huntxterra
Test Drive
- Location
- Utah
I bought a 2005 4x4 auto Xterra (Sierra the Xterra) with 175,000 miles a year ago for my 16 year old daughter. Immediately had to replace all 4 catalytic converters and as a precaution, I replaced the radiator. Sierra had lots of power, engine purred, and drove well BUT the tranny went out. The AC doesn't work and the body has a few dents. I'm trying to assess if I put more $$ into it. The transmission shop I pulled it to says water got to the tranny CPU and wiped it out...."your tranny has seen better days and needs to be replaced." After already investing $1200-1500 in Sierra, I can't justify to my wife another $3500 to put in a remanufactured transmission. Wife wants to cut our losses and scrap it. I've done a lot of auto mechanic work on my own vehicles over the years. I"m 54 years old, grew up on a farm in Quincy, Washington, and my dad taught me to repair cars. But I've never replaced a transmission or rebuilt an engine.
I'm wondering about getting a used transmission from a junkyard. The junkyard I called said that only 2005 transmissions are compatible with our 2005.
To avoid SMOD damage, are trannys from 2012-2015 compatible with our 2005 Xterra? Or if not, can minor mods be done to make it work? The task of pulling a transmission from a junkyard car seems daunting to me but if I had a moderate chance of success, I would consider it. Are there grease monkeys hanging around junkyards that would be willing to pull the tranny for me for a moderate price? The transmission shop quoted $1000-1200 to install a used transmission.
My daughter really enjoyed racing around in sturdy safe Sierra the Xterra.
What advice do you Xterrans offer?
I'm wondering about getting a used transmission from a junkyard. The junkyard I called said that only 2005 transmissions are compatible with our 2005.
To avoid SMOD damage, are trannys from 2012-2015 compatible with our 2005 Xterra? Or if not, can minor mods be done to make it work? The task of pulling a transmission from a junkyard car seems daunting to me but if I had a moderate chance of success, I would consider it. Are there grease monkeys hanging around junkyards that would be willing to pull the tranny for me for a moderate price? The transmission shop quoted $1000-1200 to install a used transmission.
My daughter really enjoyed racing around in sturdy safe Sierra the Xterra.
What advice do you Xterrans offer?