Nissan Altima Transmission Service and Repair Guide

Unlike previous models, which were equipped with front-wheel drive where the front wheels of the vehicle received the power generated by the engine, the new Altima offers for the first time all-wheel drive. As all four wheels are driven, the gearbox is assisted by a transfer case, so that the car's two axles (front and rear) rotate appropriately.

The manual gearbox was available on the first cars in the range, offering five to six gears depending on the car's year of production and exact model. American market habits dictated, the automatic gearbox quickly became the preferred choice, and is now the only option on the sixth generation. This is an X-Tronic transmission jointly developed by Nissan and Renault.

However, the Nissan Altima did have a few peculiarities along the way, such as the AF33 developed by Aisin and available on the third generation. This was an automatic gearbox, but with steering-wheel-mounted controls to manually select the desired gear ratio when required.

Whether your Altima's gearbox is manual or automatic, you need to to limit the risk of breakdown. What are the right reflexes to adopt, and how do you go about repairs? We tell you all about it in this article!

Identify the signs of gearbox failure

A gearbox breakdown rarely happens all at once: by knowing how to how to spot the signs of malfunction and treating them in advance, you'll reduce the risk of your car being stuck in the garage for too long!

Among the most frequent warning signs and associated associated causesinclude :

• Clutch pedal or gear lever resistance or gearshift resistance, which may be due to faulty control cables, disc problems or worn synchronizers;
• A gear that jumps indicates that the sprockets are poorly locked. They probably need to be replaced;
• The noises perceived while driving can be of many different kinds, and determining the exact cause can be tricky. For example, rattling noises can indicate excessive play between certain internal components, while whistling noises are more likely to indicate worn bearings;
• On a car equipped with an automatic gearbox, a generalized loss of power can be felt: acceleration is sluggish and top speed is reduced. This type of breakdown requires professional diagnosis.

The importance of gear oil for a healthy car

Another symptom common to both manual and automatic transmissions is a burning smell which may emanate into the cabin while driving. This is a serious problem which requires prompt attention, as it probably indicates a leak in the gearbox oil or transmission oil.

This oil ensures adequate lubrication of all internal gearbox components, contributes to heat dissipation and enables cleaning thanks to its its detergent properties. In insufficient quantities, it can no longer perform its functions, and continued use of your car could cause serious damage.

Gear oil can also be saturated with metal particles or other residues, giving it a blackened appearance. In this case, you should an oil change. This operation can be carried out at home with a minimum of tools, or in a garage.

An automatic gearbox requires regular maintenance: you should expect to have it serviced every two years or every 60,000 kilometers travelled, depending on first due date. A manual gearbox, on the other hand, is more robust, since it can theoretically run for up to 250,000 kilometers before needing an oil change. However, it's a good idea to change the gearbox every five years will keep your gearbox in good health.

Gearbox repairs: different solutions

Most failures of the Nissan Altima gearbox Altima gearbox can be repaired directly in the garageprovided you don't let a problem degrade the entire transmission system. The professional mechanic can replace a worn part, such as a pinion, or change the gearbox oil. Depending on the nature of the problem, these operations may be all that's needed to effectively effectively resolve a malfunction.

However, cases of advanced deterioration require more extensive resources. Faced with a complex breakdown, your mechanic may have to replace the entire gearbox. There are several options available:

• Use the second-hand market to pay less for your box. This is a wrong ideaYou have no way of testing the product you buy before having it installed in your Nissan Altima. It's more a matter of luck. This solution is strongly discouraged ;
• Ordering a new box through your garage is reassuring, but has a few drawbacks. Apart from the fact that this approach is not environmentally friendlydelivery times are often very long, as the boxes produced are primarily intended for vehicles leaving the factory. Finally, the price of this option is very high ;
• Discover our reconditioned gearboxes for standard exchange and simplify your life!

All our products have been disassembled piece by piece for thorough cleaningbefore being tested by our by our team of experts. You benefit from a refurbished box, guaranteed for one year, at a price close to second-hand!

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