Everything I have read here says use Nissan fluids only in the 5AT. It's very picky.

 

Well, the fluid didn't fix it. Must be an electrical issue. Great, now I guess I have to replace the solenoid or valve body.

 

A replacement used transmission costs about the same as a new valve body ($700-800), since yours is already eating itself up I'd just go with a whole different transmission.

 

Well I dropped the valve body and opened the TCM housing up, there was a broken lead going to one side of the FR/B solenoid contact. Soldered it up with a piece of wire for backup, carefully cleaned everything up and put it back together. Reinstalled the TCM/valve body and put 7 quarts of Transmax in, and it's back on the road as of last Saturday. So far no code returned. So, what does the temp usually run if you drive it hard for a few minutes? I got up to about 217 degrees but I also got it up to about a hundred in a short period of time.

 

That's about right for fluid temp in a car under normal load. HD transmissions in trucks can see 240 while towing a heavy load.

 

Bad thing is now that I've had a good look inside the housing, now I'm thinking about finding a junkyard unit to rebuild myself... I have a love hate relationship with working on things. If I have enough money to work on something I love it. If I screw up and break something expensive I hate it.

 

I would strongly recommend having the best auto tranny rebuild shop in town do the work of rebuilding an automatic. It can definitely be done but requires a LOT of patience and experience working with them in order for it to go smoothly. Don't brute force ANYTHING, it will all slide apart if you're doing it right.

A rebuilt kit is about $500 and a rebuilt transmission is about $1000, well worth the extra $500 imo. Throw in a transgo shift kit while you're at it

 

Several people including a fairly influential guy in the transmission rebuilding community have told me that it sounds like I may have cooler issues, the temp should not be that high. Is there any way to check flow rate without special tools?

 

Now sure I've never tried tbh. You can always check the radiator for debris blockage and use an IR scan gun to shoot the individual runners for an exact temp. There should be a noticeable drop in temp from the inlet to outlet side, easily measured with an IR temp gun.

Honestly though I'm betting the tranny is just smoked considering how much glitter you drained out of the pan, high friction causing metal wear like that creates a LOT of extra heat but I don't know what normal operating temp is for THIS transmission so....

EDIT: So a quicky google search says 195 F is normal operating temp (or engine coolant temp due to heatsink effect) and that 220 is within the normal range still.

 

Hmm. Well I think I'm gonna check flow rate and make sure all my cooling system is working right, and run it. My kid better not be running it like I would, that would contribute to lots of transmission problems, plus tire wear.

 

If your kid's under 25 and male I bet he does. But to expect him to treat the car differently than you do seems to be a bit hypocritical to me nomsayin?

 

I take it you haven't read the full post. Also, have you ever heard of a joke? I know fully well what my children will do, that's why I fear the day my son gets his DL, he has my lead foot. My daughter OTOH has my wife's wisdom...

 

I've been following the thread from the beginning, just missed the sarcasm. Sorry to bust your ***** but I'm glad your daughter has mom's wisdom. One less thing to worry about with the kids right?

 

Sometimes you just gotta throw a "lol" in there to clarify. nomsayim? Lol

 

I've already told my son when he gets a vehicle it's gonna have all but one spark plug taken out, for fuel efficiency...lol. No I actually worry about the daughter more cause I know for sure what my son will do, so I'm kinda prepared. My daughter OTOH, what's gonna happen when she decides she's comfortable enough to act like dad....oh f......mind...blown....and if she survives high fives given....lol. Yeah, I'm just saying I know if I stay away from it it may be ok. If she starts acting like me I better be beefing the cooler up. And taking out a few spark plugs....for fuel efficiency.