1996 Nissan Maxima AT fluid / filter replacement

[92saturnsl2]

Hey folks-- I have a 1996 (built in 05/1995, not sure why it's called a 1996) Nissan Maxima with the VQ30DE engine and 4 speed auto trans. Car has 225k miles on it. I'm doing a little work to it and want to replace the A/T filter, since I have no service record for that. My mom owned it prior to me, and she has receipts for fluid replacement/flushes but no filter.

Is this filter serviceable? Lately I've come across a few vehicles that have "lifetime" filters that you can't change without removing the transmission. A couple forum posts I've stumbled upon suggest this is one of those vehicles, but I've also read a couple where people have suggested/performed filter replacements in a 4th gen Maxima with the trans in the car. I haven't pulled off the pan, and would rather not as the fluid was just changed 15k ago, if I cannot replace the filter.

Any suggestions? This has got to be the most bulletproof trans I've ever owned, as it's never been replaced and still shifts buttery smooth for a 20 year old car. Last fluid replacement was done with Maxlife ATF by a Valvoline quick-lube joint (before I owned it.) TIA for the help.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

There is no need to replace the transmission filters on these cars. You don't even have to drop the pan

 

[DemoFly]

IIRC it's similar to Honda's of the era.

They have a filter/strainer that is only replaceable if you rebuild the transmission. The drain plug has a magnet that you should clean.

 

[mclasser]

I have an Infiniti with basically the same transmission. These JATCO 4-speeds have screens that aren't meant to be serviceable. If you really want to, you can drop the pan and clean off the magnets.

 

[92saturnsl2]

So ordering a filter (which is available on RockAuto) would be a waste of time [if I'm not removing the trans]? Transmission in question is the Jatco RE4F04A, aka JF403E in later years.

The filter is a $6 part (on closeout), so it's not a huge gamble.

 

[Anthony]

Do fairly frequent drain, and fills. That's all they really need. My dads 01 Supercharged Frontier has 267k. Original Trans works great. The trans pan has never been dropped. It has only received drain, and fills since new. I try to do them evry 15k or so. It didn't get it's first drain and fill until it had 30k on it.