7AT Service

[tchertel]

I am approaching 35k miles on my Z and it has been shifting a bit weird and getting worse each time I drive it and for me it is time to change the transmission fluid, problems or not. I have watched a couple of videos, read the instructions in the FSM and read items posted on forums and everything I have seen or read is consistent on how to get this done. The procedure seems pretty straight forward. One thing I have not seen anything on is removing the pan and changing the filter. I don't see a reason not to change the filter if you are going to change the fluid especially when I read about people stating there AT fluid was black like coffee. Can anyone think of a reason not to change the filter; I could not even find anything in the FSM about changing the filter. To me, changing the filter with the fluid seems like a no-brainer. You would not change your engine oil without changing the filter.

I also plan to call the dealer to see how much they charge but I am sure it will be more than I want to pay for this type of work.

Opinions??

[Eris]

Originally Posted by tchertel

I am approaching 35k miles on my Z and it has been shifting a bit weird and getting worse each time I drive it and for me it is time to change the transmission fluid, problems or not. I have watched a couple of videos, read the instructions in the FSM and read items posted on forums and everything I have seen or read is consistent on how to get this done. The procedure seems pretty straight forward. One thing I have not seen anything on is removing the pan and changing the filter. I don't see a reason not to change the filter if you are going to change the fluid especially when I read about people stating there AT fluid was black like coffee. Can anyone think of a reason not to change the filter; I could not even find anything in the FSM about changing the filter. To me, changing the filter with the fluid seems like a no-brainer. You would not change your engine oil without changing the filter.



I also plan to call the dealer to see how much they charge but I am sure it will be more than I want to pay for this type of work.



Opinions??

Mine also had the same problem at around 30k; some weird shifting, jerking. Kept getting worse gradually.

I would find a reputable dealership or a shop that has experience changing transmission fluid. It is worth it to have it be done exactly right.

Sent from my SM-G985F using Tapatalk

[chuckie311]

if you live in the So Cal area i would call Seb at Specialtyz and talk to him

Originally Posted by tchertel

I am approaching 35k miles on my Z and it has been shifting a bit weird and getting worse each time I drive it and for me it is time to change the transmission fluid, problems or not. I have watched a couple of videos, read the instructions in the FSM and read items posted on forums and everything I have seen or read is consistent on how to get this done. The procedure seems pretty straight forward. One thing I have not seen anything on is removing the pan and changing the filter. I don't see a reason not to change the filter if you are going to change the fluid especially when I read about people stating there AT fluid was black like coffee. Can anyone think of a reason not to change the filter; I could not even find anything in the FSM about changing the filter. To me, changing the filter with the fluid seems like a no-brainer. You would not change your engine oil without changing the filter.

I also plan to call the dealer to see how much they charge but I am sure it will be more than I want to pay for this type of work.

Opinions??

[tchertel]

Thanks for the input. I will call Seb and see if I can get a quote. I am in SoCal but Seb is still about 1.5 hours from me on a good day with good traffic. There have been many afternoons I have come back from Chatsworth to Orange County and has take 3 hours. However, if the price is right it would be worth the drive for his experience. Otherwise, all-in-all, I have service several transmissions and have never had issues with them after the fact; they have always improved. I know the process is a bit different from what I have done before but the FSM is really detailed on it. Really, the biggest issue I see is not making a mess on the floor.

[jchammond]

A drain/fill isn’t hard to do- pending you can get your Z off the ground a bit.
There isn’t a replaceable filter in pan; only a washable screen...as with the Pan magnets in place, they usually do their job.
Seeing that you’re SC’d, I’d be doing a drain/fill every 10k miles or so....as it takes only 4-qts to perform this.
But you will probably want to flush system the first time & potentially add a cooler.
Fastintentions has a nice kit, not listed on website. But phone Kevin V. for details.

On my first Z (2011) my fluid looked like black coffee at 50k
So...I drain/filled....drove about 5-miles & repeated 2 more time
Fluid was nice and clean.

Afterwards performed 10k mile drain/fills & felt like trans got a tuneup after each one

Trans temp has to be in a specific range & I would advise checking the fluid level before you begin....to ensure it’s full & not overfilled.

[rspray2000]

A local shop that says they specialize in VQ’s here said they didn’t have ‘special equipment’ to do AT flush. Recommended I go to dealer.

[jchammond]

Originally Posted by rspray2000

A local shop that says they specialize in VQ’s here said they didn’t have ‘special equipment’ to do AT flush. Recommended I go to dealer.

[tchertel]

Interesting to know that the "filter" is washable but at least they made it serviceable, unlike the transmission filter in my wife's Ford Escape. Working underneath the car is no issue (other than I don't like working on my back). I have a set of Race Ramps to drive the front up on and then a set of wheel cribs (by Race Ramps) to put under the rear tires after raising the rear with a floor jack. It raises the car 8" up which doesn't sound like a lot but really is plenty of room. This is the exact way I installed my catback.

For service of the tranny, I have been looking into and talking to JER Development and they do the tranny services on these cars (along with other work on Japanese cars and engines) and the price was not too bad so I may just go that way first.

[tchertel]

Thanks for the advice everyone. It is good to hear that it sounds like the driveability issues I have been noticing lately are most likely tied to the tranny needing service.

[Tractionless]

Trans coolers can be DIY built very easily for $60. In fact most vendors do just that and charge you 3X+ for convenience. I used the EXACT Hayden unit Z1 supplies in their kit.

The pan gasket can be found here https://www.wittrans.com/parts?type=JR710E+%2F+RE7R01A

I highly suggest adding a trans. dipstick, DIY's are available here.

The change is very easy, especially with the dipstick where you can add from the top instead of pumping from the bottom on jack stands.

[nofitstate]

Originally Posted by tchertel

Thanks for the advice everyone. It is good to hear that it sounds like the driveability issues I have been noticing lately are most likely tied to the tranny needing service.

Take a look at this post on another forum I'm active on and you'll see the problems I and others were having until we changed the AT fluid, which completely transformed the box for me

https://www.350z-uk.com/topic/108736...h-to-5th-gear/

[Ultrakla$$ic]

Changed my own trans fluid at 17k miles and its a VERY easy DIY. I wouldn't pay the stealership to do this, it's too easy.

[tchertel]

Yep, what I am reading on the 350 UK forum sounds very familiar; mine likes to do that high rev thing from 3rd to 4th rather than 5th to 6th which many mentioned. I am taking a short road trip to Van Nuys tomorrow to have my tuner scan the transmission for codes and ask him to adjust the pressures a little bit (amongst tweaking a few things in the tune) as I do feel some of the problem is that the pressures need to be adjusted as I remember the Stillen shifting better than it does now and my tuner mentioned he did do anything with the tranny.

Then next week I have an appointment to get the fluid changed. I need to purchase a few items to do the fluid change myself and since I want to get it done quickly I am going to have another shop do it. They are charging $295.00 which is not so bad. By the time it needs it again I will have everything to do it myself.

[tchertel]

That What It Takes Transmission is very interesting. Thanks for the link!

[tchertel]

So anyone here on the forum in Orange County, CA that can recommend a good transmission shop to do this work? It is amazing to me that I cannot get anyone to answer the phone or return a call or a web inquiry.

I was planning to change everything myself but am thinking I want to have a shop do it since my transmission has a P0725 stored. I would hate to change everything, put it all back together to find out I need to pull it apart again because the problem still exists from a bad sensor.