Has your transmission failed yet?

Discussion topics related to the radiator and transmission failures in all Nissan trucks, education of the public on this issue, and attempts to force Nissan to start a recall.

Moderator: volvite

Has your transmission failed yet, and have you done the Bypass?

My transmission died after the radiator failed :-(
28
26%
My transmission died on it's own for a separate problem.
4
4%
My transmission is a-ok, and I did the Bypass Fix.
23
21%
My transmission is a-ok, no Bypass, fingers crossed!
52
49%
 
Total votes: 107

sema007
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2012 7:38 pm
Location: Republic Of Georgia

Postby sema007 » Tue Dec 18, 2012 7:38 am

smj999smj wrote:First, you should not a need an additional auxilary trans cooler; the auxilary cooler installed from the factory should be just fine at cooling the ATF.

Second, radiators with integral oil cooler have been used reliably for decades, but any integral oil cooler "could" fail...just like any mechanical part "could" potentially fail. So, to say what radiator will not fail is impossible to say. What we do know is that the radiators Calsonic supplied to Nissan Pathfinders/Frontiers/Xterras made in North American have had a high rate of failure for 2005-2007 models and may include 2008 through 2010 models, if we go by the radiator warranty extension issued by Nissan. The current radiators sold by Nissan have a new part number and we assume the problem has been addressed that caused the original radiators to fail; they are expensive, though, in the $450-$550 range. Griffin Radiators makes...or was making...an all-aluminum replacement radiator for around $550, I've heard. Personally, I went with a China-made replacement radiator that I got from Parts Express on Ebay for $92. It has a lifetime warranty and appears to be well-constructed (time will tell). If fit as good as the original part. Trans fluid should operate in the 175-200 degree F. range. Personally, I feel radiator replacement and using the radiator's integral cooler as it was originally designed is the best way to go, especially in colder climates, but there are many others who don't feel the same way and prefer to just bypass the integral cooler. It's really your choice which way you want to go.
THANK YOU FOR REPLY .

i read your reply on other page and thank you for that as well. yes i think is you are right, if problem in that radiator you will just change the radiator and there is big chance this problem will be solved but what about if this problem will be with other radiator as well? i agree to pay even $300 for radiator witch 100% will never let me down. that warranty from radiator will do nothing for me if my transmission will gone. you are confirming that this type of radiator are in use in many vehicles many years but please google it and will find how many problems they have too. i wont to make way that coolant will never have touch with transmission fluid. i decide to do by pass but same time i need to make it as a heating system as a cooler


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smj999smj
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Postby smj999smj » Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:47 pm

All I can say there is no guarantees in life or in auto parts! We'd all like to have head gaskets that never have a chance of failing or wheel bearings that never wear out, but the truth is any mechanical part has the potential to fail at some point. Have other vehicles had their cooler tube fail in their radiator?...Sure, but it's not a common occurance (outside of our 05-10 Nissans). I started worked as a Nissan Technician from 1985 through 2003; in that time, I never came across a Nissan radiator with a leaking cooler tube saw one in any of the Nissan dealers in which I worked. The only issue with the radiator integral cooler I witnessed is when the transmission failed on it's own and debris clogged the "finned-type" integral cooler tube that Nissan used in some models and even that was rare. I have or had a 65 Mustang, a 70 Nova, a 67 Thunderbird, a 72 Polara, a 74 Duster, an 86 Sentra, a 78 Cougar, a 97 Nissan hardbody and even my current 06 Pathfinder; all of those vehicles used radiators with integral trans coolers and I never had a problem with a cooler tube failure (albeit, I did replace the radiator on the 06 Pathy, but as a preventative measure at 90000 miles and not because it failed). Any system to warm the transmission fluid is either going to have to pass through a coolant filled device or an electric device. The integral cooler tube is the most practical solution, which is why it is used. Perhaps someone could make an electrically controlled heater for the trans fluid using a thermostat type system? Necessity is the mother of invention, isn't it?

brandonbeach14
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Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:03 am

Postby brandonbeach14 » Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:06 am

I did the bypass w/the oil cooler and new radiator 9K miles ago. The trans just started to not shift into 5th gear. All other shifts are normal. I will update later once the dealer looks at it, bit I think the trans valve assembly will have to be replaced.

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disallow
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Postby disallow » Fri Dec 21, 2012 1:14 pm

Is your trans fluid contaminated?

brandonbeach14
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Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:03 am

Postby brandonbeach14 » Fri Dec 21, 2012 2:53 pm

No, it still looks like it just came out of the bottle. I also just changed it last month.

