1996 QD32ETI r50 Terrano issues - help :(

[ateloh]

Hi,

This is my first post here,

I put a good amount of time in prior to posting here with using the forum search, but I had no luck in finding anything.

I have been having issues with my 1996 QD32ETI r50 Terrano.

I believe I may have an electric issue which is causing the gear box to slip in and out of gear when travelling around 90-100 km/h. It usually happens on flat roads and with no driver input at all. It is also happening at 60km too. Only in the upper gears.

I have recently had over 1700$ worth done to the gear box (torque converter + engine mount replacements), and the crowd that did it doesn't seem to want to know about the issue that is still occurring.

I suspect it to be a solenoid or a sensor unit.


The unfortunate situation I am in, is that I am in Perth, Western Australia. and the Nissan dealerships will not touch grey imports and these r50 terrano are super rare, even though they are much sort after here. So the Australian pathfinder forums, haven't been much of a solution finder.

I have also hooked up ecutalk (no error codes) and I have collected data. I am happy to post photos.

I was considering replacing common sensors, (TPS & crankshaft position sensor).

As when I first got the car, my mechanic was going on about these water marks on the engine (water pump leak) and the silly me, thought I would give it a clean (over 9months ago) to get rid of the water stains to see if there was an actual leak, if they returned (they never did).

I was thinking moisture maybe a cause. But I cant seem to find a TPS.

Has anyone got any possible ideas? or perhaps the QD32eti R50 terrano service manual in English?




Regards


Andrew

[zukmeista]

Was the $1700 worth of work in an attempt to correct the current issue you are having? If it is, I would just hassle them until they fix it, it's not good enough to charge you that amount of money and not even fix the problem.

[cjsoundguy]

These have an known issue with the fuel pumps on the diesels wearing at a specific point causing them to "drop out" when cruising.
This could cause the box to behave oddly. (I assume its the 3.2D??)
If it is diesel (and possibly the petrol) the TPS is attached to the gas pedal and there is no throttle cable.

Another common cause is worn parts in the shifter and associated parts causing the box to think you have selected neutral.

[sibainmud]

Transmission temp sender to the TCU. A mate had one here doing the exact same thing. The sensor was buried so deep in the trans, they put a resistor in the loom to trick the TCU into thinking all was normal. Went like a dream after that. Just a wild stab in the dark.

Cheers,

[cjsoundguy]

Transmission temp sender to the TCU. A mate had one here doing the exact same thing. The sensor was buried so deep in the trans, they put a resistor in the loom to trick the TCU into thinking all was normal. Went like a dream after that. Just a wild stab in the dark.

Cheers,

I have heard this one before as well.
Although, you would have thought this would have been replaced as part of the gearbox rebuild.

[sibainmud]

To give some further explanation, it won't turn up in problem codes as the TCU thinks the trans is cold and won't let it go into overdrive and lock up the torque converter. Then the sender works for a short time and everything returns to normal, only to have the correct value change back to abnormal (cold) so the TCU goes into warm up mode. End result, erratic random shifts in top gears.

Transmission temp sender to the TCU. A mate had one here doing the exact same thing. The sensor was buried so deep in the trans, they put a resistor in the loom to trick the TCU into thinking all was normal. Went like a dream after that. Just a wild stab in the dark.

Cheers,

I have heard this one before as well.
Although, you would have thought this would have been replaced as part of the gearbox rebuild.

Assume.......ass u me

Cheers,

[keepwalkn]

My D21 Terrano auto started doing this - turned out the tuners moved the TPS switch on top of the injector pump and the auto was sensing the slightest movement and unlocking torque converter...

Has the R50 got the same TPS switch to control the auto shifting?

[ateloh]

Was the $1700 worth of work in an attempt to correct the current issue you are having? If it is, I would just hassle them until they fix it, it's not good enough to charge you that amount of money and not even fix the problem.

Apologies, The work quoted was only to get rid of the vibration, which has completely gone now. He quoted extra to replace the engine mounts, as the gearbox mounts had previously been done.

Thanks for your reply

[ateloh]

These have an known issue with the fuel pumps on the diesels wearing at a specific point causing them to "drop out" when cruising.
This could cause the box to behave oddly. (I assume its the 3.2D??)
If it is diesel (and possibly the petrol) the TPS is attached to the gas pedal and there is no throttle cable.

