Auto transmission fluid change for 1996 Pathfinder

A

Albin

Joined
Feb 2, 2004
Messages
168
Location
TN
I don't think it has a drain bolt, so the pan has to come off. While in there, I'm thinking of replacing the filter.

According to WixFilters, it takes a 58978 or 58906 filter; however Autozone says only the 58906 fits my Pathfinder. Not sure what the difference is between the two. About $30 from Autozone and it will have to be ordered since none are available near me.

I have the lift and the tools. I have no idea if I have the skills. Is this an easy part to remove and replace or is there some type of Auto transmission wizardry going on here? I've never in a transmission before.

Comments and advice welcome!

Thanks,
 
The hardest part is dropping the pan without taking a bath in ATF. Using a vacuum extractor to suck the fluid out through the dipstick first makes it a lot easier. The other advice I'd give is to get the sealing surfaces spic and span and don't over tighten the bolts and snug them down in a gradual, crisscross pattern.

The 58906 filter is for 4wd and the 58978 one is for rear wheel drive.
 
Albin said:
I don't think it has a drain bolt, so the pan has to come off. While in there, I'm thinking of replacing the filter.

According to WixFilters, it takes a 58978 or 58906 filter; however Autozone says only the 58906 fits my Pathfinder. Not sure what the difference is between the two. About $30 from Autozone and it will have to be ordered since none are available near me.

I have the lift and the tools. I have no idea if I have the skills. Is this an easy part to remove and replace or is there some type of Auto transmission wizardry going on here? I've never in a transmission before.

Comments and advice welcome!

Thanks,
Click to expand...
I would consider getting a new pan which has a drain plug. It will make future changes so much easier. I am in favor of dropping the pan for a thorough cleaning along with the filter. If the filter has to be ordered anyway, I would get it from Rock auto and save some money. To prevent leaks, use a straight edge and check the pan for flatness especially at the bolt holes. A ball peen hammer will straighten it out if needed. Checking for pan flatness and not over torqueing the pan bolts will yield a leak free job.
 
Interesting that the two versions (engines) listed on RockAuto's site yield very different sized lists of part categories.
There are many more selections for the 3.3l.
Which do you have?

I either case, the 3.0l and 3.3l engines, no pan was offered. A transmission pan gasket was offered for the 3.3l only.

Look again for a drain plug. Do a drain and fill if you can. Decide how to proceed. Find a good parts source.
 
Unless the pan is obstructed it's easy.

Add a drain bolt for future service. Try to avoid 100% rubber gaskets -- they just bulge out and leak.

Whenever you see two filters, it's almost always 2wd vs 4wd. Sometimes you have to do a little Rosetta Stone and know that, say, an FK378 crosses to a Wix 51212. One may specify drive wheels while other is mum. But if X=Y, then........

Finally, compare product images and make sure the filter you're getting looks the same as others which specify the 2wd or 4wd you need.

Even cute utes like Rogues get a different (pan) filter for AWD vs FWD
 
Some good points.

It's 4WD with the 3.3l 6 cylinder engine, has ~155,000 miles on it, just had the engine spark plugs and wires changed, along with the fuel filter and air filter.

I bought it just over a year ago from a family whose Dad owned it since new. He had dementia, so I have no idea how well he kept up with the maintenance. I don't recall seeing a drain plug when I had it on the lift for its oil change last year.

It's time to change the oil again, so I'll look for the drain plug today.

Thanks,
 
GSCJR said:
Engine size? 2WD or 4WD?

Some Nissan transmissions don't have actual pan filters, they're just metal screens.
Click to expand...
This is what WixFilters says is the correct transmission filter for this vehicle, 58906:

iu



And this is the transmission fluid I plan to use:

us_dtc_773775_vv3246_multi-vehicle_atf_ml_dex-merc_front.jpg
 
Valvoline makes good products.
I've used a ton of Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc LV (different product than the one you intend to use) in CERTAIN vehicles with complete success.

My question is, what ATF does the owners' manual call for?
 
Is it a real filter or a rock catcher? The Aisin's on my Toyotas have been screens and I question the need to pull the pan. It would help get the most oil out (and I think the worst doesn't drain), and one can clean the magnets, but does one really want to know how much built up?

