Transgo Shift Kit Installation

la_fx35 said:
Thanks guys, like I have said, the installation is at not hard at all. My take on this is you're messing with a very expensive part if something goes wrong and that scare the crap out of people, plus on the very first page of the provided installation instructions, it said;
The installation REQUIRES A PROFESSIONAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TECHNICIAN. DO NOT ATTEMPT to do this installation on your own!?

The installation instructions provided by Transgo is easy enough to follow, but not the type a DIYer would expected with step by step type of instructions. They only provide a diagram of what goes where. The removal of the VB is very straight forward, but there are three unclear steps in the actual install/replacing parts section. I almost forgot to insert the three tiny balls into the new valves. The second unclear instruction was using both the thicker & thinner white springs in the Main Regulator. Lastly, drilling a bigger "F" hole.

Big improvement on the shift. When under normal driving condition, you will not notice any changes at all, I bet your significant other will not even feel it at all. I do feel and notice the snappy up & down shift between gear. No, not harsh at at!. Nice, tight and snappy shifting. Now when you stomp on the gas paddle that whole different feel. Like Lance(Logan) said, it lunges forward in each gear. Again not harsh at all. In manual mode where it really shines as you shift thru the gears. I tried hard to get the tires to chirp on my AWD without success yet! :LOL:

GTO, talk about messy, watch out for the quart of fluid left in the pan after it stop draining out of the drain hole. I pour pretty much the entire quart onto my arm trying to balance the pan out from underneath the car.

Lance, it is the same kit that you have. I do believe there only one kit for our car out there.

Dracula, I do believe that you will feel more of it improvement in the RWD. I know for sure it will easily chirp your tires, lol.

Stu, no problem so far with just 50 miles with it on, lol.

MNT FX, seeing the stuff you done and the DIY you shared, you can handle this install with ease!
Click to expand...
 
I hope someone out there can help. I've got an 03 FX35 AWD. I installed the transgo kit between yesterday & today. Drive and reverse are week (limp mode?). Got 2 codes, p1769 & p1759. I did everything by the book. WTF? Can a little oil having gotten into a plug cause this? I did everything right. I posted on the g35 site as well, hoping someone's got a clue.
 
onthemove said:
I hope someone out there can help. I've got an 03 FX35 AWD. I installed the transgo kit between yesterday & today. Drive and reverse are week (limp mode?). Got 2 codes, p1769 & p1759. I did everything by the book. WTF? Can a little oil having gotten into a plug cause this? I did everything right. I posted on the g35 site as well, hoping someone's got a clue.
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention, p1769 is high/low reverse clutch solenoid valve & p1759 is front brake solenoid valve. The front brake valve is one of three that was replaced.
 
Following instructions from tech @ Transgo I dropped the pan once again hoping to find a pinched wire, unplugged plug or misplaced plug. Everything's done correctly. No problems w/plug, wires or where plugs are located.
Before dropping the pan, I did as told by the tech and put more fluid in the trans., drove it down the driveway a bit & same problem but this time I went a little further & got two more codes, so the above two + p1764 & p1754 (direct clutch solenoid valve function & input clutch solenoid valve function). Evidence is starting to stack up against this kit which may very well have grenaded or attributed to the grenading of my tcm.
I spoke w/a couple of the major performance trans. shops & both where helpful. One told me that the tcm, @ least in the earlier years, is a pos and can pop even while one is simply swapping batteries! A very high failure %. Minor volt spikes destroy the thing. New tcm's must be purchased along w/a new v.b. & nissan made improvements which, supposedly this is no longer an issue. I was told best it's best to leave the car running while changing the battery? You've got to be kidding. Nissan can eat a fat one.
 
Wow, sorry to hear you having a problem. I did 5 installations into 03 - 05 AWD FX35 & FX45 without any issues. 4 of the FXes still going strong. 1 was sold, so no idea how that one goes.
 
Last edited:
So sorry for you, especially after all that messy work.
Mine is still going strong on about a year of use, & the shifts are much better than stock It does take a slightly different style of shifting with slight of throttle, but works well. I Can also blip on downshift.
Pro for me, was that I had it done while trans was rebuilt, so all work including the transgo install came with a full 1yr warranty.
 
