Transmission Fluid Overheat?

[yaf28f]

Hi all,

I've done abit of a search and couldn't find anything on transmittion overheating.

I had big problem driving back from Canberra to Sydney today in the big rain.

just as I was nearing the exit of the M5 onto king georges road, my R32 GTR started having some power problems. The power started flucuating. and constantly losing power and then getting a bit back and then losing it again. but the front torque meter would go wild.

I checked that my clutch wasn't slipping (no spike in revs)

oil pressure was ok, as was the water temp, no tyres were flat.

When I stopped at the lights, the idle was going up and down abit but nothing over 1K.

and when I tried to move off the lights, It almost didn't move, maybe moving 5km/h, no power, no boost, nothing. I finally pulled over to the side popped the bonnet to smell if anything was burning(nothing out of the ordinary) and rested the car for about 5 minutes, and then the car was running fine again, except the 4wd and abs light went on.

is this the transmittion fluid overheating? or something worse? I haven't driven the car yet and decided to give it at least an over night rest. The lump between the front seats was getting rather hot.

can someone tell me if this could be anything serious? any permanent damage?

any help would be appreicated.

thanks

Michael

[Maxx]

i guess air flow meter?

[yaf28f]

thanks for the input, I'll test drive the car later today, but if it was an air flow meter problem would it affect the front-torque split?

cheers

[SteveL]

The lump between the front seats was getting rather hot.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Based on this, it's possible you overheated the ATESSA fluid (4WD transfer case). Driving in the rain might have caused the system to engage/dis-engage 4WD many, many times due to the system detecting wheel slippage which would generate a lot of heat after a period of time. Might even cause the fluid to degrade and then the ATESSA clutch pack would be affected.

It's worth noting that R32 GTR's built for Australia had an extra cooling system added for the ATESSA system with it's own pump and small 'radiator'. Perhaps you've found out why...... (I'm assuming here that yours is an 'import')

Anyway, first thing I'd do is change the ATESSA fluid - ATF (Dexron III) is fine.

[yaf28f]

Thanks for that, I took my car out for a drive today everything seemed to be ok except the 4wd and abs lights come on straight away when I start the car.

I check the atessa fluid in the boot, it looked full but quite brown. hopefully it will be a simple problem fixed.

do you know if there is any problem driving the car with this problem? other than no 4wd or abs? eg, will it damage the car in anyway.

cheers

[benm]

Make sure the 4wd fuse is ok.

Check the AFM plugs are in firmly.

[SteveL]

Thanks for that, I took my car out for a drive today everything seemed to be ok except the 4wd and abs lights come on straight away when I start the car.

I check the atessa fluid in the boot, it looked full but quite brown. hopefully it will be a simple problem fixed.

do you know if there is any problem driving the car with this problem? other than no 4wd or abs? eg, will it damage the car in anyway.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well assuming that is the problem, about the worst that could happen I suppose is that the clutch in the transfer case will be fried, meaning no 4WD, but the car should still be driveable. Personally I'd be taking it real easy and getting it looked at ASAP.

The fluid in the reservoir in the boot is actually seperate from the fluid in the transfer case (although they're both part of the ATESSA system), but from your description of the colour I'd be changing it ASAP as well as the fluid in the transfer case.

[Petter 900 T]

How do I fit a cooler/radiator?

Do I need an ekstra pump, or does the oil circulate enough "on it's own to/from the trunk?

Pics of an install would be great!

Petter