ChrisB

Thanks Scotty, Thing is, with the switch closed the car runs fine. With it open, it essentially cuts that pink wire. I have removed the switch and now the pink wire is where it belongs in the trans ecu. Interesting to see that the yellow wire has also been cut at some point and has already been put back together. There is another hole drilled in the blank switch cover next to the switch that was in the pink wire. I believe at some point there were two switches. Perhaps some performance mod that was done in Japan and then only partially removed? I'm going to take it to the transmission joint the dealer wants me to use tomorrow and see what they think. While shes running fine its one thing but i know there are still metal filings in the bottom of the pan so a good flush and maybe even a trans cooler wouldn't hurt. Scotty, if you can confirm why they may have been a switch in the 3rd gear selector or valve body, it could well be useful if i need to negotiate the repairs with the dealer. Thanks Chris

I have traced the wires from the switch. Remember the trans runs fine when the switch is on and goes into limp mode a few times a day when the switch is off. See pictures below of the wiring. Obviously if I restore the wiring to factory the problem will be fixed. If anyone has any information on the wiring and why anyone would want a switch to break this circuit id like to know. Should I still get the transmission joint to look at it while its under warranty? Cheers Chris

I wonder if there is a discount to be had here for a group purchase?

May still be available in July. It just parked in garage at the moment. I'm not driving it since i bought the Stagea. Chris

offers considered. Any one interested?

So getting back to my transmission problem i have made a discovery. Firstly the dealer offered to buy me a used transmission that I had found for about $1,300 and said i should pay for the installation as the car was not covered by statutory warranty. Then I realised he had made a mistake and indeed the car was under stat warranty as it was less then 10 years old. Built 05/02 it just gets into the warranty period. Now the dealer wants me to send the car to a garage in North Melbourne that want to look at the transmission. (starting to wish i had not questioned the warranty and just taken the replacement transmission when offered) Now i discover that a mystery switch in the car actually seems to do something. With the switch in the on position the transmission seems to be fine. With the switch in the off position, I cant go 30 or 40 K before it goes into limp mode and sometimes it goes into limp mode every few k's. Resetting the ignition clears the limp mode and all is normal again for a few more k's, maybe. Question is, what does this switch actually do to patch up a fault in the transmission???? Someone suggested it locks the torque convertor to prevent slip. If it is worn, the trans sees the slip and goes into limp. What should i do now? Tell the dealer about the switch, or just leave it in the off position and let the transmission specialist figure it out. I really don't want a sticking plaster on what could be a major problem, or is this a typicaly normal mod to extend transmission life? Comments appreciated. Cheers Chris

I have For Sale the Drivers Seat from a 2002 M35 Stagea ARX. It is a cream colour, heated electric leather seat. All electrics work perfectly. Leather is in reasonable condition for its age. See pictures. Seat belt is also available Looking for $275 ono for the seat and $25 for the seat belt Contact Chris 0419870596 or send me a PM. Cheers

Whats the rough cost to colour code the grey plastic bits on the ARX? Thinking about getting mine painted.

SOLD Thankyou

I have an aftermarket grille for sale that came with my car. I have just removed it and fitted the stock grille in its place. Looking for $125. Pick up in Melbourne SE Burbs Tel 0419 870 596 Cheers Chris

Yep, no senders! So that's an easy decision. Anyone need some RS centre console guages? I'm fitting a double din head unit. Chris

I believe the transmission fluid is always cooled through the radiator both in auto and manual. The bypass is there as a safety to provide the gearbox with lubrication in the event that the return fluid from the radiator is blocked. The transmission fluid will never be any cooler than the engine water temperature, hence some people fit aftermarket transmission coolers to give additional cooling closer to ambient air temperature. At least, this is what a transmission specialist told me. Still have not got mine booked in to get the the bottom of the problem. Chris

Is this Aron's old car i wonder? Silver AR-X with Beige leather? Didn't own it very long and traded it in at Holden?

