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1999 Altima Std transmission woes

I am the only owner/driver of a 1999 Altima (I think it's a GXE) with a manual transmission, purchased off the lot in March 1999. I have always had service done at the dealership. Three weeks ago, in for an oil change at 43,000 miles (I don't drive that much) and was told I'd missed a 30,000 major maintenance. One of the reasons I always went back to the dealership was so that THEY could keep track of these things. In the course of the checkup, the service manager informed me that the seal on my transmission had "deteriorated" and needed to be replaced. He said I must have noticed leaks on the driveway, which I had not.

(He told me I could just sell the car and let someone else deal with it, or keep driving it until the tranny siezed up and then go to a junkyard and try to find an old transmission -- strange and threatening words from a service manager -- but that's another story.)

I agreed, and bummed rides to work for three days until they finished and accepted my credit card for the $1147 charge.

Within ten days I noticed growing spots on the driveway and took the car back to the dealer. He told me that the seals where the axles entered the differential were shot because the (transmission?) oil had gotten low, and that I needed a new transmission.

I've had a rental car for three days now and expect to be charged another $800 or so when I go to get my car back tomorrow.

Does this sound possible? probable? remotely likely? Do transmission seals fail at 43,000 miles? Should someone have noticed something 3000 miles ago when I had the last oil change? I see the powertrain warranty runs 60 months or 60,000 miles. Do I have a shot at saying that 64 months is pretty much the same as 60 months?

I could use some words of wisdom from folks who know more about cars than I do. My brother was a mechanic and always took care of my cars, but he died. I am afraid that the dealership is taking advantage of me because I'm just some dumb chick.

Anyone? TIA,

--Virginia, a librarian, who's smart about some things...

Reply to
virginia
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There are more informed opinions here perhaps, but I'll chime in first.

Doing the 30k maintenance at 43k is truly not a significant issue. 60k is the more important maintenance checkpoint.

Strange and threatening, yes.

What work did they do? $1147 is a fat bill, even for replacing a tranny seal and doing a very full 30k maintenance.

Within ten days, it seems to be a direct result of their prior work. I don't know which seal they replaced, but if they went in and pulled the axles, the axle seals are now leaking, and they believe the transmission is already damaged, it's their fault. I can see that the seals are damaged and the tranny oil is a little low, but they should be fixing that on their own coin and it shouldn't be major.

I think your $800 should be withheld for now until you can be sure they aren't lying outright to you. Making optimistic assumptions about their morality, I still think paying anything is poor business practice. More likely, they're scamming you by making a very expensive deal out of nothing.

They can fail at any time if dirt or something gets into them, but mostly they fail by age as they lose suppleness. My std transmission in my

1997 Maxima has no seal problems after 122k. (knocking on wood).

Should have, but not a guarantee. Not all oil leaks are obvious, and when doing routine oil changes on a car with only 43k miles, should not be happening yet.

Very possible, but I still think this is more about them falsifying their diagnosis and repair. I assure you if this was inside of 60 months, they would not be spec'ing a new transmission.

Well since this repair work is already in progress, I think you are stuck with their repairs. When I have work done at dealers I don't know well enough to trust, I require them to call me after their diagnosis but before doing any work. It would have been excellent to take your car to another dealer for a diagnosis and comparing them. Complaints to Nissan USA have extremely powerful influence on dirty dealerships, and if you had two conflicting diagnoses by Nissan dealers that would be strong argument. Personally, I would find a local independent shop that is respected and never go back to a dealer after the warranty expired. No matter what, I don't think they deserve to see your presence there ever again. My condolences for the loss of your brother, but I hope that this situation with your dealer has not been going on for too long. IMO, it makes me sick when this happens, and I wish I could personally come out there, get to the bottom of the situation, and make them hurt for doing so. It is possible they have been completely honest, but I believe that is very unlikely. Too often, there is immediate profit for pulling these stunts, and when caught, no repercussions. It would be great if you could close the loop on them.

Keep us updated.

Dave

Reply to
David Geesaman

A couple of tranny seals should only have been $200 total. I just had it done last week at a tranny specialty shop. And the mechanics informed me that the seals that they replaced had been installed incorrectly (pushed in too far). So, the Nissan dealership that installed the seals a few months back is paying me for the seals just installed.

Anyway, the only problem you could remotely have is that you ran the transmission lube low and damaged the bearings. Still, I think this is unlikely. I think you need to find a tranny specialty shop that will take a look at it.

Reply to
ppointer

I'd go along with what posters Ppointer and David said

I have no knowledge of your exact model, but at 43 k Miles, well maintained, and with "one lady owner" I think major transmission repairs SHOULD NOT have been necessary (I assume you don't hang out with the boys outside the diner, and drop 50 metre long burnouts in the carpark !

That later trouble just 10 days after $1100 certainly sounds to me like they did something wrong in the first repair

Learn the lesson this time. Avoid taking cars to "dealers' when warranties are expired .

I think you've been ripped off this time. Try not to pay that extra $800 more, as $1100 is more than they should've got outa you in the first place

cheers Catherine Rural Western Australia

Reply to
Catherine Jemma

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