The Nissan Path

Well, my first forum post.

I meant to sign up last week, when I was shopping for a Pathfinder, but I found most of the information was easily searchable via google.

Alas, I'm here, and this forum is fantastic!

SO.
Long story short, I picked up my 06 Pathfinder with 200km's (125k miles)
for around 5k Canadian from a small "where is, as is dealer"
It was clean, drove really well on an extended (45 minute) test drive.
Passed with a relatively clean bill of health from a local repair shop.

This was yesterday.

Today, I drive for the first time at 45mph/75kph, and notice the shudder.
(Test drive was all stop and go, to highway, to stop and go... The things normally tough on a tranny!)

Anyways, I get it to the transmission shop today, and he doesn't see contamination in the transmission fluid, but notices a slight crack in the rad.

Less than 24 hours later, and a $3500 (minimum) bill arrives.

Ouch.

a visible external crack in the radiator does not mean a transmission issue
an internal leak between the internal trans cooler (inside the radiator) and the coolant portion of the radiator means a transmission issue
so what was the "Less than 24 hours later, and a $3500 (minimum) bill arrives." for?

That was from a local transmission shop.

They didn't see anything prior to the test drive... Afterwards, they noticed the "crack", and mentioned they found oil.

$3500 is for a new rad, and a tranny rebuild.

sorry, but this is not making sense to me
where did they find oil?
is there coolant in the trans fluid? (this is the key)
do they have any experience rebuilding this transmission?
it's my understanding that it is a very complex & difficult trans to repair, and almost all such repairs involve a factory remanufactured transmission assy

Yes, they found very little (but still, some) coolant in the trans.

The place is called Mr. Transmission (chain).

He's personally done a few Pathfinders, and is able to rebuild.

Tough pill to swallow.

.........there's something wrong here
in your first post, you said the trans shop didn't see contamination in the trans oil
then they noticed a crack
then they mentioned they found oil
then they found coolant in the trans
i hope you're comfortable with their diagnosis & estimate
i wouldn't be
too much coincidence & inconsistencies
and so much for the clean bill of health from the "local repair shop"
did you pay for that inspection?
did they check your radiator and trans fluid?

I would stop by when they are rebuilding the trans and ask to see the work. Or just do what I do " heck I left something that I need I'm my Pathy and my wife will kill me if I don't grab it!" Just to make sure that trans is being rebuilt.

Kestral wrote:I would stop by when they are rebuilding the trans and ask to see the work. Or just do what I do " heck I left something that I need I'm my Pathy and my wife will kill me if I don't grab it!" Just to make sure that trans is being rebuilt.

I'd stop by WAY before that to eyeball the contamination & subsequent damage

you are being scammed without them showing you the milkshake inside the original radiator or on trans dipstick.

Absolutely what everybody else is saying.

I almost feel as though you are a troll.

Or, just ignorant....

Wtf are you thinking? God damn you're an idiot!!!

methinks the OP has left the building