| Author |
|
Sloper Newbie

Joined: Jun 07 2010
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2
Member's Gallery: View Gallery
|
| Posted: Jun 07 2010 at 9:08pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My 2004 Frontier's transmission died this weekend. No warning, 70000
miles, I kept up on all the maintenance. So my poor truck is now sitting
in a dealer 100 miles from home. The estimate from the dealer is $3700
for a remanufactured transmission.
This is my third Nissan truck all bought new (84, 95, 04). The previous
two had good lives and went on to new owners. There was a brief span of
2 years where I had a Tacoma, but that was just a momentary lapse. :-)
My truck is a 2wd 4 cyl king cab and
(apart from the transmission thing) is in great shape.
Is it time for a new Frontier?
Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!
Sloper
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
kcidmil Moderator Group

HI! My name is Ben and I have Car ADD.
Joined: May 02 2005
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1342
Member's Gallery: View Gallery
Location: U.S. - Utah
|
| Posted: Jun 08 2010 at 6:52pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Honestly, if the truck is paid off, I would just get a remanned transmission if it comes with a warranty. Cheaper in the long run then trading it in and making more payments. And besides, I always liked the 02-04 body style the best. 
__________________ Fight back this year, do your Tax Return in Roman Numerals.
05 Toyota Tacoma X-Runner
90 Nissan Maxima SE
12 Nissan Xterra S
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
frontierguy Senior Member

Master Mechanic
Joined: May 20 2008
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2591
Member's Gallery: View Gallery
Location: U.S. - Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Jun 08 2010 at 9:10pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Any independent re builders in the area?? Most Nissan dealers are just parts replacers anymore, no one takes the time to rebuild. What does the tranny do or not do??
__________________
'10 Altima SL
Traded 08 Frontier for 16 Frontier SV CC Long box, quite an upgrade. I do miss the 6 speed and Dynomax ex.
Nissan Technician 25 + years
2011 John Deere X720SE
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Sloper Newbie

Joined: Jun 07 2010
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2
Member's Gallery: View Gallery
|
| Posted: Jun 08 2010 at 11:53pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
frontierguy wrote:
| What does the tranny do or not do?? |
|
|
I was driving back to San Diego from Santa Barbara (California), 2 hours
in. I had just gone up a hill, stopped at a toll booth and then accelerated
out of the toll booth when the transmission started slipping and white
smoke was coming from the rear of the truck. I pulled off at the first off
ramp (down hill) and that's as far as I could get. If I really revved the
engine, I could get a little forward motion. While waiting for the tow
truck, I noticed that fluid was dripping from the front and back of the
transmission. Dealer mechanic said it was the pump that gave out, but
that the rest of the transmission was probably damaged (overheated?), so
everything should be replaced.
The reason for my question on this forum is because an accountant friend
of mine said it is a no brainer to NOT fix the truck. But that doesn't make
any sense to me. It's paid for and even with factoring in this cost, I can't
see the maintenance costs over the next few years approaching the cost
of a new vehicle. Unless, of course, this is the beginning of the end...
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
kavephish Groupie

Joined: Sep 08 2007
Online Status: Offline Posts: 57
Member's Gallery: View Gallery
Location: Canada
|
| Posted: Jun 09 2010 at 10:42am | IP Logged
|
|
|
You pretty much answered your own question......unless you want to be saddled with another 5 years' worth of payments
__________________ 2006 Frontier SE Crew Cab 4X4
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
frontierguy Senior Member

Master Mechanic
Joined: May 20 2008
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2591
Member's Gallery: View Gallery
Location: U.S. - Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Jun 09 2010 at 6:47pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
70K the truck should not even be broken in yet ! Did you ever do a tranny flush or anything else to it? Not a case of cooler failure with coolant getting into the ATF????
__________________
'10 Altima SL
Traded 08 Frontier for 16 Frontier SV CC Long box, quite an upgrade. I do miss the 6 speed and Dynomax ex.
Nissan Technician 25 + years
2011 John Deere X720SE
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |