Today I noticed a transmission fluid leak on both of the transmission fluid lines leading to the transcooler of my 2004 Nissan 350Z. The lines were grated because they were tightened too much and it damaged the integrity of the lines. I replaced the lines myself because it didnt require a lift or too many tools to do, and was trying not to tighten them up too much like an auto shop did which grated the fluid lines in the first place. Well, at first I didnt tighten them enough but I quickly shut my car off and topped off the matic s again, and I wasn't spewing tranny fluid anymore. Then, because I wanted a reason to keep the fluids circulating I figured, since I was soon going to need an oil change, I could go and drive my car, with the new lines on to get it done quick before the shops close, because I dont have tools with me to do oil changes right now(yes I know...) Well, I didnt see any problems until after the oil change... My car wouldnt start at the shop. There was no trail of fluid, my lines weren't leaking, spewing, or flinging tranny fluid everywhere, it just wouldnt start. After I got back to the hotel as I was backing my car up(because it finally started) it jumped for the first time which immediately was a red flag with me knowing there was still a issue with the transmission, and I saw a trail of transmission fluid leading up to where I parked. My temp levels and every readout for the car was fine, but I could feel a gust of really hot air on the engine, hotter then usual. I knew the transmission fluid was low. I checked for the leak, and the problem connection I had earlier was the same issue, so I tightened it up some more. I had three more quarts of Matic S on me, gave my car a rough start and put them all in the transmission fluid bay. I keep trying to check the level of the transmission fluid but it is soo light of a fluid that I cant even tell what the level is. The dipstick pretty much just turns completely shiny, so my question is this. When you have issues with turning on your car because the transmission fluid is so low, and you cant see the fluid on the dipstick because I guess I might be colorblind enough to miss it, then how many quarts should I estimate that my car needs? To reiterate, my car didnt start once, then it drove rough towards the end of my trip but it turned on after being driven(not easily). Roughly how many quarts would be left in the transmission system for these to be the issues im having? If it was completely dry I would think that it wouldnt start at all, or drive at all. I feel horrible about asking all this but I really cant see the fluid level with complete daylight directly shining on it, the entire dipstick just gets like a clear looking gloss over it.

 

Sound like it might be overfilled. If you replaced the lines, you might have needed about 1/2 a quart to top it off. If you put 3 quarts in, that's way too much. A complete drain and fill only takes about 4 to 5 quarts.

 

Silent, the Matic S is a clear synthetic trans fluid, so I can see why you are having trouble seeing it on the dipstick. (Nissan sucks at making easy to read dipsticks. Typically the best way to see the level is to shine a small flashlight directly at the end of the dipstick. Shifting the angle of the light slightly will highlight the top edge of the wet line on the stick. One other way is to place the end of the dipstick on a white piece of paper. The wetted portion of the dipstick will leave a distinctive stain on the paper.

I don’t think there is any connection between being a little low on fluid and having difficulty starting the engine. I would think them to be two separate problems.

 

All Matic fluids are red.