First weekend w/Titan.....Not good!

[SarkaZm]

Well, bought the truck 2 days ago, and today was the first real driving around I've done. Took my father-in-law for his first drive in it. Got about 10 miles from my house and the truck started smoking really bad. Tranny started to slip, then went out all together, engine just revved. I was able to coast onto a side street and stop. When I got out there was a long trail of tranny fluid Called for a tow and waited about 20 min, very embarassing. While the tow truck was hooking it up, I got some wise advice from someone driving by, told me I should have bought American...He was in a PT Cruiser, guess he doesn't know it was probably made in Mexico, what a dumb F@#$ Got it towed to the dealer just before the service dept. closed. The master tech was there and said he's had only a hanfull of problems with the Titan's, mostly minor ones. He said if it turns out to be major he will work with the engineers directly to get it fixed. At first glance he assumed it was probably a loose clamp from the factory. He said if you loose fluid the computer will disengage the tranny and you won't go anywhere. He said it would prevent damage to the tranny. I hope he is right. Probably because when it was smoking the tranny temp was normal...but no warning lights came on I will have to wait till Monday to find out I hope it's not major.

[ben95m]

Sorry to hear you had problems. Hopefully it was just a loose clamp or something minor like that.

[stevemis]

Originally Posted by SarkaZm

The master tech was there and said he's had only a hanfull of problems with the Titan's, mostly minor ones. He said if it turns out to be major he will work with the engineers directly to get it fixed. At first glance he assumed it was probably a loose clamp from the factory. He said if you loose fluid the computer will disengage the tranny and you won't go anywhere.

Wow, that really stinks.

I would settle for nothing less than a factory replacement transmission. I'm willing to bet the mechanic is either flat-out lying about the transmission shutting down or is in need of some corporate training.

The only way a transmission "disengages" (complete slip) is when there's either no fluid in the torque converter and it's not locked up, or if you've worn out a clutchpack.

I hate to be the bringer of bad news - I really home I'm wrong. I'm pretty sure your transmission is pretty much shot (in need of replacement or complete rebuild).

I'm sure it's been done before, but you can always try asking for a new truck.

I would file a report on this incident with the DOT. A new vehicle's transmission losing all of it's fluid rendering a vehicle unable to maintain speed or accelerate is a serious safety issue.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

Adding fluid *might* solve the problem for a very brief period of time. I suggest, once you get your car back, that you contact an oil analysis company and get them a sample of your transmission fluid. This should cost well under $50.

They'll be able to tell you how much clutch material and other stuff is in your fluid, and hopefully they'd write a paragraph or two about what they think the state of your transmission is based on the analysis.

You want to see some papers with a bunch of numbers representing your sample, as well as "normal" ranges. You also want to see something to the effect of "test values are consistent with normal break-in of a new transmission".

I'd march right back to the dealer and demand a real fix (replacement) if you get anything different back on the sample. If things look good, run samples at 5, 10 and 15 thousand miles to keep an eye on things.

If it were me, a rebuilt transmission wouldn't be an option on a 2 day old vehicle. Given the difficulties many shops have rebuilding extremely common, relatively simple, decades old transmissions (TH 350/400/700R4, etc) how much time/trouble/effort do you think would be involved rebuilding a transmission that just hit the market with around 100,000 already on the road?

Automatic transmissions are extremely expensive, low-tolerance, complex pieces of equipment.

Good luck. Please keep us posted.

-Steve

[Titan1027]

wow steve, guess you are just a demanding person.. Have to agree, if there is trans issues, ask to have it replaced, yea I think nissan will fix the truck right, and wow there is that 6 year 60000. mile warrenty to back it. But Ill tell ya, I work for a dealer, ( not nissan) and if someone comes to me demanding and acting like an umm a-s --- um yea ummm yea,,, ya know what i mean.. im not gona give them anything!

[PHOEBISIS]

I would be really worried if it were mine,but I bet it will be fine.Sounds like it did just what you saw-it rapidly lost all it's fluid.It will cease to transmit torque if it loses the fluid,and you will coast to a halt.
Doubt it hurt much,it happened so rapidly.It isn't like an engine with no oil,there isn't a lot of metal on metal contact being prevented by a very thin layer of oil under pressure- like a plain bearing,or even a ring-cyl.The fluid is there to transmit the power-no fluid,no torque.Yes it does lubricate,but there was probably enough sloshing around for the short period till you shut it down.
It sucks,but it will probably be ok,and it probably will be fixed by just filling it up,and replacing the hose,or whatever.-Uhhh,I have been wrong before,good luck,Charlie PS I would take the soft approach to the mechanics for now.Maybe suggest a free extended warranty???Or deeply discounted one?Try free 1st!

[bestatchess]

The part about disengagement on ATF fluid pressure loss sounds plausible to me after looking at the service manual. Hopefully the smoke was just ATF on the hot exhaust. I would be curious to see the pan dropped to see if there is any friction material debris in there.

[Austin]

The 5AT has a fail-safe mode. It has several pressure sensors, and loss of pressure at any of these can put the transmission into the fail-safe mode.

I'm not positive what your problem is, but it could simply be a loss of fluid condition that caused the transmission to protect itself.

