2000 LX470 Transmission Failure

[nissanh]

Check all the fluid lines going to and from the radiator/front coolar. Drain the fluid and inspect for any metal shavings. If you are looking for a used tranny for a 2000, a 2001 will fit but not a 2002 or later. I think 98 will also fir but 99 has a different wire plug at the selector (check on this). I found a yard in Mobile AL selling several transmissions (used) on ebay.

 

[shtbrwn86]

Follow the fluid to the most forward position of the undercarriage. I see fluid on the passenger side T-bar. I would suspect either a hose to your transmission fluid cooler or the cooler itself. The cooler is in front of the radiator.

Have you pulled off the skid plate and plastic shield?

 

[samP504]

Follow the fluid to the most forward position of the undercarriage. I see fluid on the passenger side T-bar. I would suspect either a hose to your transmission fluid cooler or the cooler itself. The cooler is in front of the radiator.

if the leak is from there and the transmission is not longer working evidently, I still need a new one. I have read some conflicting stories on various sources whereby the 98 version doesn't fit the 2000 vehicles but here on Mud, which to me is the better source of truth and experience, everyone seems to think that it is indeed a match. Can you confirm?

 

[hoser]

If it is just a leak from one of those two areas, I’d just fix the leak and add fluid and see what happens.

 

[samP504]

If it is just a leak from one of those two areas, I’d just fix the leak and add fluid and see what happens.

yeah I am going to start there

 

[samP504]

Have you pulled off the skid plate and plastic shield?

no but will in a bit. I was so exhausted after pulling the truck on a uhaul car trailer for 1300 miles that I just off loaded it and went to sleep for 12 hours.

 

[samP504]

I pulled the plastic cover and cannot see a single leak from the forward part of the engine where the transmission cooler is or the hoses. I added 2 full quarts of fluid in the hope I would catch some leaks but NOTHING at all. Front diff engages, Tcase engages the drive shafts etc.....

I am days away from procuring a new Tranny. unless you wise people have ideas ? Thanks so much

 

[awesomeissquid]

Have you checked the level on the dipstick?

Also when you checked for leaks were you just idling the engine? Maybe the transmission needs to be in drive?

 

[nissanh]

Have you checked the level on the dipstick?

Also when you checked for leaks were you just idling the engine? Maybe the transmission needs to be in drive?

The proper fluid level in the 100 (my 2000) is very hard to determine. When I am close (about 50 feet) to pulling into the garage, I shifted (after stopping) into "L" and stop inside the garage, then shift through L to 2 to D to R and back into L and then to P, the level is at hot zone between min and max. Other days when I come right into the garage in D and stop in the garage, and then 2 to L to back to 2, D N and R and repeat and check, the level is way above the max on hot zone. I hate automatic vehicles!

 

[abuck99]

Hopefully it’s just a line or line fitting failed Sam

 

[samP504]

Hopefully it’s just a line or line fitting failed Sam

unfortunately it's not looking that it's going to be that easy. I am not seeing any fluids anywhere even though I added 2 full quarts and the level is indicating like 2 inches above max.

 

[abuck99]

Pull all the skids- start the engine and look for leaking fluid. Follow all the lines in and out of the transmission housing- from trans to lower radiator tank and to cooler- check for pin holes, rubs, lower tank cooler on radiator leaking- orevidence shows its coming from somewhere-

Did you scrub anything in UT?

 

[shtbrwn86]

Just out of curiousity, what happens when you lock the center diff. Does it still rev as if it’s not in gear? Sorry if you already addressed that.

 

[samP504]

Just out of curiousity, what happens when you lock the center diff. Does it still rev as if it’s not in gear? Sorry if you already addressed that.

yes

 

[hoser]

unfortunately it's not looking that it's going to be that easy. I am not seeing any fluids anywhere even though I added 2 full quarts and the level is indicating like 2 inches above max.

You lost a bunch of fluid. Then, you added 2 qts to the transmission and it is now 2 inches above max. Something is amiss. Maybe the fluid leak you are seeing is not from the transmission but rather from the power steering.

