When to change the Transmission Fluid in my 2004
#1
When to change the Transmission Fluid in my 2004
Hello Everyone,
I have been reading about the 2004 Maxima's having transmission problems. My 04 has 70k miles on it and the transmission is working great. I have never had the fluid changed in the Maxima, and was wondering if/when it I should. The dealership told me to change it every 30k miles, but I am wary of their suggestions. I visual checked the fluid; it looked fine and didn't have a burnt smell to it.
Thanks,
I have been reading about the 2004 Maxima's having transmission problems. My 04 has 70k miles on it and the transmission is working great. I have never had the fluid changed in the Maxima, and was wondering if/when it I should. The dealership told me to change it every 30k miles, but I am wary of their suggestions. I visual checked the fluid; it looked fine and didn't have a burnt smell to it.
Thanks,
#3
When you drain the transmission fluid does 3.5 quarts come out? How much comes out if you drain it with the car hot? (Or does the fluid get to hot, & not reccomended?) Car won't be level it will be up on a wheel ramp if that makes a difference in the amount that comes out.
Is 4 quarts enough, or should you get 5 to be safe?
Is 4 quarts enough, or should you get 5 to be safe?
Last edited by LandsEnd; 02-20-2009 at 09:42 PM.
#4
When I changed my 4-speed 04"s fluid, exactly 5 quarts drained out. Don't know if the 5AT is the same or different. However, unless you have canine nose genes and eagle eye genes, I would take your service guy's advice and replace the fluid that can be easily drained every 30K. You could even replace it twice spearated by a couple of days' worth of driving to change some of the converter fluid.
#5
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I wouldn't do it yourself. 30k is best even though you can push it a little further. There is like 11quarts but it doesn't all drain out when they change it. You must use the right fluid too. I would just pay the dealer to do it. They quoted me $80 for drain fill. Not a bad price.
#7
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Per our resident tech from previous threads:
Originally Posted by WINTERFAUST
First off there are two different trans fluids used in our trans. It all depends on the model you have. The more expensive fluid is the J-Matic fluid. We change the fluid at every 30k interval service at my dealership. It is not required through until 60k by Nissan. There are no filters to change and also no reason to take the pan down to clean the magnets.
...........depends on the year and which model trans you have, there will be a tag on the side of the trans that tells you what fluid to use
.....
...........depends on the year and which model trans you have, there will be a tag on the side of the trans that tells you what fluid to use
.....
#10
[QUOTE=Apollos2;6884991]That would be true.
I never heard of "J" fluid.
This is whats in the manual.
Automatic transaxle fluid (ATF)
4 A/T 9 3/4 qt with flush Genuine NISSAN Matic "D" ATF
5 A/T 7 3/4 qt with flush Genuine NISSAN Matic "K" ATF
I just did a drain and fill at a little over 100,000 miles and I used 4 quarts of "K" fluid. I never did a flush and have had no problems. The dealer where I live charges 180 dollars for a flush job.
I never heard of "J" fluid.
This is whats in the manual.
Automatic transaxle fluid (ATF)
4 A/T 9 3/4 qt with flush Genuine NISSAN Matic "D" ATF
5 A/T 7 3/4 qt with flush Genuine NISSAN Matic "K" ATF
I just did a drain and fill at a little over 100,000 miles and I used 4 quarts of "K" fluid. I never did a flush and have had no problems. The dealer where I live charges 180 dollars for a flush job.
#12
a fluid change only changes what you have in the pan, which according to the post above is about 5qts. a flush is a push of all the fluid out of the tranny, so you will need about 11 qts. a flush uses pressure to push all the fluid out which may affect you seals.
#14
i do it every 20K .. when i drain/refill it, i normally smell burnt fluid. my 04 is holding up strong. i've been doing this drain/refill every 20k since 30,000s ago. now i am at 88,000. car is still running strong.
#15
If you have the 4 speed auto then your trans should be pretty solid, I would say you should be good to go 40-50k per change. If its's the 5 speed, do it every 20 or so just to be safe, those things are touchy
#18
first of all, let me accept that I am not an expert in transmission , its internal details and functionalities of different parts .