As mentioned above, ATF on exhaust pipes can make considerable smoke. Your problem could very likely be as simple as a $.99 hose clamp...

[1Titan]

Originally Posted by SarkaZm

Well, bought the truck 2 days ago, and today was the first real driving around I've done. Took my father-in-law for his first drive in it. Got about 10 miles from my house and the truck started smoking really bad. Tranny started to slip, then went out all together, engine just revved. I was able to coast onto a side street and stop. When I got out there was a long trail of tranny fluid Called for a tow and waited about 20 min, very embarassing. While the tow truck was hooking it up, I got some wise advice from someone driving by, told me I should have bought American...He was in a PT Cruiser, guess he doesn't know it was probably made in Mexico, what a dumb F@#$ Got it towed to the dealer just before the service dept. closed. The master tech was there and said he's had only a hanfull of problems with the Titan's, mostly minor ones. He said if it turns out to be major he will work with the engineers directly to get it fixed. At first glance he assumed it was probably a loose clamp from the factory. He said if you loose fluid the computer will disengage the tranny and you won't go anywhere. He said it would prevent damage to the tranny. I hope he is right. Probably because when it was smoking the tranny temp was normal...but no warning lights came on I will have to wait till Monday to find out I hope it's not major.

Man that really sucks! Let us know what was done to resolve the problem. -Take Care.

[Steve04SE]

Before installing my K&N AirCharger, I went to disconnect the negative battery cable and guess what, without a tool, I simply removed the cable from the battery post with my finger and thumb.

[SarkaZm]

The smoke was definately from the fluid on the exhaust, the bottom of the truck was coated! Stevemis, I will take your advice about checking the oil & sending it out for analysis, but hopefully Nissan will do the right thing. PHOEBISIS, good Idea on the warranty, I was already considering canceling it, but it won't hurt to ask for a free one...BTW I paid 1650 for a 6/100k gold ( not gold prefferd as I thought). I think I got ripped off there! Austin , you said exactly what the tech said, I serously hope this is true so I can put this issue behind me...I slept like $h@! last night!

[juma]

one of the things I'm gonna do soon is replace all the hose clamps everywhere with stainless steel band type clamps you can tighten down with a screw driver. These spring type clamps are somewhat unreliable under pressure. JUMA

[Austin]

Originally Posted by SarkaZm

Austin , you said exactly what the tech said, I serously hope this is true so I can put this issue behind me...I slept like $h@! last night!

There is no reason not to sleep well. If the transmission functioned as it was designed (and it sounds like it did), then it protected itself from any damage. You don't need a new transmission. Just fill 'er up 'n go!

Personally, I wouldn't want a new transmission were I in your shoes. Factory trained technicians are good, buth they are not the factory. With the possible exception of a hose clamp, it was likely put together at the factory much better than any dealership service department will be able to do.

That's not a knock on any service department, but they're simply not the factory. They don't have the repetitive experience, they don't have the expertise, and they don't have the quality control that the plant in Canton does.-

Body shops will tell you (if you've ever had a new car hit) that you want to keep the maximum amount of factory paint possible, because smaller shops just can't do paintjobs with the quality/longevity/durability of the OEM mfr. It's the same with the truck's mechanicals - no one will put it together as well as the factory already has.

[PHOEBISIS]

Sarka,have you done the post buy survey yet-I'm not sure if someone calls,or you are sent a "paper survey"-this is the one where you rate your buying experience.The dealerships put great store in these things,so...If they call,just say to call back,you are too busy now,if it is paper,just hold on for the resolution of the problem.
I think-hope-this will be a cheap,quick fix-fluid and clamp.But,you might be able to make some lemonade here;be very nice to these folks"I really like the Titan,but this has really shaken my faith in Nissan reliability."-or something like that.Let the mgr etc come to you with someway to restore your faith in Nissan's commitment to the customer.Now,if they don't, in short order,you have to ask-"what about extending the warranty to 100,000 miles" or "How about I cancel my $1400 warranty,get a refund,and you give it to me free,or deeply discounted-or maybe the Platinum?? version??".Already having the warranty is a little problem-there isn't much to give.You might have to work with Nissan's "Customer happy people' or whatever they call the people at the end of the 800 number who take complaints from pissed customers.They don't want unhappy customers-not with a new truck with bad JD Powers ratings.They have high hopes for the Titan,trucks are a lot more profitable than cars.
I agree with Austin,you don't want a new transmission if you don't need one-too much can go wrong in setup and install-practice makes better,and your's is the 1st one the locals have fooled with.Now,I would rather a new one,than have them fix something serious(the internals) locally.
Well,it will work out,luck,Charlie

[Slick50]

Losing a tranny within two days of ownership? Heck, why not just buy some clunker from the polyester, plaid jacket at your local used car lot. Personally, I would be adament about a new replacement vehicle, now! Let Nissan and the dealer sort this one out themselves. Don't let them screw around with your vehicle by having the dealer install a new tranny. No thanks! This is a lemon--major system failure--pure and simple.
slick50

[dickyn]

I agree with Slick, I would let them replace it ASAP with a new one. Let Nissan and the dealer figure it out. Let me know if you need help with some backup phone calls to the dealer. I'm sure some of these guys wouldn't mind helping as well.