2012PathSV
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2012 8:00 am
Location: Wisconsin

2007 Path SE 4x4 Trans started Rumble into OD.

Postby 2012PathSV » Sun Dec 30, 2012 8:32 am

Well, Before I had a problem, I did not join this forum. My Bad... now that I have the Rumble into OD.. I did some research and find this is a BIG problem which I should have taken care of before my warranty ran out.. My Bad again. So I discussed with local dealer my options.... $6800 for new trans and radiator or trade in.. haha.. they offered me $2000 trade in on my $30K vehicle... fell out of the chair... went to another dealer, got a smokin deal on a new 2012 SV 4x4 and $6500 trade in.. took it.. because the value of my 07 is $12K-$14K Retail with 127K miles.. with a good tranny..... subtract the $6800 repairs, needed new tires, and other misc problem repairs.. its worth the $6500 trade. Bottom line, got out from under the old and bought new. Screw Nissan for putting my in this situation, they should have recalled, but put a band-aid on it by extending the warranty, which did owners like me no good. I love the vehicle, otherwise... wanted to go to a different mfg, Toyota or Chevy or Honda, whatever.. but they would not touch a trade in with a damaged tranny. Sorry, or venting, I'm pissed, but an owner of a new 2012... lets see how long this one lasts... (I had a 1995 Pathy with 250,000 miles on it ! I miss it)!

brandonbeach14
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Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:03 am

Update 12/30/12

Postby brandonbeach14 » Sun Dec 30, 2012 8:42 am

The transmission will now shift into 5th if operated by the push button on the gear shift. It will also shift on it's own if i let off the gas pedal for about 3-5 seconds it will the shift. Still taking it to the stealership next week to see what they say. It also looks like a recall maybe in the near future. NTSA has thousands of complaints documented on their website for PF Trans Issues. I'll update after the dealer diagnosis's the issue.

indexply
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 9:41 am
Location: VA

Purchased a used 2005 SE

Postby indexply » Wed Jan 09, 2013 2:14 pm

I purchases a used 2005 SE that had the transmission rebuilt and came with a 1 year 12,000 mile warranty. Well it failed and now I am in a battle with the repair shop not to pay the $2,900 bucks they want to rebuild again after 8 months and 8,000 mile (it failed) He never replaced the radiator!

I am looking for some options, HELP?

racerken
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue May 28, 2013 11:07 am
Location: Michigan

2005 failed

Postby racerken » Tue May 28, 2013 11:30 am

2005 Pathfinder LE 4x4 with trailer package so I had an factory aux cooler.
oil change every 6k.
transmission fluid change every year.
failure at 103k miles.
symptoms - rumble at 40 to 45 mph and very faint whir sounds from transmission.
Fix: bypass, flush transmission, flush coolant, install another hayden cooler, transmission gauge, transmission fluid in-line filter, transmission filter change.
It still drives well and rumbling seems to have disappeared so I'd say I caught it in time before major damage. I'm not happy though.

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Fookn4x2
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Postby Fookn4x2 » Tue Jun 04, 2013 2:10 pm

Nope. Did the bypass at 75k and now at 130k still running strong. But damn those cam chain tensioners!!

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iheartmypathy
Posts: 157
Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2013 5:17 pm
Location: Southern NH

Postby iheartmypathy » Fri Jun 07, 2013 4:00 pm

had the tranny coolant failure at about 85K miles, had taken it to a local nissan dealership at 78-79K 2-3 times about the rumbling, hard shifting, all the classic symptoms of the strawberry milkshake of death, and they told me they found nothing wrong with it... said my rear drive train needed to be replaced, cost about $700 between both visits... went to a local garage for the same symptoms and they found coolant in the radiator, but said the tranny fluid was fine. aaaaaand then of course, weeks later (at 83?K miles), took it to a 3rd garage, and it was there they said the coolant was found in the tranny fluid. SO MAD.

so the other day sent off my claim forms for the class action lawsuit, and totalled all the costs up, came to $5,500. I'm hoping to get at least $3k as long as the settlement is approved. ive got my fingers crossed!! :)

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RacerZX
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Postby RacerZX » Fri Jun 07, 2013 4:43 pm

Stick it to 'em man, that sucks!

linarema
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Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 8:57 am
Location: Atlanta, GA

A -Ok but worried

Postby linarema » Thu Jul 04, 2013 9:09 am

Hi all,

So original owner of my 06 Pathfinder, 125K. Regularly maintained at the dealer, except for the rare oil changes at AAA Care Care (yes I know, but I'm a high mileage guy!).

I've had the radiator and transmission fluids flushed and replaced at regular intervals (trans, I think about every 40K, so I'm on my third I think).
So far so good but last week while I was in for Oil change, brake service and radiator flush, my "service advisor" mentioned the R word.

So I've started doing online research and ended up here. The dealer wants around $1100 to replace. My local AAA Care Care can do with aftermarket radiator for around $750.

My goal is to keep this car for at least another 80K or more if possible, like the ride and it is mint otherwise.

Thoughts?

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smj999smj
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Postby smj999smj » Thu Jul 04, 2013 10:17 am

You have two choices. One is replacing the radiator. Even $750 sounds too expensive to me. Labor guide time is 3.0 hours. You can pick up aftermarket radiators from $72 (made in China) to $160 (made in Canada). Add $20 for antifreeze.
The other option is the "bypass method," which cost you about 30 minutes of labor, but does leave you with only the factory auxiliary cooler to cool the fluid. So far, there haven't been any problems reported using this method.

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Vividcard
Posts: 55
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:03 pm

Postby Vividcard » Wed Jul 10, 2013 2:05 pm

My transmission just went out, 108,000 miles... Sad day for me...


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