MajorCommonTransmission

Nissan Cedric: Aged 4-speed JATCO automatic slips, flares and engages late

Aged 4-speed JATCO automatic slips, flares and engages late is a common transmission fault on the Nissan Cedric on the 1995–2004 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $2,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 9 documented faults on the Nissan Cedric.

Vehicle: Nissan Cedric
Years: 1995–2004
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: auto
System: Transmission

This page covers the Nissan Cedric as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Nissan Cedric faults9 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Clutch yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The Cedric runs a JATCO RE4R01A-family 4-speed automatic behind the V6. The gearbox itself is robust, but these are almost all high-mileage ex-fleet and commuter imports where the fluid has cooked and the clutch packs are worn. That shows up as slipping or flaring between gears, delayed engagement into Drive or Reverse, and harsh or hunting shifts. Burnt or dark fluid and a neglected cooler accelerate the wear, and a full rebuild is the usual fix once it starts.

What you would notice

Engine revs flare without matching acceleration on the change
Several-second delay before Drive or Reverse engages
Harsh, jerky or hunting gear changes
Burnt-smelling or dark automatic transmission fluid

How to check it

Where to look. Automatic transmission behind the engine, driving the rear wheels

On a road test feel every shift for slip, flare and delayed engagement from cold and hot.
Check the ATF colour and smell on the dipstick for burnt fluid, and confirm the cooler and fluid have been serviced.
Listen for whine that rises with road speed.

Parts involved: Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$2,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“When was the transmission fluid last changed?”
“Does it ever slip or delay when shifting hot?”
“Has the gearbox been rebuilt or the cooler serviced?”

Now check the Nissan Cedric you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

JDMBUYSELL Nissan Cedric Y34 and Y33 Buyer's Guides (jdmbuysell.com)
Go4Trans RE4R01A transmission problems reference (shop.go4trans.com)
Automatic Transmission Australia - Jatco RE4R01A rebuild page (automatictransmission.com.au)

Nissan Cedric buyer questions

Is aged 4-speed jatco automatic slips, flares and engages late serious on a Nissan Cedric?

We rate it major and common on the Nissan Cedric. The Cedric runs a JATCO RE4R01A-family 4-speed automatic behind the V6. The gearbox itself is robust, but these are almost all high-mileage ex-fleet and commuter imports where the fluid has cooked and the clutch packs are worn. That shows up as slipping or flaring between gears, delayed engagement into Drive or Reverse, and harsh or hunting shifts. Burnt or dark fluid and a neglected cooler accelerate the wear, and a full rebuild is the usual fix once it starts.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Cedric?

$2,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Nissan Cedric years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1995–2004 Nissan Cedric. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

On a road test feel every shift for slip, flare and delayed engagement from cold and hot. Check the ATF colour and smell on the dipstick for burnt fluid, and confirm the cooler and fluid have been serviced. Listen for whine that rises with road speed. Look here: Automatic transmission behind the engine, driving the rear wheels