1990 Nissan Terrano Shudders When cruising.

[heuge65]

Hi, as above, it shudders when cruising. If I'm cruising along and aren't accelerating then apply acceleration, just as she takes up, it shudders and it can be quite pronounced. Similarly, when I'm at the end of acceleration and take my foot off I get the same thing. It happens at around 80-100kms. It only happens when the wagon is in OD and there's nothing in the changes went it's in auto or when dropping it down that says gear box, but is it? I've only had it a couple of weeks and I also have a 92 sat in the driveway that I'm stripping for parts here and there.
I'm thinking if push comes to shove the gearbox in that may have to do but I have questions, at what point should I consider a reconditioned gearbox over a second hand one? I've also been reading that some gear boxes are better than others in the TD27 range, what are the options here. Are the gearboxes in both my wagons compatible?
I must say I've really enjoyed scanning through this forum, I wish I'd found it years ago. Some really good stuff in here. Thanks and regards.

[kbushnz]

It may have something to do with the torque converter solenoid..
Reading thru some posts on another forum, if that solenoid starts to play up it can cause shuddering as it pluses on and off.
If you can find its harness connector, unplug it and go for a drive...
Of course it wont lock up...But if the shuddering goes away.... bingo.
Also it might be low fluid in the trans....
Dirty fluid....

[jaza]

mine does the same torque converter will be stuffed quoted $350 for a new one fit it yrself bitch of a job without a hoist gona do mine before xmas

[heuge65]

Thanks. I guess this begs the next question, anyone recommend a trans specialist or similar in Auckland? I'm on the shore but I'd be happy to take it across town if they were well regarded. I usually have my truck serviced at Altech diesels, I've found them good if not a little too thorough.

[jaza]

Ring jason grp automatics takanini best in auckland tell him jarrod sent ya

[heuge65]

Thanks.

[ArvinSlayer]

bro my truck does the same thing lol, and i live rite in takanini, drop me a text wen ure coming round these ways bo we can catch up over some tea (?) lol and go to the shop? my number is 02102248675, i work weekends, but am generally free tuesday til thursday

Peace

Arvin

[ArvinSlayer]

though,i just had a chat with my uncle whose an engineer, and he reckons that if its a converter lockup problem, it should shudder when its shifting gears, not necessarily while just driving around, he was asking is it a shudder where the whole car, drivetrain and all shakes, or is it just the front end bounce that u can feel on the steering? having said this, i was telling him what my vehicle was doing, and suggested tht the torque converter lockup mite be fcked, but he reckons that it might not be, he says what all other engineers say when they arent too sure of sth, bring it in to a specialist lolol!

Peace

Arvin

[heuge65]

Hahahahaha, is he sure? Nope it's pretty much a 'whole car shaker, if I modify my driving a bit and keep her on the throttle it doesn't happen. When I take my foot off the throttle as, I guess, what ever flywheel disengages it wobbles out. Similarly as it engages she wobbles, it's pronounced and I'm wondering how long I can manage it before it's terminal. I should get off my arse and see if disconnecting the TQ solenoid at the wiring harness will do the trick but isn't the TQ in the drive train the whole time, engaging/disengaging? Worth a try I guess.

[ArvinSlayer]

so just bear in mind bro the lockup are there to improve your trasmission efficiency, mite either use heaps of fuel or maybe less power if disconnected, but shud be ok if u jz want to test it out

Peace

Arvin

[The Stranger]

Hahahahaha, is he sure? Nope it's pretty much a 'whole car shaker, if I modify my driving a bit and keep her on the throttle it doesn't happen. When I take my foot off the throttle as, I guess, what ever flywheel disengages it wobbles out. Similarly as it engages she wobbles, it's pronounced and I'm wondering how long I can manage it before it's terminal. I should get off my arse and see if disconnecting the TQ solenoid at the wiring harness will do the trick but isn't the TQ in the drive train the whole time, engaging/disengaging? Worth a try I guess.

Possibly the lining on the lockup torque converter. They do disintegrate. Had mine replaced with a kevlar lining.
Torque converter is not expensive but getting the box out and back in is a mission. I was quoted 1200 for the removal and re-installation.
Knowing what I know now I recon that is cheap.

[heuge65]

Yeeeeeah, she's a big job.. coupla shifters and screwdriver or 2, she'll be right..

[heuge65]

Right, I'm gonna ask a noob question, I've been farting around trying to find a reference but now that I NEED it I can't find it. What's a good oil for the TD27 auto trans? I'll give that a lash in the forlorn hope that I can stave off dropping the gearbox using vicegrips and my 9v drill driver..