I am due for an transmission fluid change- mainly becuase of I want isolate the cold shifting problems.
Question 1 : Do you guys recommend Mobil 1 or Amsoil for 5spd or just stick with nissan matic k ?
Question 2 : I know it will sound like s**t but can anyone check and tell me what should be the fluid level on the dipstick when the tranny is cold , like in the morning. In my case, it just slightly touches the dipstick lowest point. I know thats not the way I should check, but checking the level while tranny warms up gives me different readings. So just wanted to compare during cold as thats consistent. ( if this at all makes sense ) and ultimately that will also provide a comparative results. (between ur car and mine )
I am due for an transmission fluid change- mainly becuase of I want isolate the cold shifting problems.
Question 1 : Do you guys recommend Mobil 1 or Amsoil for 5spd or just stick with nissan matic k ?
Question 2 : I know it will sound like s**t but can anyone check and tell me what should be the fluid level on the dipstick when the tranny is cold , like in the morning. In my case, it just slightly touches the dipstick lowest point. I know thats not the way I should check, but checking the level while tranny warms up gives me different readings. So just wanted to compare during cold as thats consistent. ( if this at all makes sense ) and ultimately that will also provide a comparative results. (between ur car and mine )
#20
Not like engine oil.
#21
Are they high? I just got a quote for $74, that's with tax included. (For a power flush and my own fluid)
#23
I have an '05 Maxima. The transmission dipstick parameters are confusing. At the bottom, there are 2 cuts on the edge of the stick. A little higher is a cross hatch area. Then even higher above the bends in the stick is the word HOT. What gives? Which exactly are the range marks? Thanks for any help. I just want it to be perfect.
#24
Newbie here. I have a 2008 Maxima SE 83,000 miles (yea...I drive alot). This is my 3rd vehicle. First vehicle in High School was a 1995 Altima 289,000 miles. Engine just recently went out. Next car driven by wife is 2002 Altima 153,000 miles going strong (regular wear - needs new struts & engine mount). I have never changed any of my transmission fluid... ever. Since young I was told do not play with it and so I've kept that with me. I have never had transmission slipping or hard shifting with none of the vehicles I've owned. I guess since never changing the transmission fluid it is in my advantage to not change them now since all vehicles have lots of miles on them. My wife and I are not hard drivers at all, mainly highway miles. But I think the obsession of changing transmission fluid a bit of a rip off from stealerships. There is no need to keep switching that fluid every 30K. It is an enclosed capsule for Christ sakes.... I do not know anyone for doing it...but don't buy into the hype that you need it every 30k. If it's never been changed...leave it alone.
#26
Newbie here. I have a 2008 Maxima SE 83,000 miles (yea...I drive alot). This is my 3rd vehicle. First vehicle in High School was a 1995 Altima 289,000 miles. Engine just recently went out. Next car driven by wife is 2002 Altima 153,000 miles going strong (regular wear - needs new struts & engine mount). I have never changed any of my transmission fluid... ever. Since young I was told do not play with it and so I've kept that with me. I have never had transmission slipping or hard shifting with none of the vehicles I've owned. I guess since never changing the transmission fluid it is in my advantage to not change them now since all vehicles have lots of miles on them. My wife and I are not hard drivers at all, mainly highway miles. But I think the obsession of changing transmission fluid a bit of a rip off from stealerships. There is no need to keep switching that fluid every 30K. It is an enclosed capsule for Christ sakes.... I do not know anyone for doing it...but don't buy into the hype that you need it every 30k. If it's never been changed...leave it alone.
#27
Please don't take my last post as me trying to promote not flushing/draining your transmissions. To each his own. Just saying, personally I leave my transmissions alone. I just wonder if that 5% of 6th generation Maxima's experience the tranny issue is factual. Read that on 2 other posts in this forum.
#28
This is my wife's car since brand new; and I do most of the maintenance myself for her. Me too, I also only do drain/refill at 30k and 60k miles, once a year or 15k miles after that. Oil change with Mobil 1 every 5K miles. Nissan maintenance manual is misleading, especially on transmission fluid services. On a 30k or 60k maint., there is no transmission fluid service (all you do is check), except if you tow.
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