Nissan Repair: 1987 Nissan Maxima Whine, nissan maxima, belt tension

Question
Hi Dinger,

Thanks for the info, but this is bad news.  I never thought changing the fluid would cause a failure.  What happens, does the fluid change stir up debris in the old trans and clog it? Or the wrong fluid?  I didn't want the shop to do the pressure flush because I heard it caused problems.

I am sure you are right about the trans, but since this is big $$ is there a way to verify it with a test? Do rebuilt transmissions last for 50 K or so, I heard that that the usually do not.

Thanks again,

Perry


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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi Dinger,

I've got an 87 Maxima with 65K miles that used to be my Dad's that has developed an engine or trans whine that I am having a real problem diagnosing.   Lately the car was only driven 1-2k Miles per year.  Sorry for the long repair history below, but I want to be thorough as possible.  

No whine at 62 K miles, the t-belt and trans drain and fill was done by the shop.   At 64K miles the trans was having problems dropping into gear at gearshift, but shifted perfectly once the gear detent is found. The converter lock-up works fine also. I narrowed this down to worn gear shift bushings, but I believe the car spent a lot of time in 2nd gear around town.

At about 65K at whine started and now at 66K the whine is worse. It occurrs in all gears, neutral and park. It varies with engine speed, but engine temperature makes no difference.To diagnose, I removed all accessory belts ps/ac/alt/water pump all idlers.  I checked the t-belt tension and found it too tight, so I did the t-belt again with a new idler pulley.  I  stethoscoped the areas I get the most whine are under the timing belt cover at the cams near the head, at the block near the power steering mount and also at the transmission valve cover. There were no wear marks under the timing belt cover when removed for the t-belt. I am stumped. The only other thing I can think of is something in the trans is bad and is transmitting the noise down the crank to the rest of the engine.


Thanks

-----Answer-----
Hi Perry,

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

As I've mentioned numerous times, I am adamantly against transmission fluid changes of any type. The whine you hear is the pump/converter in the transmission. Unfortunately, you will need to overhaul the transmission. That one is fairly expensive unit to do and will cost around $2500.

Just as a friendly note, please don't change transmission fluid. I have only seen very bad things come of it. My car has 117,000 on the factory fluid. I could change my fluid everyday for free, but there is no benefit to changing fluid. Half the cars we overhaul transmissions in had changed the fluid two weeks to two months ago. Sorry, I wish I had better news for you.

Answer
Transmissions develop a condition in them we call "varnishing". Once varnish is present in the fluid, it must stay there or, if you change it, you will have issues such as the one you are experiencing now. Depending on who you have do it, overhauled transmissions can out last the vehicle.