Help me ObiWanKenobi, you're my only hope

DeaconBlues · Oct 3rd, 2005, 03:46 PM

Hello everyone,
I am here mostly on behalf of my 16 year old nephew Robbie, he is the one currently driving and using my 1991 Nissan 4wd pick-up. By the way, Robbie lives out in the country and does not have internet. This is the first Nissan I have ever had, and I tell you, I do not know much if anything about it.
Myself, I am a retired military type, and very bitter about my own military experience - DON'T get me started on that subject unless you want to hear unending curses directed at the Department of Defense, the VA, and who ever else I can think of to curse at. It is completely irrelevant to this forum and I only mention this because I am suppose to introduce myself here.
So here I am, returned home to lovely Kingman, Arizona. Spend much of my time doing nothing, but now I have my new hobby of fixing cars. Actually like to get dirty and greasy under a car. I have worked on several different makes and models, rebuilt three engines so far and I do really like the feeling I get when I make things run right especially when I see how much money I save by doing it myself.
A few months ago, my brother and I got this pick-up for Robbie, it was running but needed some work. Withing one month the number 3 cylinder was gone, compression was like 30 psi. First thing I did was rebuild the engine for him. I followed the Haines Manual to the letter and the engine is now running great. I was pretty impressed with the design or the "Z24" engine, simple, straightforward, efficient, dual ignition (two spark plugs on each cylinder) was neat, was a bit of a problem getting the distributor and oil pump lined up. But now something in the manual transmission has gone bad, and I just do not understand what could be wrong....
It was running fine as my brother was returning to Flagstaff from Phoenix, about ten miles out of town, the thing popped out of gear suddenly and would not go back into gear. While they were towing it in (I cannot believe they did not disconnect the drive shaft) it caught back in gear even though the shifter was in neutral and they had to keep the clutch pressed so that they could tow it in. So now, I am confronted with a problem that I have no experience with, transmission diagnosis and possible rebuilding.... Like I say in the subject line: "Help me ObiWanKenobi, you're my only hope". I need the "Force" or at least some technical help here, anyone got any experience with this sort of problem?

dreamteam · Oct 4th, 2005, 01:06 AM

You like Steely Dan, huh.....
OK , so I had a problem similar to yours, It was the linkage.
Someone had abused it though...
Anyway, this could also be the main shaft that the gears are on in the tranny.
When they go bad, bearings fail and things get real sloppy.
So, I guess you are about to get good at fixing tranny's too?

GRWLER · Oct 4th, 2005, 06:01 PM

<--- 'Totally picked up on the Steely Dan reference, too. ;-)

Warped · Oct 8th, 2005, 04:41 PM

I had a similar problem with my Hardbody earlier this year. I checked around on the internet and what I found out is that the late 80's/early 90's Nissan manual transmission cases were mis-cast at the fill/check hole. Normally when you fill a manual transmission with oil, you stop when the oil starts to run back out. At that point, these transmissions still need another quart.

What likely happened to your nephew's transmission is that the bearings on the output shaft seized. The only option is to find a good one in a junkyard or buy a rebuilt one.

My transmission guy told me that the cost of rebuilding one is prohibitive since Nissan won't sell individual gears or bearings. I just happened to have a parts truck and used that one in my daily driver Hardbody. You can try http://www.rockauto.com for a new one or, http://www.car-part.com to find one in a junkyard near you. When you install the replacement, fill it with 80/90 gear oil from below until it runs out then cap it. Before you install the shifter, squirt another quart through the shifter hole. Make sure the driveshaft is installed or that the transfer case is in place before you squirt in the extra quart or you'll have a mess on your hands. Good luck!

Will · Oct 8th, 2005, 06:28 PM

It also could be a throw out bearing. Deacon Blue=Nick name for Stanley Turrentine, a great jazz saxophone player. I belive Pete Chrislab did the solo on the recording. I play and repair saxophones. It's a lot like cars but for the most part you don't get as dirty. lol