problem from what you wrote so why would someone, who knows what they are
doing, check things that can't cause this problem? Why is it "logical
problem solving" to check things that -can't- be what wrong with your car?

Sure for people like you (who read up on the internet and think they know
more that a professional does) I regularly have to waste their money
because they demand we do this and that when I know it's not the problem. I
can't get them to understand setting the timing and changing the fuel
filter isn't why their car won't start in cold weather etc. Just because
you read some generic things on the "misinformation super hyway" doesn't
make them facts for your application.

Good luck and thanks for your lame attempt at insulting me. :-)

--

Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

I might be a little late, BUT, I have one suggestion for you... Somewhere
on the web, whether it be from a search engine or maxima.org, there are
instuctions for a sequence of actions to perform to get your maxima into
transmission diagnostics mode. It tells you any error codes the
transmissions computer has stored by blinking the Power/Comfort selector
switch lights a certain pattern. I was having shifting problems, and by
doing this, the tranny computer said it was the solenoid pressure sensors
(I brought it to AAMCO to be fixed, and after arguing with them for 3
days, they finnaly agreed there was a problem, which I paid 550 to get
fixed, and it NOTHING to help the problem, lol)
I can't tell you where these mystical instructions are, but from what i
remember its an extremely long sequence of button pushing and key turning.
Best of luck, I think you'd agree with me that 5 speed manual would have
been better...

I might be a little late, BUT, I have one suggestion for you... Somewhere
on the web, whether it be from a search engine or maxima.org, there are
instuctions for a sequence of actions to perform to get your maxima into
transmission diagnostics mode. It tells you any error codes the
transmissions computer has stored by blinking the Power/Comfort selector
switch lights a certain pattern. I was having shifting problems, and by
doing this, the tranny computer said it was the solenoid pressure sensors
(I brought it to AAMCO to be fixed, and after arguing with them for 3
days, they finnaly agreed there was a problem, which I paid 550 to get
fixed, and it NOTHING to help the problem, lol)
I can't tell you where these mystical instructions are, but from what i
remember its an extremely long sequence of button pushing and key turning.
Best of luck, I think you'd agree with me that 5 speed manual would have
been better...