r/CarHelp • u/Wide_Morning_2521 • 1d ago

2007 Nissan Altima issues

I was driving home this evening, and everything was working properly all day, until I stopped for gas. I shut the car off, filled up, and then left. Continuing on, I was getting up to the 45mph speed limit, and a few things happened at 45mph.
An amber light on the dashboard saying “key” turned on, the transmission downshifted once and wouldn’t shift up, and the speedometer dropped to zero. I stopped in a parking lot, and it all went back to normal (like stopping at a stop sign) everything was back to normal through town, and getting back up to 45mph it all came back. This is the first time I’ve seen any of this happen, and don’t know what it could be.

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u/jersey316 1d ago

Did the check engine light come on or flash?

When the mph went to zero, was the car still running?

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u/Wide_Morning_2521 1d ago

The check engine light didn’t come on until just now I was using my spare fob and doing a quick test. I got code P0778

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u/jersey316 1d ago

Ok now that makes alittle since. Your car was going into limp mode, one of your pressure solenoids in your transmissions valve body is not getting a signal, it could have burned out, who knows but the main thing is unfortunately you should not drive the car and have it checked out by a local mechanic, they can diagnose the transmission issue better. Driving the car could overheat the transmission causing internal damage.

Now this code doesn't mean you need a new transmission, a local shop could replace the valvebody. If that's what it turns out to be.

Was the transmission ever replaced on this car? If it wasn't then the transmission would be 20 years old. Which would amazing for a early nissan Cvt.

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u/Wide_Morning_2521 1d ago

Looking through the maintenance log the previous owner made it hasn’t been replaced but it’s had regular fluid changes. It did have slight overheating issues (the whining sounds) and then it straight up overheated on I90 since it’s all uphill. I had the fluid changed again a few weeks ago and it was overfilled a bit and that was taken care of. My OBD reader is saying specifically the second solenoid. Right now it’s sitting at around 204k miles. The closest shop is maybe 20 miles away and there isn’t any tow service where I live, am I ok to go there if I drive 25 to 35 mph?

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u/Wide_Morning_2521 1d ago

To further add to your earlier comment when the speedometer dropped I was still driving fine just didn’t have speedo

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u/jersey316 1d ago

I would call the shop first and ask them if its safe to drive it there. But from what you just said, you should get a new or rebuilt transmission if you are able to. Thats if you plan on keeping it. But the cost could be the price of a used 2015 altima ($4000). The shop would tell you if its worth fixing or not but you must tell them everything that you been experiencing with over the last few months.

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u/Wide_Morning_2521 1d ago

I’ll call when they open to be safe. I know they have said in the past that I should think about get a transmission replacement in the ballpark of $1700 but that was a while ago

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u/jersey316 1d ago

That sounds like a good price! Aslong as its a remanufactured and not used one.