Going back to RVO next week for a look in the pan. It sounds like it"s going to cost anywhere between $300 and $1500 depending on what they find. If they suggest closer to the high end I've got a box with 80,000K on it lined up. Quoted $1,800 installed and I'll get the car dealer to go halves. Just worried the dealer will want to refund my money on the car and take it back, fix the box and re-sell the car for a higher price. You know I got it cheap

Is there a place in Clayton called MV Automatics? They have been recommended to me but i cant find them on google in Melbourne. Seems they are in SA. Anyone know? Cheers

Starting to get a bit worried now Doing a bit of digging around and got some information from the previous owner of the Stagea. The Transmission Valve Body was updated in November at a transmission workshop in Dandenong. Still waiting for them to confirm exactly what they found / did / recommended. Turns out the previous owner traded the car in because of the gearbox problems. He was quoted about $1,500 to replace some sensors inside the box and i think he was worried that he would never get to the bottom of it. I have found another box in Sydney for $1050 so that might be the way to go. Anyway, thankfully the used car dealer that sold me the car is still onboard . The car is going back to the workshop next week for investigation and hopefully a quick fix.

Looking for a stock M35 Grill. Prefer VIC pickup. Anyone got one in the shed?

I have reduced the price of this car for the first and last time. If it doesn't sell then I'll be pleased to keep it. I have purchased a nice Stagea to use as a daily and this can become my weekend car.

Are you selling the grille or just the lower bar?

Pics of the M35 maybe this weekend. Link here to pics of my V36 http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/nissan-skyline-2007-12171785?base=1216&vertical=Car&Range=Price:Min,Max~0.5&eapi=2&sort=default&cr=0&__N=1246%201247%201252%201282%201216&silo=Stock&find=gts370|CarAll Now I have a wagon, I may still keep the V for v special occasions

Thanks Scotty, I talk to the dealer again in the morning. I might just get Nissan to flush it out and put the correct fluid in to be sure. If the problem remains then RVO can change the sensor. In the mean while I think I'll keep it parked in the garage and use the V instead.

So you reckon ignore the sensor faults and just change the fluid to Matic J? Do you think the sensor fault is false and caused by the fluid?

Not so sure about the Oil, RVO Automatics serviced the trans. Anyone had any experience with them? Newan at I Rev scaned the car today and it came up with a solenoid fault which he cleared and told me he suspected the wrong fluid had been used. Took it back to RVO Automatics and the guy there seemed to know what he was talking about. He had a Stagea of his own as well as a V35 and an older GTR amongst other boys toys. He was quite happy for me to keep driving the car. RVO scanned the car and it came up with a pressure sensor fault, which is putting the trans into limp home mode. Every time the car sticks in a high gear I reset the ignition the fault goes away. The car dealer that sold me the car is talking to RVO about changing the pressure sensor and I'm insisting the fluid be flushed and changed to Matic J just be be double sure. RVO didn't say which fluid was used but insisted the problem was not the fluid. Lets see where it goes tomorrow with the dealer and the workshop and I'll keep you posted. Remind me how this thread started. With a cheap car that people would say "that cheap, there must be something wrong with it"

Andy, the trans was serviced in November by a garage in Dandenong for the previous owner. I'l check tomorrow which oil they used. Thanks for the heads up. Chris

So i picked up the car today and I'm loving it. Already been asked what type of Volvo i have! Shifting up or down in manual does seem to work better the opposite way to how Nissan intended but as my V36 Coupe is opposite i think I'm going to have to change it back to normal. I had a problem within half an hour of leaving the garage after picking up the car. It was really struggling to pull away and it had somehow got stuck in a high gear. If I shifted across to manual it said 4 on the dash and would not shift up or down. Back into D and it still stuck in the same high gear. It was starting to stink from all the extra work the engine was doing to pull it along> smelt like a burning clutch, but i guess it was the exhaust running hot. The problem reset itself after the car was parked for half an hour and re-started and seems fine now. One thing I noticed is that when you shift out of D and into manual, it is always in 4. Even if you stop at lights and shift to manual it still says 4 and you have to push down till it goes to 1. The V36 always goes back to 1 on its own when you stop at the lights if you drive in manual. Is there a problem with this or do all the M35 start in 4 when you select manual? just drove home from work and its going well but can still smell a hot exhaust. is that normal for the turbo engine or maybe it's a problem with the O2 sensor. Anyway Nuan at I rev in Bayswater will plug in his diagnostic tool tomorrow and see if any faults come up. Cheers