300c gearbox won't engage help !

[paulb155]

Hi all, my Nissan 300c passed its mot today, after 2 years in storage. I changed auto gearbox fluid this afternoon filled up with new dextron 2 oil, after changing the fluid its hesitant to go into any gear unless higher revs are used.)which I did gently to get it back onto the driveway).. re changed oils again with same process. Now it's even worse, it's no different to Neutral in all gears! (took sump cover off to drain) oil level is fine, usually a very positive gear change.
Would it be something serious ? I'm hoping not
If anyone an help
Thanks
Paul

[optimusprime2]

Paul you want to put this question on the Nissan forum, might even be a forum just for your car . Subscribe to join its free .Best place to ask about your car .I am a merc man and this problem is a problem with a few types of Mercedes if the brake switch is faulty .It stops selection of the gears . So Nissan forum would be best .

[indyz12]

Hi. not sure if you followed the full procedure to fill the trans with fluid - most times you fill it up then cycle through gears whilst still on ramps. Then whilst in neutral or park, check level and fill to required level (teansmission must be warm and car level)

Usually, the symptoms you have described indicate lack of fluid (as long as the car does eventually engage gears) or work clutch bands. If the problem doesnt fully go away after the above procedure, add some non slip fluid additive to the oil and hopefully you will have some improvements before needing a teardown!

[optimusprime2]

Paul there is a forum mate so i would join up [subscribe]
300C forums.com ..

[indyz12]

nissan 300zx i think he has a typo.

[colnerov]

Hi, if the car has been in storage for 2 years without being used then that will be why. Automatic gearboxes don't respond very well with not being used, some or part of the various seals when not covered in fluid dry out and then don't seal. I'm afraid I think you will need a rebuild in the near future.

Sorry to be the voice of doom.

Colin

[MonzaPhil]

Sounds like low fluid to me too. I always ask people several times if they're sure they want to renew their auto box fluid.

Is it working, does the fluid look ok, why change it.

A few days later, my auto changes like a piece of junk since I changed the fluid.

Can't win really.

Nice car the 300C. Had one once that had probably done a few too many burnouts.

Sent from someone elses sofa using proboards

[paulb155]

Hi guys thank you so much for your replies..
Sure I will make sure my next post is on the correct forum page.

After reading your advice, I checked things over, and decided to drain and change the fluid again, this time quite a lot of curse word came out (not metal)
So I've re filled with fresh fluid, ran it in neutral etc checked levels. Now it's perfect, gear changes are very positive and smooth.
So pleased it's fixed, I panicked a little. She's now back on the road I will send some photos in a few weeks when I've finally lowered it
Paul

[MonzaPhil]

Nice one.

Look forward to pics.

Sent from my ears using proboards

[Rich]

Apr 30, 2015 9:12:46 GMT indyz12 said:

nissan 300zx i think he has a typo.

His profile pic is even of a 300C, so not a typo..

[Little eddie]

Apr 30, 2015 8:43:56 GMT optimusprime2 said:

Paul you want to put this question on the Nissan forum, might even be a forum just for your car . Subscribe to join its free .Best place to ask about your car .I am a merc man and this problem is a problem with a few types of Mercedes if the brake switch is faulty .It stops selection of the gears . So Nissan forum would be best .

Sorry for the thread hijack but....... Ive had 2 mercs that this happened to!! Basically they wouldnt shift up out of first gear or when they did it was at unusually high rpms.

I put it down to the auto gearboxes probably being shafted. One merc was a 1978 W116 350se and the other was a 1991 W126 300se. I always wondered whether it was the box or not?

[DaveEdge]

You didn't need to refill it mate.

When you drop an auto sump you need to go through the gear's in park/neutral and give it time to circulate the fluid otherwise it won't/will struggle to move in gears.

I did mine on Saturday and it did the exact same thing.

Let it idle for a few minute's, add the rest of the fluid and it now work's like new.

FWIW if your autobox fluid looks junk it probably is, dropping the sump will only remove around 25-40% of your fluid so if you want to give it a "full" re-fill you need to flush it which I always avoid I think they can do more harm than good unless you have a "proper" machine so I alway's do it by way of gradual change's.

I've dropped my sump and now for the next few week's I'll give it a fresh drop and fill (around 2ltrs)every 100 or so miles, which will leave me with nice cherry red fluid, which will do it's job properly for a few year's until it looks like engine oil again..

Tbf I only ended up doing mine again because I've just added a trans cooler but it's always good practice to change your fluid's if they need it, no matter what is recommended especially on auto boxe's where fluid quality is critical to optimum performance.

[indyz12]

lol his profile pic wouldnt load up on previous posts - i stand corrected!

[ChasR]

One thing I would check to see is whether your car is meant to take Dextron II. Alot of the older gearboxes do not take well to newer ATFs and their friction additives. My Stag with a Borg Warner 35 meant to take Ford Type G, a non Dextron based fluid.