Took it apart again today. Double checked it all. Everything's perfect on my end. I took my time and did things correctly the first time but it f'd up my trans., so here we go again. The only possible fix other than a new valve body w/tcm is a solenoid(s) if I'm lucky. Valve bodies good to go but must be replaced & accompanied by a new tcm (sold together) as new v.b. is slightly different. Even if I install it, I must still tow my ride to a dealer where they will record the info on my old tcm and transfer this info to the new "blank" tcm.
Spoke w/infinitipartsusa.com today. They no longer sell v.b./tcm units, period, except for those who come to their location in AZ. New v.b.'s used to not need info transfered via dealer but they had problems so now they are all "blanks". Said many many people frying the new units! My God. Sounds kinda like all those shops who copied the momentum perf. turbo & will only sell to those who chose to have it installed by said shop becuase people having difficulty with fitment.
Transgo has had me do many things including the above. I want to just replace the pos w/a new unit as the new units are much improved but they are convinced it's not the tcm! They want me to do a pressure test on the tranny assuming what I did today doesn't work & frankly how would it? Nothings changed. They strongly believe it's not the tcm but instead a mechanical pressure issue.
Level 10 told me 20-30% failure rate on tcm. They do 30 v.b. shift kit's a month. Spoke w/him multiple times yest. & today. Nice guy & has been there forever. Said he fields calls all the time from those w/this same nissan trans. that now have a failed tcm whether via trans. work or simply installing a new battery. Unbelieveable. He's convinced that it's the tcm, no doubt in his mind.
I spoke w/Aamco today as well. Thinking I might want someone else to diagnose this issue. They said 9 out of 10 nissan trans. issues they see end up w/new v.b.'s & tcms. Damn! Said they've got one in the shop right now. I asked "how many of those are related to water in the trans fluid" & he said "at least 9 out of ten". So, it appears that the coolant escaping into the trans. issue, something I recently learned about, is a leading cause of neding a new v.b./tcm unit. I have no coolant in my trans fluid so there's hope that somehow, someway, even though I was extremely careful with the v.b. that I damaged a solenoid or two and these 1-2 solenoids are effecting others, hence 4 freaking codes.
I believe there must be many who've had this failure but don't say anything. There must be per all the above people I've spoken with. When the shat hits the fan, people are so bumbed, most times they're not going to want to talk about it. Can't blame'em.
To recap, transgo believes it's a mechanical pressure issue, level 10 thinks it's the tcm. Aamco confirmed that most of the time a new tcm is needed only when coolant gets in the tranny.
I've installed cats, dual exhaust, intake plenum, suspension, brakes, wire tuck, idler pulley & multi bypass hose deletes, wheel hub assemblies, etc. in anticipation of some big h.p. & here I am stuck with this.
Will find out tomorrow if all solenoids are available & poss. get a trans pressure tester & ohm meter to diagnose this pita myself. What a drag. If bad solenoid, my bad & I'll take back what I've said but for now, Nissan can eat a fat one.
 
My tranny failed due to coolant/water contamination. I now bypass the the factory cooler with a large external one. There's no way they can mix now. This is Nissan design flaw, & have heard it happening. I cant speak for Gen 2, but I recommend, that anyone with a first gen should install an aftermarket cooler regardless of mods. Tranny rebuild is expensive.

BTW, My TCM did not fail. My clutch packs got fried with the coolant mixed in
 

Attachments

  • screenshot_37.png
    screenshot_37.png
    317.3 KB · Views: 115
Last edited:
gto said:
My tranny failed due to coolant/water contamination. I now bypass the the factory cooler with a large external one. There's no way they can mix now. This is Nissan design flaw, & have heard it happening. I cant speak for Gen 2, but I recommend, that anyone with a first gen should install an aftermarket cooler regardless of mods. Tranny rebuild is expensive.

BTW, My TCM did not fail. My clutch packs got fried with the coolant mixed in[/QUOT
gto said:
So sorry for you, especially after all that messy work.
Mine is still going strong on about a year of use, & the shifts are much better than stock It does take a slightly different style of shifting with slight of throttle, but works well. I Can also blip on downshift.
Pro for me, was that I had it done while trans was rebuilt, so all work including the transgo install came with a full 1yr warranty.
Click to expand...
Nice. With all this having happened, thinking about getting a built trans going now. Will have to do this either way. Who did your's, if you don't mind me asking & are you satisfied?
Click to expand...
 
