V35 Issue

[newv35owner]

Hi,

I have recently purchased a 2003 V35 Skyline 350 GT-8. Have found it to be a fantastic car to own but we continually have this same issue.

The car will go into failsafe mode after it has been driven for about 20-30 mins in warmer weather (being in SA this is a problem).

After almost four weeks at the mechanics with them trying to get the car to play up whilst hooked up to a computer, we have finally diagnosed the problem.

The Input Shaft Sensor for the gearbox requires replacement.

Now the next issue, nobody seems to know where it is!

This is my last resort, head to where all the passionate skyline owners are! So, please, please, please help me so I can get my car back! Does anyone know where the Input Shaft Sensor is located on the V35 CVT 8 speed?

[Chris Rogers]

seems I spoke to a shop about this today. they never came back to me with a chassis number.

get me that (and a model number ) or build plate and I will hit FAST for you. from there I can tell via diagram where it is supposed to be and source the part.

for future reference I do electrical only and not gearboxes - this is aimed at whoever had this shop call me..

[Nightcrawler]

Sorry to tell you mate, but you are 6 ways to screwed.

I bought a V35 sedan a couple of years ago on Ebay from Melbourne. While they were fixing up a few things for me before I flew over from Adelaide to pick it up, it developed the same fault you have.

3 weeks later the sensor came from Japan, then it cost $1,000 worth of fluid when they changed it, only for another sensor to give a fault once they got it all back together. Another 2 weeks to get a different sensor out of Japan, and the car was fine for a week or them driving it around (to get paint touched up, seat tear fixed and to make sure the trans was now 100%). THEN on a 1 hour drive it went into limp mode and a different sensor had gone. They had spent over $2k including fluids to fix it so far, and at that point I decided to not take delivery of the car and quit the deal (luckily I hadn't actually paid them any money at that point). The seller told me he was going to part the car out and not try to fix it again, as advice he had was that once a sensor has gone, they all go and are endless trouble.

There is a reason everyone hates the CVT and keeps as far away from it as possible ....

Ring Mike at MV Automatics at Blackwood - he would be the only mechanic in SA that has touched one.

[Chris Rogers]

which I believe was the shop that rang me.

andrew is right though.

[Nightcrawler]

Ah, well if Mike doesn't know then you are even more screwed .... sorry for the bad news.

I looked at buying a black 4 door from Synergy (I am hoping that is not the one you bought - as it was a major rear end accident repair) - and I love how the GT8 drives and feels WAY more powerful than it actually is, BUT I just couldn't come to terms with the risk that if the trans shat itself you can basically throw the car away.

Apparently putting a normal V35 auto trans in isn't a MAJOR deal (but obviously would cost quite a few thousand), but I can't see how the ECU would deal with it. Maybe you would have to buy one of Mike''s manual change kits - where the trans is NEVER full auto, you ALWAYS have to change gears.

[zei20l]

RWD RE5 transmission + new engine loom + TCU and youre away.......

[newv35owner]

I wish I had found this forum before we bought the car! We bought privately, so not the same one that you were looking at.

I will get the chassis number and details of the car to you Chris so that we can see what can be done. If I can get the car running right, I will be one very happy chappy. I just hope that this is all that goes wrong with it.

We are now thinking that the guy new that this was the issue with it when we bought it. Duped big time!

[..350GT8..]

The input shaft speed sensor is located on the driver side of the gear box.. Some where between the front and middle if the box.. Ad slightly higher to reach..

It's a little magnetic pick up sensor and exactly same as the vehicle speed sensor which is located at the back of the box.. In fact u an actually swap the sensors around to he'll u diagnose problem.. And don't worry u don not lose oil replacing these sensors..

And the sensors are worth around 300 bux and u shoul be able to order these from you local Nissan dealer.. Just give them u chassis number and they will bring it up.. But make sure u exaggerate to them that it's for a cvt box..

[..350GT8..]

Sorry about the typo in previous post.. I'm using my iphone.. Hope my info can help

[newv35owner]

Thanks everybody for the advise. Before replacing the gearbox we want to try and fix this issue. Its otherwise a great car as all who own a V53 know.

We also found a workshop manual from the states for the car too, downloaded for a cost. It has said that the symptoms and the computer diagnosis point to one of the following:

- dirty connection of the wiring to the sensor

- loose wiring connecting to the sensor

- the sensor itself

- or last but not least (and the most expensive) gearbox service

If anybody requires a copy of the workshop manual let me know, I can copy onto a disk and send through. (only cost will be disk/casing and postage)

[newv35owner]

sorry typo

V35

[zei20l]

when it works, the CVT is a fantastic box

if its as simple as that to fix, then i hope thats all it is! youll certainly enjoy driving it

[..350GT8..]

the CVT box is a great box..!!! drives beautifully and smoothly.. just try and replace the sensor.. its roughly about $300.. and i thinks its worth a try before you actually go and change the actual gearbox.. which will cost you so much more...

[zei20l]

i agree, its easier to change that sensor than replacing the box.

[BarcodeBob]

I had the same problem on our 2002 350GT-8 sedan and spent 7 or 8 months trying to fix it and just about gave up. Someone on here had a similar problem to me but not identical and they replaced one of the speed sensors.

My problem occurred an a warm day but the CVT worked perfectly well in cool weather. After driving for about 25 to 30kms the CVT would go into limp mode as some would call it but actually got stuck in 3rd gear. Our car would give a very slight miss now and then before the problem occurred and then the tacho would go to about 4000 and you were history. If you stopped and let it cool down for 15 minutes you were usually right to go again and strangely many times it did not happen again unless it was a very hot day.

Anyhow to cut a long story short: I decided to try replacing a speed sensor so brought one and while the car was being serviced I asked my mechanic to replace one of the sensors. He replaced the front one and 3 or 4 days later I drove about 30kms and the problem happened again. I went back to my mechanic and got him to put the old sensor back in the front and replace the rear one. That was about a month ago and I've had a few long trips in very warm weather and it works a treat. So at last the problem is fixed.

Some people say the sensors are on the side of the box and that is what i told my mechanic but after the first fitting he told me the sensors are on the front and rear of the box.

I bought my sensor from www.nissanparts.com.au via a contact form on their site but when I try to go there now my anti-virus kicks up a stink. Anyhow, the email I received was from Gary Smith on [email protected]

The part is a Sensor Assy part # 31935-5P002 and it cost me $220 delivered.

Edited January 22, 2012 by BarcodeBob