Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Nissan Frontier Transmission Questions
does any one have transmission problems?
i can feel my transmission downshifting.
i get slight kick after complete stop.
there is a gap right before going from dead stop.
if going slow and lettig go of gas before change from 1st to 2nd clank noise.
car was @ dealer for two weeks and said car is supposed to do that.
i can feel my transmission downshifting.
i get slight kick after complete stop.
there is a gap right before going from dead stop.
if going slow and lettig go of gas before change from 1st to 2nd clank noise.
car was @ dealer for two weeks and said car is supposed to do that.
0
Comments
(I have the 6-Speed, so don't know what the automatic looks like.)
The season change has also brought cold mornings and I recall that my old Toyota was reluctant to get into gear when it was cold. When the tranny warmed up, all was well.
Just some thoughts for you. Hope they might help.
The reluctant shifter is more puzzling, but I'd take the cheap route first and replace the tranny oil and see if that helps. People often say 'oh, it's your synchros going bad', but unless yout truck has been abused or has a bazillion miles on it, I'd have a hard time jumping on the synchro bandwagon without more research. One last thought on this. My old '86 Toyota 5-Speed truck was shifting badly at one point and the dealer replaced a simple metal ring that the shifter handle assembly rested on. Over time, it had simply worn down. If lifting your shift handle a bit while you shift helps, you may have the same situation.
Again, I wish I knew more. Thanks.
thanks again
I'm having similar issues with my 2004 Frontier Crew Cab SC...it's very inconsistent in occurrence but is unfortunately getting worse. Sometimes when cornering the transmission will slip and once it catches the gear will slam on the drivetrain :confuse: . Just bought it...has only 32000 miles :mad: . I'm taking it in to the dealer tomorrow in hopes they will find a solution and hopefully one covered by either the factory warranty or extended warranty. I'll post my results...maybe it will help out other Frontier enthusiasts...
Paul
GL-5's are synthetics and contain an additive package which eats into soft metal parts like synchronizers and is to be used only in GL-5 designated gearboxes. GL-5s are not an upgrade for GL-4 transmissions. I confirmed this with a petroleum engineer friend (yep, for real) and with personal experience with an old car I have and it too grinded when I stupidly changed to a GL-5. When I went back to a GL-4 (Royal Purple Max-Gear) in the old car the grinding immediately went away.
Be sure that a previous owner or the dealer didn't screw up and put a GL-5 in the gearbox. Good luck!
Some owners have reported failure of their timing chain tensioners, which then produces a rattle. If your dealer changed the tranny oil and it temporarily stopped the rattle, I'd ask them what gear oil they're using to be sure it's the right GL-4 75W-85 or 75W-90 for your 6-Speed. How does your clutch feel? Some owners have also reported premature clutch failures which result in a rattle.
You are correct that the rear differential takes a GL-5, a 75W-140 Gear Oil. I've not needed to do this servicework yet on my '06, but Nissan's rear differential casing has drain and fill plugs, which makes it easy. You'll need to seal the threads with an RTV plug sealant. Permatex Utlra Grey RTV is suggested. Tighten the plugs to 36 FT/LBS.
Rattles are aggravating and your sound may be coming from something other than the engine or tranny.
You might also want to check things in your engine bay. There's an A/C line fitting up top, close to the firewall that can loosen and rattle against the firewall. Nissan has issued a Technical Service Bulletin on this one, but your dealer might not be aware of it.
Good luck in your troubleshooting. :mad:
Even at slow speed it stays in hi gear, so RPM goes down to about 1200RPM, engine looses power and starts pinging. Is there any way to re-program its ECU to make tranny willing to downshift at slow speed? I understand that it probably tries to save fuel, but I'd prefer it to be more responsive, right now it takes about two seconds after I bottom gaz pedal before it downshifts. It's not only annoying, but it could be dangerous when trying to merge or need to accelerate fast, since engine lacks torque at low RPM.