Put the v.b. back in today. Same thing. Slipping forward & reverse. No change. Spoke with Aamco again. They have been working with a perf. shop that works on nissans & Aamco is installing shift kits for this shop. Pretty cool. They also found a company that sells these new v.b.'s w/tcm already pre-programmed using the vin #. Guess they found a way to skirt the dealer. Love it. Hopefully I just messed up a solenoid because I did everything else perfectly the first time, & verified that the 2nd time, right down to the drilled hole size.
Aamco said when they first started installing the kits, they did a couple w/out issue. The third had problems. After having gone through everything again, as I just did, they couldn't figure it out. They had a spare v.b., used the customers tcm, installed the shift kit & it worked. What the hell is going on here. I've spoken with many in the industry and have a clear picture now of the many problems associated with this v.b.. Why then is there no warning from Transgo, because you know they're fielding calls from diy'ers & shops alike. Here's the warning that should be on the damn box;
WARNING! THE RE5RO5A IS A POTENTIAL LANDMINE TO THE TUNE OF A 20-30% FAILURE RATE. IF YOU'RE FEELING LUCKY, GO FOR IT --- BUT BE PREPARED TO FORK OVER $1,000 OR MORE US DOLLARS ---. WE HAVE NO LANDMINE SWEEPER & YOU MAY HAVE ONE OF THE UNLUCKY 1 TO 2 OUT OF FIVE RE5RO5A TRANSMISSIONS & YOU MAY BE SOL --- !
I think that's fair and potentially legally necessary. Looking into recourse later. I'll wrap up my part of this thread when all conclusions have come to a head. I plan on having Aamco deal with this & I will be present, watching and looking at the info via their scanner & pressure test. If it's my bad & I somehow screwed a solenoid, so be it, I'm a moron & will fess up to it. I'd be thrilled with that outcome as it would be the cheapest outcome but at this point, I'm not betting on it.
 
You say it's slipping. Like revs but doesnt move?
If yes, That sounds like same issue I had, and more than just a TCM or VB . . except mine didnt throw any codes.
My guess is If there's coolant in there, it's the clutch packs & likely will need new ones.

Was driving perfect before you modd'd? This is strange
 
Yes, slipping. Start it up, release e-brake, foot on brake pedal, put into reverse and I don't get that positive engaged feeling between the engine & trans. Same in drive. Hit the gas & it doesn't want to move like it should. RPM's go up more than they should in relation to speed. I never went more than 3mph. Went down my steeply sloped driveway and got a little nervous thinking I don't know if I can get back up. Slip slip. It's like driving a stick shift, but w/a bad clutch. Oh, what I wouldn't give for a good old manual transmission. Rookie had the right idea & I may very well do the same but will have to dump the AWD which I'd rather not do.
Before the "attempted" mod, the trans was perfect. Matter of fact, did my version of grounding kit while doing the wire tuck & used crutchfield 8 guage and that made a very real positive difference in trans function.
There is no coolant present where it should not be & recently deleted all coolant bypass hoses - all is well there.
No codes before transgo, 4 codes after & I have a feeling that if I could actually drive the thing, I might get more codes.
Pat @ Level 10 said this issue is unfortunately very common (20-30% failure rate). He told me, "you did nothing wrong. Replace the v.b./tcm with new upgraded version, get dealer to upload all old info & reinstall shift kit." He said the transgo kit is great. He believes the tcm is the problem. I believe he is right but also believe transgo is well aware of this issue & has said zilch about it.
I've saved myself an ass-load of loot doing all that I've done so far, so this isn't the end of the world but it does absolutely suck donkey nutz & nucking pisses me off a hole bunch. You got hit by the "water in the coolant" landmine. I got hit by the "damn, had to touch the trans" landmine. And the saga continues.
Aamco successfully installed a new pre-programmed v.b./tcm w/transgo shift kit into a nissan truck w/our same trans today. Jason said he's going to drive it again tomorrow morning just to be sure, but said it feels good to go.
Tell me GTO, if your willing, who built your trans, are you satisfied with it & what aftermarket trans cooler did you chose to go with? Thanks.
 
Mine was built by an old-school guy in his garage. He used to have a shop and only did favor jobs for the specialty shop I use out here that referred me. I've been told he's since retired now, but his work was great. He also rebuilt my TC.
While I'd love a manual, it shifts much quicker than before mods.

Cooler is Setrab series 6 . 34 row

Setrab Differential / Gearbox Coolers | susa
 
Thank you for that. I'll check out the setrab. Odd name though? Never looked into an aftermarket trans cooler but with what I've learned through this ordeal, it's time to be proactive. I'll be reading a bit more this weekend to find other weak points to address before it/they address me!
Considering taking a trip to level 10 and getting a trans built by them. A lot of negative reviews in the past, so will have to investigate further. Lots of negative reviews but also lots of knuckleheads pushing shit too damn far.
Bet this old school guy did a near perfect job on your trans. Nothings ever perfect. I'll hopefully luck out and get the right guy on the right day at the right shop to do mine. IPT is another name out there. They said will make exception & get someone to install if I come down. That's cool. Level 10 will do the whole shabang themselves, quick fast & in a hurry. That's cool too.
First things first, I can't be on the move while the fx sits in the garage & certainly cannot get to level 10 or even the grocery store without a functioning trans. Home bound & will be relying on a taxi. Damn. What a mess. Never saw this coming. Good thing is this v.b. (assuming that's the issue) with the shift kit would be transferred to the new trans and maybe a total valve body upgrade @ that point.
 