[ArvinSlayer]

dextron 3 works pretty good, flush it with tranny oil too, so get 12 or so ltr of it, flush with it, and fill up with good oil n it shud be good, expensive but good if your planning to lay abuse on it. There is a tread here tht i read ages ago that was explaining how the tranny has a wrong valve placed somewhere that starves the tranny, i am not exactly sure about the details, but give a read of all the td27 and d21 related stuff here, i am sure i read it here. also check out npora, and look under their wd21 1990 - 1993 link and look for the thread on tranny, they tell you bout the issues, wt kills it and y u need to use a trans cooler. also get a new filter and gasket while ure at it, terrano tranny filters always get clogged with shit.

Peace

Arvin

[The Stranger]

Right, I'm gonna ask a noob question, I've been farting around trying to find a reference but now that I NEED it I can't find it. What's a good oil for the TD27 auto trans? I'll give that a lash in the forlorn hope that I can stave off dropping the gearbox using vicegrips and my 9v drill driver..

I use a full synthetic dexron3 rated fluid. These things get way hot and a synthetic will hold it's viscosity up to a higher temp.
That said, there is nothing you can pour down a dipstick that repairs damage - no matter how much you would like it to.

[heuge65]

Thanks, I fully understand that but I wanted to flush it as well and see if any bits came out as well just to where we might be at, I'm hoping for confirmation rather than diagnosis/ any kind of repair. Although lengthening the time til repair would be hugely beneficial in my case. It's nearly Xmas and I'll be skint!

[heuge65]

SO! For anyone faintly interested I ended up taking it to AAutomoive on the shore. I rang around got some quotes it was a close run thing with GRP but being on the shore won the day.

Delamintade torque converter, replaced worn band, reverse frictions and a bit of other stuff, adjusted 'stuff', flushed the cooler and oiled it. He wanted to do MORE work but I was already panicing @ $1700. In the end he did what he could at not much more, it cost $1800. Which hurts but what hurts more is there was probably more work to be done.

Guess I'd better hurry and get that other cooler in, inline filter and temp gauge and manual lock-up switch. She's running sweet though and apart from some sway bar stuff that I've posted it's as good as my last truck.

Thanks for all the advice.

[The Stranger]

SO! For anyone faintly interested I ended up taking it to AAutomoive on the shore...

it cost $1800. Which hurts but what hurts more is there was probably more work to be done.

Guess I'd better hurry and get that other cooler in, inline filter and temp gauge and manual lock-up switch.

That's where I got my trans from. Reco'd torque converter and full trans rebuild and with a shift kit. Trans cost more than the vehicle, but hey I like the Terrano.
I'm running a big cooler, external filter and temp gauge (really don't want to replace the trans ever again) but - a manual lock up switch? Can you elaborate please?

[heuge65]

http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/ ... ranny-mod/

Lots of detail on the mod, the pictures are missing but it was posted back in 04 so I'm not surprised. I've pretty much found the wires involved but I think the first 2 jobs are a must if I'm going to do this.

[heuge65]

On the trans work, if I could've Id've gone for the reco tranny but I just couldn't spend the dosh just yet. It's a chancey thying but one I'm willing to take if I can get the extra cooler on before xmas, try and work out if I'm up to putting in a filter and gauge THEN the lock-up switch. I read somewhere someone cautioning about adding the inline filter and the cooler stressing the oil pump. I'm trying to find that thread to see what the score is. I wish I'd found this site and the NPORA site years ago.

[The Stranger]

http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/999-cool-easy-auto-tranny-mod/

Lots of detail on the mod, the pictures are missing but it was posted back in 04 so I'm not surprised. I've pretty much found the wires involved but I think the first 2 jobs are a must if I'm going to do this.

Ok, I'm with you there. That mod is to manually prevent the TC locking. I had seen talk around of a mod to ensure it does manually lock. But I hadn't seen any detail of this - hence my question.

I have made that mod (to which you refer), but never use it. 2 problems.
1) When you get a temp gauge on there you will see that Nissan got it right. It causes a lot more heat - something these things struggle with. The temp plumets like a stone when the TC is locked. Unlocked in 4th generates the most heat.
2) My trans (well both of them actually) wont go back into lock up after having used this switch. I have to pull over and switch off the engine to reset it.

It is nice in that you do get more power at times, but I would concentrate time and effort on the engine for that.

[The Stranger]

I read somewhere someone cautioning about adding the inline filter and the cooler stressing the oil pump. I'm trying to find that thread to see what the score is.

Personally I doubt that this will cause a problem. But a quick chat to AAutomotive would clarify that one.

[heuge65]

Thanks for that, I read that same thing in the original post. I'm nowhere near ready to do anything like that but I do have my sights set on an extra cooler as I do recall my 92 used to heat right up when I used to take it north and also out on the beach. Mostly I post my comments to see what others, like you are thinking, and base my judgements from that. I read another forum where someone asked a trans mech to do the switch mod for them and they put in a 'proper' arrangement that allowed it to function correctly after using the switch but I cannot for the life of me find it.