The other problem I have (not sure if it's related) is engine is constantly looking for idle RPM. It goes too low and starts vibrating, then increase RPMs to suppress vibration, then go too low again, and so forth.
It's a new truck and problem started from the beginning. I tried to reset computer a few times, but it didn't help. Tried to use hi-octane gasoline, but it didn't help either.
Any ideas?
-albertr
I have an 03 supercharged 4wd frontier with an auto tranny and just shy of 100k miles. As of late, it seems that whenever I am driving through town at a fairly even speed of 35-40mph, when I press or let up on the gas pedal, the tranny shifts up or down harder than usual. I don't notice it at any other speed ranges, and it doesn't throw me to the floor or anything,.. just enough that I notice. I did notice that my tranny may have a small leak underneath, but I check my fluids constantly and it's clear and pink and I've never had to add any.
I don't have a reliable mechanic here in this small town, so when I take it to the big city to have it worked on, I'd like to have an idea of what I'm talking about. I've had enough experiences with repair shops to know that they will often take advantage of me since I'm a girl.
If anyone has any feedback, I'd sure appreciate it.
thanks
New to the forum and have a question. I have a 2007 Frontier 4x4 Auto King Cab and last winter experienced a blood chilling whine coming from who know's where. It was so pierecing that we had to stop the truck as I thought a bearing had locked up or something. This noise has only happened twice and both on cold days -25 C to -30 C. The first time it happened I had been driving for a hour already. The noise would get louder slightly the faster I drove but would completely go away below 70 k/hr or ~45 mph. I took it into the dealership and they said they could not reproduce the noise and then said they found some obscure bullitin and something. I do not have the invoice on hand to let you know what they replaced, but I was sceptacle anyways. It happened again a few weeks later on a cold day but I was only a 1/4 mile from my destination (work). I pulled in and it has not repeated itself. Winter is fast approaching and I am getting concerned again. Any ideas out there would be appreciated. We have a old time mechanic at work and he has a idea that a pump is being starved at cold temps.
Thxs
If you have any followups to your pump starvation theory, let me know... it is unsettling to say the least.
-albertr
Still, I think shifting ratios needs to be re-programmed for more aggressive down-shifting. I'm gonna call Nissan and talk to their customer care department.
-albertr
Has this been corrected in new vehicles?
Have you had any issues getting into fourth gear without a grind? The dealer said it was a synchronizer issue that would cost me a new transmission ($3500). For a truck that hasn't given me any other problems, this sounded a bit extreme.
So I ask to drive another 2012 and it does the same thing. I drive back another 5 hours home call Nissan they do not as usual get right back with me, of course because they talk to the dealer first, and I get a once very nice person who has transformed herself into a cold now uninterested person who says.. this is what the specs are and we will note it.
We are heart sick, traded in our beautiful never a problem Murano as the warranty was up for a truck as we are now on a ranch and have 6 years to drive a car that will not shift. We live in logging country and have to pass and it will not upshift to go faster when passing and a scary thing when a semi with logs is coming at you while trying to pass. Not to say what its doing to our engine and transmission.
If anyone has any suggestions on what we can do to get this truck to shift please reply. i am 73 and have driven almost every car and truck out there and never had one that will not upshift most by just letting up on the gas.. drove a rental Ford Focus and no problem at all ...
Nissan said also until there are more complaints or failures they can do nothing. A death maybe or two and even them my faith in Nissan is gone. THANK YOU in advance for any help you can give us...
And just to note , I asked for this in writing and was told since it was a corporate thing they had to do some more stuff and they would mail it to me, have not got it yet.
This is a huge problem. And people need to start posting here and contacting Nissan corp as the dealers are not going to admit it either.
Now there is another problem. When backing up and putting back in drive it does not want to engage 10 percent of the time. The tranny on this truck is defective just a matter of time before it really fails for good. Nissan is not immune all car companies are bottom feeders. Thanks for writing as more and more people need to be aware and hope this keeps getting out there. Sorry for you issue.. be careful. Bob