 

[awesomeissquid]

You lost a bunch of fluid. Then, you added 2 qts to the transmission and it is now 2 inches above max. Something is amiss. Maybe the fluid leak you are seeing is not from the transmission but rather from the power steering.

I agree. Although still the issue of not moving when rev’ed in gear. Could be transfer case issue? Maybe it is gear oil we are seeing? Might be good to check the transfer case and the differential gear oils to see if one of those is low or if shavings/metal bits are present.

 

[abuck99]

Should be able to discern the fluid pretty easily by how it smells- it’s everywhere and atf smells very different from gear oil.

Running transmission low and loosing drive doesnt necessarily mean the transmission is toast- yet - .

With skids off and engine running have you found any active drip, drizzle, leaking along the drive line?

Top off and run the shifter through all gears pausing at each gear: D to R down to L1 and back to park- cycle that a few times- and see if you get drive back in any gear.

 

[samP504]

You lost a bunch of fluid. Then, you added 2 qts to the transmission and it is now 2 inches above max. Something is amiss. Maybe the fluid leak you are seeing is not from the transmission but rather from the power steering.

So I am not seeing a lot of power steering loss. What I know is that we towed the rig while in neutral (both tranny and transfer case) and I do know both the input and output shafts seal on my Tcase are leaking and I think that's what the fluid is. I need to open the Tcase plug hole and refill it. engaging the the Tcase is the only way to keep the truck from rolling forward or backward, when the Transmission is in park and if the Tcase is in neutral the truck rolls.

I am not an expert, clearly!, on all this BUT I am not afraid of learning and testing so keep throwing things at me. I don't want to order a new Transmission unless I have to.

 

[samP504]

Should be able to discern the fluid pretty easily by how it smells- it’s everywhere and atf smells very different from gear oil.

Running transmission low and loosing drive doesnt necessarily mean the transmission is toast- yet - .

With skids off and engine running have you found any active drip, drizzle, leaking along the drive line?

Top off and run the shifter through all gears pausing at each gear: D to R down to L1 and back to park- cycle that a few times- and see if you get drive back in any gear.

I am trying to check all I can but nothing jumps at me. I took the plug out of the Transmission pan but other than some sparkles NOTHING that indicates major carnage. I know I should the take the pan off and inspect magnets in the case but when I do that i need a new filter and redo the gasket etc.... which If i do need a new transmission at this point i am not doing a new filter on the new one.... The cycling through the gear I feel I have done a few times to no results..

I was driving 74mph on a flat section of the interstate and all of a sudden the engine revved to 4k+pm like it was in neutral. Stopped immediately and there was no fluid underneath at that point. the only time I noticed the fluid is AFTER I towed it (friend in the front with a tow strap) for about 9 miles on the shoulder of the interstate to the safety of a truck stop, parked and started to think about how I was going home, hence letting it rest with the engine stopped and still with the tcase in neutral. THEN only I looked under and I saw the fluid splashed all over which i think is my input and output seal on the Tcase leaking heavily at that point.

I hope this helps

 

[awesomeissquid]

I am trying to check all I can but nothing jumps at me. I took the plug out of the Transmission pan but other than some sparkles NOTHING that indicates major carnage. I know I should the take the pan off and inspect magnets in the case but when I do that i need a new filter and redo the gasket etc.... which If i do need a new transmission at this point i am not doing a new filter on the new one.... The cycling through the gear I feel I have done a few times to no results..

I was driving 74mph on a flat section of the interstate and all of a sudden the engine revved to 4k+pm like it was in neutral. Stopped immediately and there was no fluid underneath at that point. the only time I noticed the fluid is AFTER I towed it (friend in the front with a tow strap) for about 9 miles on the shoulder of the interstate to the safety of a truck stop, parked and started to think about how I was going home, hence letting it rest with the engine stopped and still with the tcase in neutral. THEN only I looked under and I saw the fluid splashed all over which i think is my input and output seal on the Tcase leaking heavily at that point.

I hope this helps

Is it possible you were towed through some water to explain some of the fluid? Otherwise if the fluid might be from the Tcase I wonder if your torque converter within the transmission failed? I am not sure if that would cause this kind of a failure. Maybe someone with more experience with transmission can comment.