Looks like Aamco has a video regarding this trans.
Very interesting & informative info, imho. For anyone with re5r05a issues, this seems to sum many/most things up regarding the re5r05a pos tcm.
They say that even the new v.b./tcm units have a 25% failure rate. I read a forum w/a g35 that replaced his w/new, didn't work, warranty sent him another new unit & that one did work. Hopefully, all that I've gathered on this forum & conclusions I'll post will help some make informed repair/replace decisions & keep others out of trouble.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gto
Another couple tidbits of info. One, was told today by tech @ sonnex (huge quality vb reman co.) that if water should get into trans., only a matter of time before tcm goes. Don't mean to be a debbie downer, but thought I should share that. He also said issue I'm dealing with is a pita, even for a shop sometimes w/diagnostic equipment. Also, found a reman of v.b. w/pre-programmed tcm for 1/2 the price of stealer + 5 year warranty compared to stealer's 1 year & not some ebay b.s. either. Probably posting far too much but doing so while it's fresh on my mind. Nissan can eat a fat one.
 
Strange to hear of all of this as many of us on here have had success with and been very satisfied with the Transgo kit. With what you're reporting, I'm surprised that we didn't hear of more trouble sooner.
Slipping is slipping and sometimes followed by a clunk as the parts eventually engage. But on your "driveway tests" you never get that engagement? After your 3 mph downhill parade, did you make it back up afterwards? That almost sounds like a limp mode instead of slipping?
You've obviously read and researched more recently that I have, but I seem to remember the the VB's were somewhat year specific as minor changes were made with the same RE5 transmissions. When I did my Transgo, for a while I was planning to but a stock VB to keep shelved as the "original OEM backup". I remember some stuff about how the VB would have to be from an identical year and model car (and if not, those unknown elusive gremlins might appear). Just be weary when VB shopping.
 
No prob. la_fx35.
I believe that, success & satisfaction. Transgo good, re5r05a bad. Honestly, with all I've done, not just to the fx but as a whole, it's about time my azz got handed to me. Was only a matter of time. As for the issues, thought I screwed up @ first, what else could it be, right, but after speaking w/many in the industry, quite possibly not. Will see. Was going to go to Aamco, they sound competent & experienced w/transgo installs BUT trans ok before & now f'd. Gotta be the v.b. or, if what level 10 said is true/correct, the tcm . Sent it to IPT Perf. Trans. this afternoon & they will have it by Tuesday. John's curious to see it & believes he can make it whole. He said, and I quote, "I've never seen a shift kit sent to us that was installed correctly". Here's another John, I hope. I hope that's the case w/mine. Rather be a fool w/the tool than my bank account shrink by $1,500, give or take, for something that adds nothing as I already have a damn v.b./tcm.
Sonnex sells various do-dads that make a trans feel better. Noticed they have a kit for what, per transgo instructions, refer to as the "main regulator". This is the one w/the largest valve/bore and the toughest spring w/another spring inside & whose retainer is installed facing in as opposed to the rest. I noticed after the 2nd tear-down that the aluminum bushing which houses the steal valve didn't want to come out. The first time around, it came out just fine. Odd. Apparently, this bore could wear & the kit address this. Just the one thing these inexperienced eyes noticed when trying to diagnose.
After 3mph, yes, did make it back up the drive. Engaged after the slippy-slips. Dropped the pan once it cooled down & found some micro shavings, like panning for aluminum instead of gold, shiny & not magnetic, so slippage got touchy with housing. Limp mode, I'd say yes. Slipping, yes yes. Slippy slippy in reverse & drive. One thing's for sure, this is a low pressure situation, whether it be via mechanical failure/hang-up or electrical's not jiving via tcm giving up the ghost per level 10.
V.B.s are sketchy. 4 different solenoid manufacturers. 03-04 NO NAME then bosch, mitsushitzi & some other odd name for the rest of the years. 03-04 I believe is made in korea, but still, couldn't find the name of said solenoid maker.
Using casting # to attempt to replace lower v.b. is useless. There's more to it than that, though doable. Stealer used to be able to do something w/casting # & vin. Not anymore. 5 check balls & one particular empty bore I believe? I am learning more about automatic transmissions than I'd like to quite frankly.
Correction - Jatco can eat a fat one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top