[cmccrkn]

MY 96 Sentra GXE auto tranny suddenly began slipping badly when shifting from 2nd to 3rd so I pulled the pan today hoping for a simple fix but was disappointed to find broken metal parts (as well as lots of metal hair on the magnets). Looking at the pieces they may have been originally in the form of triangles as in the images below but I can find nothing in the parts explosions of the FSM that look similar. Any educated or brave souls have any idea what has failed and whether it's worth repairing?

Here are the pieces:

Here's why I imagine they may have formed a triangle that is about 1/2" tall:

And making two triangles:

 

[schoust]

Wow that stinks. I am affraid that ones cooked! I would d you do start looking in the bone yard for a low mile replacment. they are there and no doubt will be the cheaper alternitive. I have priced a new one for my 96 and you don't want to know how much that thing was! There were a lot of these cars sold so IMHO you will have no problem finding a replacment out of a wrecked car, You just have to have the guts to get your hands dirty or pay the price to have it installed. Expect to pay at least a thousand or more just for the installation.

 

[greenbean699]

where are you located?

 

[cmccrkn]

Wow that stinks.

Thanks for the symapthy. I'm not crazy about the idea of swithing one out but not opposed to it either. Tomorrow I'll start looking for a replacement. Hopefully someone will tell me it is an easy fix like the gasket inside the valve cover.

 

[cmccrkn]

where are you located?

Greensboro, NC

Any suggestions, recommendations, tips or guidance greatly appreciated.

 

[schoust]

Honestly it's not that hard but you will want another guy to help you. Just download the manual and have at it! I did the engine and tranny in less than 8hrs. So the tranny alone should not be to bad. You will be happy that you saved all that dough!! As far as any other suggestions go when parts inside an auto trans start failing it usually means it's time for a rebuild anyway. have you been able to identify what broke by looking at the exploded diagram???

 

[cmccrkn]

when parts inside an auto trans start failing it usually means it's time for a rebuild anyway. have you been able to identify what broke by looking at the exploded diagram???

I agree, just have to overcome my nature to look for the simplest fix (which isn't always the best way). I combed the diagrams thoroughly and found nothing that I could say for sure was the culprit so I guess I'll give up. Found some low mileage units at a nearby yard for $250 with 90 day warranty so will probably go that route. Thanks again for the replies.

Edit: Anyone know the approximate weight of the transmission?

 

[schoust]

See piece of cake! now change that sucker out and put the dough back in your pocket that would have gone to some overpriced shop! I would think they more than liklley weigh about 75 to 100 lbs tops. I picked up a rel decent transmission jack that adapts to a reguler floor jack at harber frieight tools for fairly cheap,or you can just rent what you need to do the job....

 

[IanH]

Looking at the FSM the only thing I can see that looks like that is the clutch drum. what is the dimension coming out of the picture ?

 

[kizer24]

Try flipping the pieces the other way, Could form a circle which would mean a gear to me. Or a retaining plate possibly.

 

[kizer24]

im gonna go ahead and say I think since we cant even spot what part it is, and it prob went through a good chunk of the tranny, that its prob gonna be cheaper to just replace than t otry to figure out what it is and then replace it. But the good news when you get the new one in you can tear this one apart and figure it out. Next time we have this issue you will be able to tell what it is.

 

[greenbean699]

Greensboro, NC

Any suggestions, recommendations, tips or guidance greatly appreciated.

Well the reason i wanted to know where you were located,is cuz most of the time there is a pull-a-part near by. The closest one to you thats up and running, is in Charlotte. They have 8 sentras that might have the tranny you need. Its a fairly long drive but you can get any tranny for $52 bucks. but you will have to pull it your self. If you can get one for $250, then that might be a better and easier deal for you. I just thought i would throw the option out there for you.

 

[cmccrkn]

Looking at the FSM the only thing I can see that looks like that is the clutch drum. what is the dimension coming out of the picture ?

Each of the larger pieces is just shy of 1/2" long.

 

[cmccrkn]

Try flipping the pieces the other way, Could form a circle which would mean a gear to me. Or a retaining plate possibly.

A retaining plate was my guess as well. I tried a couple of ways to orient them but with just the pieces I have it was hard to visualize what would have connected them if they were part of a larger circle.

 

[cmccrkn]

im gonna go ahead and say I think since we cant even spot what part it is, and it prob went through a good chunk of the tranny, that its prob gonna be cheaper to just replace than t otry to figure out what it is and then replace it. But the good news when you get the new one in you can tear this one apart and figure it out. Next time we have this issue you will be able to tell what it is.

If time permits I may do that. Who knows, there may actually be a simple fix that could help someone else with the same issue.

 

[schoust]

After studying the assembly diagram over lunch it appears what you have found is your upper valve body retainer plates? You might be able to get away with just changing out the valve body? Those pieces that fell into the pan appear to hold the valve body together. It makes sence now because if for some reason the screws came loose that hold the valve body together these retainers would go bye bye into the pan. In coclusion if you by the used trans and feel comfortable changing out the valve body then do it. Myself I would prefer to have the trans as a whole this way you know exactly how much use it has on it. That is if you trust you bone yard lol!!

 

[cmccrkn]

Well the reason i wanted to know where you were located,is cuz most of the time there is a pull-a-part near by. The closest one to you thats up and running, is in Charlotte. They have 8 sentras that might have the tranny you need. Its a fairly long drive but you can get any tranny for $52 bucks. but you will have to pull it your self. If you can get one for $250, then that might be a better and easier deal for you. I just thought i would throw the option out there for you.

Thanks for the tip. I knew about the Pull-A-Part in Charlotte but it really is a little too far for me to go to have to drop the tranny myself. There's a similar yard in Winston Salem but they are a lot higher priced. Pull-A-Part is currently building a location in WS but won't be open soon enough for me. The car-part.com search is where I found the $250 units.

 

[cmccrkn]

After studying the assembly diagram over lunch it appears what you have found is your upper valve body retainer plates? You might be able to get away with just changing out the valve body? Those pieces that fell into the pan appear to hold the valve body together. It makes sence now because if for some reason the screws came loose that hold the valve body together these retainers would go bye bye into the pan. In coclusion if you by the used trans and feel comfortable changing out the valve body then do it. Myself I would prefer to have the trans as a whole this way you know exactly how much use it has on it. That is if you trust you bone yard lol!!

Thanks for looking for me. Do you recall the page of the FSM that you saw the retainer plates on? I'm definitely not afraid to pull the valve assembly.

 

[schoust]

I am not sure exactly what page this was on but i do know it was in the section of reassembly. Honestly regardless of what is is you have some miles on that tranny and without a doubt you also ran some metal flakes through it too. So just get a decent replacment and change it out. It is not that hard! Go for it!!

 

[cmccrkn]

Well, I got the used tranny for $250 (and supposedly 27K miles) and installed over the weekend. It's all better but now I can't decide whether to bust the old one open to determine the problem. Will post any results if I do. Thanks for all of your help!!

Charles