Transmission problem after hitting pothole?

Question

I was driving on 75 south, and I hit a big pothole. immediately after, my 99 Infiniti QX4 started driving funny. I pulled over, and turned my car off. When I started it back up, it wouldn't go anywhere when I shifted into reverse. I got it towed, and the place took a quick look, said it was the transmission (they don't do those). I then took it to a transmission place, who said that "Infiniti transmissions are built like a puzzle, and would have to take the whole thing apart to find the problem." He said it could be $2,000-$4,000, but didn't know what the problem was. Any ideas as to what this could be, and what I should do? Could it be a simple fix such as the linkage? Thanks!

Answer 1

You really should find all the trans shops in the area and call some of them to discuss what happened and get quotes for diagnosing the problem and general price quotes for repairs. Ask if they have done repairs to an Infinity AWD with a broken transmission before, ask if they have seen a highway surface impact (pothole) cause a transmission fail before. If you get a yes, ask what that problem turned out to be - what broke, why did a road impact break that part?



You should be able to locate a transmission specialist you feel comfortable with by making phone calls. Obviously you are not comfortable with what you hav been told so far, and neither am I. It is definitely going elsewhere for repairs. Only question is, where to?



I have never seen a road surface impact break a transmission. Not even hitting curbs and speed bumps at high speed. Leaking transmission pan, yes. Damaged output shaft seal, yes. Damaged Universal Joints, yes. Broken Shifter linkage - YES - And that one even fits your description....hmmm. But have I seen or ever heard of the machine internals on an auto transmission getting broken by hitting a killer bump or hole. Nope. Never. If you had a massive fluid leak, I'm guessing you would have smelled it or noticed the transmission pump gurgling loudly as it cavitates due to loss of fluid. Likewise a bad U-Joint makes a god-awful noise, and I'guessing you would have said something about that. Shifter linkage, though - yeh could be.



And guess what repairig the shifter linkage costs. Not $2000 to $4000. Wanna try something like $350 to $600 ? That would be my guestimate.

Answer 2

I took the time to look up the age and expected miles on this super vehicle, the Infinti QX4. At sixteen years of service, perhaps seventeen years, this 4 x 4 truck based vehicle must have over 200,000 miles in the odometer. It is probable that you are not releasing additional information as to prior issues. It is probable that the suspension components such as shocks and springs, not to mention engine mounts, have not been serviced, The pothole you report on an Interstate, I-75, a road that travels from the northern border of the USA in Michigan to Florida, could not have been this bad otherwise the road would be closed. Besides, drivers that pay attention manage to avoid such potholes. I know I do. In any case, that jarring impact may have been the coup de grace on a worn, tired and in all probability, not serviced transmission. Things in cars wear out. If your reaction is to post a text message rather than to seek another opinion, well, that tells me the rest of the story. That is that you cannot afford this repair. Using another angle, I wonder if your auto insurance could cover this damage. Might be unlikely, but there is no cost in filing a claim. As to the vehicle, it seems the repair is more than the value of the unit. This means you need to procure another vehicle and send the QX4 to the junk yard. I drove a 2003 QX4 to 100,000 miles without a stich of problem. At 90,000 miles we went on a western states tour loggin over 4,000 miles. Even at 11,000 feet in Colorado with our gear this vehicle did not even hinted to any issues. Too bad Infiniti did not continue this extremely successful model. Its replacement, the QX 50 was not that good of a vehicle. Sorry but that is my best assessment of your situation based on your text message.

Answer 3

seems more like an axle problem than a transmission problem. i doubt hitting a pothole no matter how hard it was would damage a transmission but an axle which is connected to it could be damaged

Answer 4

Did you damage the car that they noted? Did you shake loose the shift cable holder?

I think a trans shop or your dealer should be your diagnoser unless you can see the manual lever and watch it operate as a helper tries all trans ranges.A shift cable can get broken or messed up at the shifter end too.

TSB issues would be known to your technician if he is at the dealer or a trans shop. Obvious damage or leakage was not mentioned, nor the fluid level.

You should inspect for signs of obvious external issues with a hose or connector. You can run codes with a code reader.

Since the shop you went to can't diag a trans,

AAA will tow you on to get accurate diag if you push it out along the curb to a parking spot.

Answer 5

Sounds like typical "got us one here boys!" BS to me. Personally I would get at least 2 more opinions. I don't know what State you're in but a quick Car-Partdotcom search listed 2 Transmission with 135k miles for $500.00 with a warranty within 50 miles of my house in Missouri. You can enter your exact location and it will list closest to you, miles on transmission etc. according to what you select. I would get the lowest mileage one personally and get a reputable shop to replace it before I would pay 2-4k for a rebuilt one.

Answer 6

No one is going to give you anything other than a non-fixed ESTIMATE for the problem at this point as they need to first find the fault which in itself is going to be a cost.

Hopefully, as in the UK, you will be able to go get photos of the pothole and claim costs back from the organisation responsible for road maintenance.

Answer 7

Hi find a different transmission shop those guys are a joke.. ALL automatic transmissions are built like a puzzle.. and any rebuilt transmission is from 1,500 to 2,500 to repair. find a different shop

good luck

tim

Answer 8

go somewhere else, its very easy to get scammed out of money for a transmission issue. if they say they have ti take it apart to find the problem, then go somewhere else. the proper mechanic should be able to evaluate and diagnose the vehicle and then give you an estimate. and diagnostic fee's are normally under $100.

Answer 9

An OBD2 code check will probably debunk the kneejerk diagnoses you've gotten. I wish I could look at it myself. Probably knocked loose a wire or an atf cooler line which allowed all the fluid to be pumped out in a jiffy.

Answer 10

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Answer 11

In UK you might have a case against the Highways Department of your local District Council

Answer 12

Your windshield washer fluid should clear out your transmission for you. If not, you need to add more.

Answer 13

leaking trans pan all the fluid leaked out trans no go



trans drove with no fluid...no good



replace pan and gasket fill with trans fluid and drive.



if it slips you will need to get it rebuilt in the meantime youcan drive till it stops



revers is the 1st gear to stop working when a tranny is completlyfailing

Answer 14

find second opinion. ATRA.COM you can find local shop for a guesstimate on repair. and the transmission isn't that bad

Answer 15

If you take pictures of pot hole and report this to the city they are liable! its a long process but it may be worth it in the end....

Answer 16

My first thought is: what did it do to the suspension of the wheel(s) that hit the hole.

Answer 17

Hi get a life sunshine this hit a pot hole at speed it does damage fact so broken wheel is the least damage the worst is broken transmission parts. so yes it is the later most likely. so yes it needs fixing otherwise you could so easily be involved in another accident.

Answer 18

yes