2004 Maxima in Failsafe:: No Transmission Codes Stored
2004 Maxima in Failsafe:: No Transmission Codes Stored
2004 Maxima in Failsafe:: No Transmission Codes Stored
Figure 1
T
he vehicle: A 2004 Nissan NTB04-063 refers to problems with
Maxima with an Asian Warner both camshaft position sensors, causing
5-speed transaxle. The prob- hard starting warm; starts okay cold.
Nissan added the lem: The transmission is in failsafe, the There was nothing about the transmis-
check engine light is on, but there are sion being in failsafe.
AW55-50SN to no transmission codes stored. It’s an all-too-familiar situation on
Nissan added the AW55-50SN to the ATRA HotLine, where the trans-
its Maxima and its Maxima and Quest driveline in mission is in failsafe, the MIL is on,
2004, and added it to the Altima in and all you have are engine codes. The
Quest driveline in 2005, designated as the RE5F22A. standard diagnostic procedure for this
The first call I received on this situation is to address any engine codes
2004, and added problem was about two years ago. before trying to diagnose a transmission
There was no access to transmission problem. This is especially important
it to the Altima in data available on the scan tool. The only for transmission shift adaptive strate-
code stored was P0345 — Camshaft gies that depend on engine operation.
2005, designated Position Sensor (Phase) Circuit Bank When asked if this engine code
2. The camshaft position sensor is a could cause the transmission to go
as the RE5F22A. 3-wire, Hall Effect sensor (figure 1), into failsafe I had no answer. There’s
part# 23731-AL61A. no written information to document it.
Nissan technical service bulletin The only information available in the
factory manual is a transmission code mission would be in high gear with all only the symptom of the transmission’s
for engine RPM input (P0726; figure pressure solenoids off. performance. The technician, being
2) failsafe mode 1. The failsafe mode There was no information to verify pressed for time, changed the sensor
chart (figure 3) verifies that the trans- which failsafe mode the vehicle was in; and the vehicle was fixed.
Code P0340
Camshaft
Position Sensor
(Phase) Circuit
Bank 1
(figure 4) part #
23731-6J90B.
Figure 4
4 s &
-ILAN /(
www.transtec.com
Figure 5
Figure 6 Figure 7
3. He backprobed pin 2 to
check for a DC frequency signal.
There was none (figure 8).
4. With the harness disconnect-
ed, he checked sensor resistance from
pin 1 to pins 2 and 3, then from pin 2
to pin 3 (figure 9). The values listed
in figure 9 are factory specifications.
5. He then checked the feed
voltage at pin 3 with the harness dis-
connected. No voltage (figure 10).
6. A resistance check from the
wiring into the back of the connector
to pin 3 in the connector itself showed
no open circuit (figure 11).
7. He removed the pin from the
Figure 8 connector for a closer inspection: the
wire looked frayed.
8. He resoldered the pin, recon-
nected the sensor, and the transmis-
sion worked fine.
When the technician contacted
the dealer about the sensors, he found
out that all three sensors had been
updated, so he replaced them as a
precaution.
Here’s what happened: The
meter revealed no resistance between
the wire and the connector terminal.
That’s because there were only a
couple strands of wire still making
contact. That was enough of a con-
nection to provide a continuity mea-
surement on the meter. But the weak
connection wouldn’t allow enough
current (amps) to reach the terminal
in the connector.
Figure 10 Figure 11
Feed voltage at pin 3 with the harness disconnected. A resistance check from the wiring into the back of the connector
No voltage. to pin 3 in the connector itself showed no open circuit (figure 11).
Here’s another problem that just
showed up on a recent tech call: A
2004 Maxima had code P0335 (Crank
Position Sensor) stored after the rebuild,
but it wasn’t there before the repair.
The tachometer was bouncing
intermittently around 200-300 RPM
and the engine would surge with a
slight misfire. One other symptom was
the shifter indicated 5th gear when-
ever the transmission was in Tiptronic
mode.
The technician loosened the sen-
sor and moved it closer to the exciter
ring on the flywheel; the tach stopped
bouncing. Replacing the flywheel Figure 12
resolved the problem.
Here’s what happened: While Then, with the crank position sensor removed, he pried the converter loose from the fly-
removing the transmission originally, wheel through the crank sensor hole (figure 12).
the converter pilot was stuck in the in West Palm Beach,
engine crankshaft. When the technician my cousin Mike Di
pulled the transmission away from the Giacinto (Transmission Additional Information:
engine, the converter pulled out of the Service Center) in In the September 2009 article, A Flash From The Past,
pump, allowing fluid to leak. Lauderhill, Florida, 4F50N Slips in 2nd or 3rd, there is some additional
The technician moved the trans- and Dean from Dean’s information that didn’t make into the article. The after
market part numbers for the 1-2 & 2-3 capacity modulator
mission back toward the engine to stop Quality Transmissions
springs are as follows Superior kit K084, Sonnax spring
the leak. Then, with the crank position in Utah for the informa- #96201-27 and RatioTek RT4F50N kit. Another issue not
sensor removed, he pried the converter tion for this article. mentioned in the article that will also cause the same
loose from the flywheel through the complaint. The Intermediate Clutch Piston has been
crank sensor hole (figure 12). This known to crack in an area almost impossible to see. This
bent the flywheel, which caused the would be along the edge where the rubber meets the steel.
problem. The part number for the new piston is 4F1Z-7E005-AA.
Special thanks to Jim Vernacchio
The Benefits of Z Pak Rodney says: “I want to thank you for your relentless pursuit of
• Outperforms both perfection in the powertrain industry. My grandfather and my dad
single- and double-sided used your powertrain products when automatic transmissions were
OE assemblies in torque new technologies. Keep up the great work, and we’ll keep those
and heat capacity
trannys changing gears with your great products.”
• Improves clutch life
• Increases transmission
durability
• Perfect for every rebuild
711 Tech Drive, Crawfordsville, IN 47933 • Toll Free: 800-729-7763 • Fax: 765-359-2874 • Email: raypt@raybestospowertrain.com