Another common cause is worn parts in the shifter and associated parts causing the box to think you have selected neutral.

Hey, when the gear dropping occurs, there are never any issues with no power due to fuel starvation. It starts first time every-time no black smoke nothing, and lots of power. The "Drop out" I am feeling is pretty much it dropping to a lower gear, and it returns itself after a short time or sometimes I have to select N and put it back into Drive. Do you still think this could be fuel pump?

It is a 3.2D. Thanks for the TPS location, I don't think moisture from the 'engine wash' could be a cause of that it's location

Thanks for the response

[ateloh]

Transmission temp sender to the TCU. A mate had one here doing the exact same thing. The sensor was buried so deep in the trans, they put a resistor in the loom to trick the TCU into thinking all was normal. Went like a dream after that. Just a wild stab in the dark.

Cheers,

Thanks for that. I will search my little heart out to find this mod on forums. Very much worth the effort =)

[ateloh]

Transmission temp sender to the TCU. A mate had one here doing the exact same thing. The sensor was buried so deep in the trans, they put a resistor in the loom to trick the TCU into thinking all was normal. Went like a dream after that. Just a wild stab in the dark.

Cheers,

I have heard this one before as well.
Although, you would have thought this would have been replaced as part of the gearbox rebuild.

Unfortunately it was not a total rebuild, just the torque converter =( and engine mounts.

I went to the place my father has always taken his 4x4 too. Prob got taken for a ride.

[ateloh]

Thank you for the further explanation! Makes total sense.

To give some further explanation, it won't turn up in problem codes as the TCU thinks the trans is cold and won't let it go into overdrive and lock up the torque converter. Then the sender works for a short time and everything returns to normal, only to have the correct value change back to abnormal (cold) so the TCU goes into warm up mode. End result, erratic random shifts in top gears.

Transmission temp sender to the TCU. A mate had one here doing the exact same thing. The sensor was buried so deep in the trans, they put a resistor in the loom to trick the TCU into thinking all was normal. Went like a dream after that. Just a wild stab in the dark.

Cheers,

I have heard this one before as well.
Although, you would have thought this would have been replaced as part of the gearbox rebuild.

Assume.......ass u me

Cheers,

[JWalker]

Hi there, sounds kind of similar to a problem i had.
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=27625
Ended up being the diesel pump. Cost me $2500 for a replacement.

[3VILC]

Thought I'd dig up a related thread rather than starting a new one.
Is this a fairly common problem with the TD27 and QD32 with electronic pumps?
I really like these trucks but have test driven a few now and 2 of them (one typically is in the best mint condition otherwise) both have this surging problem from a stop, best described as if you put your foot down slightly in N and then put it into drive. The other one is in a little more average cosmetic condition but drives well and smooth as.
Is it just a matter of course that at some point around 200thou these are going to need the pump replaced?
As far as I can read all answers seem to lead to the fact that the mechanical part of the pump gets slight wear and then the electronic part can no longer move it smoothly, resulting in the harsh jerk when accelerating, as well as other problems.

[Crash bandicoot]

Thought I'd dig up a related thread rather than starting a new one.
Is this a fairly common problem with the TD27 and QD32 with electronic pumps?
I really like these trucks but have test driven a few now and 2 of them (one typically is in the best mint condition otherwise) both have this surging problem from a stop, best described as if you put your foot down slightly in N and then put it into drive. The other one is in a little more average cosmetic condition but drives well and smooth as.
Is it just a matter of course that at some point around 200thou these are going to need the pump replaced?
As far as I can read all answers seem to lead to the fact that the mechanical part of the pump gets slight wear and then the electronic part can no longer move it smoothly, resulting in the harsh jerk when accelerating, as well as other problems.

My 98 mistral has had the transmission lock up issue. It was solved after a flush and oil change...funny that.

I think you will find it is the same for the jerkyness on take off. low oil.

I have had the injector pump on mine replaced aswell. How ever If it happened again it would be just as cost effective to put the manual pump and pedal box on it from a non eti TD27T

[philip121]

that price it should have been a under warrenty used gearbox