I like the method of pulling a cooler line and pumping out one quart at time, and replacing. But I'm slightly lazy too. On something I could start early in the vehicles life I might elect to do that and never touch the pan, something older I guess it might be more necessary (assuming it's a strainer, if it's a real filter then it's not something that can be avoided).
 
Kira said:
Valvoline makes good products.
I've used a ton of Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc LV (different product than the one you intend to use) in CERTAIN vehicles with complete success.

My question is, what ATF does the owners' manual call for?
Click to expand...
From the Owner's Manual:

Nissan Matic “D” (Continental U.S. and Alaska) or
Genuine Nissan Automatic Transmission Fluid
(Canada).*6

*6: Dexron III/Mercon or equivalent may also be used. Outside the continental United States and Alaska contact a NISSAN dealer for more information regarding suitable fluids,
including recommended brand(s) of Dexron III/Mercon or Dexron IIE/Mercon Automatic Transmission Fluid.

And according to the Autozone web site, which has my Pathfinder in it's database via VIN number, says this is one of the correct ATF fluids to use. And based on a similiar discussion in a different thread, the Transfer Case, also uses Dexron as well. I'll be swapping that out as well.



And I downloaded the Repair Manual for the Auto Transmission. Anyone want to guess how many times it mentions the words "filter" or "screen"?
 
Yep, the AT Repair Manual calls it a "Strainer".

I watched this video; changing it out seems pretty straightforward:

 
GSCJR said:
The originals are generally screens and replacements are a crap shoot based on my research. Further, I'd choose the Valvoline Extended Protection ATF @Albin.
Click to expand...
Any reason why? Also, Autozone says it doesn't "fit my vehicle" for whatever that's worth. Plus, I've already bought the Valvo Max-Life stuff.
 
I'm not sure how much it really matters, but the red jug is more of a "universal" fluid including CVT. The EP is only for step shift transmissions.
 
The transmission pan should have a drain plug. As someone said above, it's a 19mm.

IIRC my 2001 Pathfinder which had the "HD" variant of the same RE4R01A transmission in your 1996 used the same transmission filter "strainer" and also if memory serves the micron rating is something high like 80. I'm pretty sure it looked like it didn't catch much when I did a pan drop. I replaced it with a Beck/Arnley part.

I think it would make more sense to add a Magnefine filter on the cooler return line and ignore the pan filter. Just do a few drain & fills to swap out most of the fluid, or you could even drain it via the cooler return line and refill the same capacity as what you drained out. That wouldn't drain what's in the torque converter, but otherwise should get most of the fluid out.

When you check the fluid after refill, follow the procedure in the service manual. I think you had to check it when hot, and shift through each gear on the selector and back to park, then check the dipstick.

The differentials and transfer case have drain plugs, might as well swap out those fluids too. Don't forget about the power steering; turkey baster or other method of fluid extraction a few times with whatever Dexron VI fluid you can find on clearance will work fine. It calls for Nissan PSF or Dexron III (or Matic-D?) but I used Mobil 1 ATF in my Pathfinder without issue. You could use the Maxlife you have on hand too.
 
Last edited:
Why yes, yes it did: it has a drain plug. :)

I drained it out after changing the oil, plugged it back in and dropped the vehicle to tires touching ground. Refilled the engine oil, then got in and ran the engine long enough to run through the gears twice. Temp gauge was right below normal operating temp.

Lifted it back up and drained the transmission again; the 2nd drain looked like about half as the 1st. Refilled with about 3 1/2 quarts of Valvo MaxLife transmission fluid, checking after gear cycling each time. The fluid that came out was pretty black; although I wasn't too surprised. :(

Intended to do the transmissionfer case, but my 20 gallon drain tank was full and removing some or all was a bridge too far for today; so a battle for another day. I'm gonna need some sort of hand pump for the xfer case anyway.

Thanks for all the help and advice - I appreciate it!!!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: D60
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
NAG1 transmission fluid change
Replies
9
Views
537
Bailey28
C
Toyota CVT - critical fluid level ???
Replies
9
Views
338
The Critic
D
Sienna Trans fluid change...filter too???
Replies
10
Views
620
DanielinTheLions
M
Replacing the Manual Transmission Fluid On a 2003 Ford Focus With The SPI Engine
Replies
18
Views
516
rollins.
M
Help is it a TRANS fluid problem or worse?
2 3 4
Replies
70
Views
2K
Maddy
Back
Top Bottom