Infiniti G20 Transmission slip, Overdrive light flashing.

Have 2000 Infiniti G20, ~ 30 K miles on it.
Car was running fine, got 25 MPG all the time.
After the 30K mile service visit, the tranny started slipping.
MPG is now ~ 21 MPG. The tranny slipping is intermittent, and after a severe episode the overdrive light will flash for about 5 to 10 seconds.
Took it back to dealer. They found no problem, didn't seem to know what the flashing OD lite means, and charged $160 for a flush and fill on the tranny!

It is still happening. Called Infiniti, and they will not say what the flashing light means- must rely on dealer to diagnose problem.

for a day while they ponder the G20 problems.
The car is under warranty....

Any ideas what the story is? What does the flashing OD lite mean?

Update on G20 tranny ..
Dealer replaced the tranny control module... Still has problems.
They now "think" it is the tranny, so will install a replacement.
I am nervous with their lack of diagnostic skills!
Might have more info in a couple days.
Bob Kelly Sr. Electrical Design Engineer RF/Video/Analog San Diego, CA
" You don't always get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get!"
" When someone with experience meets someone with money, the two usually trade places!"

The transmission entered self-protection mode or safe mode. This could be triggered by overheat or slippage, etc. There are definitely problems with the transmission. OD flashing should mean the transmission control unit has detected something wrong - just like check engine light.

What did i miss here? The car is under WARRANTY, and they charged you $160 dollars and did NOT fix it? Whats wrong with this picture?
I would be on the telephone to national CUstomer service bitching up a storm. Granted, fluid changes are not a usual warranty item. But if it was changed before it normally would be to fix a problem that was under warranty, i think you might have a case for reimbursement.

Problem #2, If the dealer had no idea what the flashing light meant, they were either ignorant or trying to lie to you and make you go away. Either way, i would be finding out what the lemon laws are in your state. Do a google search and see what you find with other people having problems.

Thanks for the info. I was hoping someone had access to the service manual. I see you are an ieee memeber- I also am! The car started doing worse things this morning- got stuck in one gear for about 20 miles! ( 2nd or 3rd... not sure which.) Overdrive did not work at all. After a short stop ( 5 minutes) the car started, flashed the OD light 13 times, then ran just fine for the last mile to my office.
I think the dealer ( Discover Inf in Escondido, CA) is baffled by the intermittent nature of the problem. They ask a million "diagnostic" questions, then seem ignore the answers. Then when they can't reproduce the problem with
15 minutes of effort, they give up and go to the next vehicle.

The customer service hot line was a joke. They refused to provide any answers to questions about what the flashing OD light indicates, and said that there was no supervisor or higher authority to discuss this with! I am thinking that buying this Infiniti was a mistake. They have such a high reputation for good service... I guess that might be in other parts of the country?
Thank you again for your help!
Bob Kelly Sr. Electrical Design Engineer RF/Video/Analog San Diego, CA
" You don't always get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get!"
" When someone with experience meets someone with money, the two usually trade places!"

Approximately 8/20/03 12:15, Kellybob1 uttered for posterity:

Wonder if some genius added the wrong transmission fluid.
Does the repair bill from this service detail anything suspicious? Or a tranny adjust that busted it?

If it stayed overnight, next time you go in, ask the dealer about getting your lemon replaced if your state has a 3 strikes type lemon law.

Usually means someone is kicking the overdrive disable on and off.

Wonder if the tech boogered up the wiring to the transmission from the transmission control unit?

Or, if they dinged an internal sensor while changing the filter/fluid.

The dealer tried to pull something like this on my I30t when it was still in warranty ("Well we can't find anything wrong, but maybe if you buy this expensive service it will fix the problem...". You didn't by any chance take it to Crest in Plano, Tx?

The fix was to take it to a different dealer who diagnosed the problem immediately and fixed it under warranty, without trying to sell me anything.

The flashing overdrive light means the transmission failed its self-test. As
I look through the service manual for an '02, it looks like most of the conditions that set a flashing OD light are electrical problems (wrong voltage reading from some sensor). The manual also says the code is stored in the OBD-II as well and they should have been able to read it out.

These guys (your dealer) are a bunch of Bozos. Find a different dealer.

Ever since my alternator burned up and I replaced it I have been having the same problem you describe. Therefore I would expect it to be an electronic probelm. If you ever find out what the deal is maybe it will be a common problem for all g20s.

Greetings Fireriders, welcome to the Forum !

You replied to a rather old thread, but I hope that someone can give you some information.

Glad you joined us...

Have a good Day !
S.W.

I realized that the thread was old but I need the info as I am having a real bad time with my tranny after the alternator was changed. I was hopeing that someone had a current idea. Thanks.

if my memory serves me correctly i think infiniti has a seperate transmission control module.other the ecm.you have to consult a shop manual or ask dealer.alternater will damage this module.most cars do not have this volvo bmw and one other model has a seperate shift control mod.

this car has a correct name infiniti. its the biggest piece of junk that ever left the assembly line my sister had one.i go so pist off at it personnally went and bought her a new saturn paid cash and gave to her for free so i could get rid of that infiniti and finally got piece and quit from fix fix fix get it..so from assembly line to infiniti exactly where it belongs.along with chrysler products.which uses galant engine and transmission electrical system dodge caravan ,plymouth voyagers has so many problems the also are junk from get go.

Post edited by: hobbist, at: 2008/09/29 02:19