My son recently got scammed on a truck. Long story short, it's got a 2017 transmission in it. I've heard that the only difference in the two is the valve bodies.
I need to know, if there's a way to make that transmission work in that truck. It drives, but when it shifts it feels like it's going to sling the driveshaft out.

If a valve body swap is possible, does the tcm need to be replaced for a 2017 version or a reprogramming of the existing one???

I don't know hardly anything about nissans in the first place, but very mechanically inclined. Just wanting to know if it's possible and cheaper/more convient, or if I just need to get a 2007 transmission for it...

Thanks in advance for any enlightenment

Welcome to Club Frontier!!! Sorry to hear about your son getting scammed. From what I know, Nissan uses the RE5RO5A transmission in the 2nd Generation Frontier pickup. My fellow Club Frontier members will correct me if I'm wrong, but Nissan also shares that same transmission with the 2nd Generation Xterras & Pathfinders - they all share the same platform. Nissan did this to save on production costs. The attached YouTube video might help you in determining what valve body is in the transmission now.

One thing to consider though, is the 2017 transmission set up to work with a 07 Frontier Engine Control Module? You can download a copy of the Nissan Factory Service Manual from any one of the attached three weblinks for both the 07 model year & 17 model year. You'll just have to figure out by reading the FSM if there was any substantial changes in the transmission between the years.

Oh, can you clarify if your 07 Frontier came with the 4 cylinder QR25DE motor or the 6 cylinder VQ40DE motor. If it came with the 4 cylinder QR25DE then your transmission is NOT gonna be the RE5RO5A tranmission - those only came in the 6 cylinder model.

Here's the links for the Nissan FSM:

Nissan Service Manuals - NICOclub

NICOclub.com purchases, downloads, and maintains a comprehensive directory of Nissan Factory Service Manuals for use by our registered members. While we wouldn’t prevent anyone from using this information, we’d hope you would appreciate our efforts enough to frequent the forums here, rather than...

www.nicoclub.com

Nissan Frontier repair manual free download PDF | Car Manuals Club

Nissan Frontier 2000 - 2019: repair manuals, wiring diagrams and owners manuals - more than 250 manuals for free download.

carmanualsclub.com

https://cardiagn.com/nissan/frontier/

FYI:...there's PLENTY of videos on the RE5RO5A transmission on YouTube in case you want to learn more about them.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=re5r05a+transmission

Hope this helps! Good Luck!!

 

Thank you, it's the 6 cylinder engine

 

The transmission is physically the same, but it does have to be programmed to the truck. I would take it in to the local Nissan Dealer and have them update it and then take the time to do the transmission service yourself. Thankfully the service is easy to do

 

They did. They're the ones that said that the whole transmission would have to be changed because it couldn't be programmed to that truck

 

Nissan of Athens is where the truck was taken. And so do you know a part number on the correct valve body? And is that the only thing that has to be done is swapping the valve bodies out? No reprogramming or anything needed?

 

Nomater what you still.have to program it

 

Ok, does anyone know the part number for the valve body I'm needing?

 

This is a question for the dealer. Make sure you give them your VIN number. Without that they will not be able to tell you the correct part number. The dealership will also have to do the programming with the valve body in the truck which means you're going to have to have them install it.

 

They did. They're the ones that said that the whole transmission would have to be changed because it couldn't be programmed to that truck

Nissan of Athens is where the truck was taken. And so do you know a part number on the correct valve body? And is that the only thing that has to be done is swapping the valve bodies out? No reprogramming or anything needed?

Sorry about the delayed response but I found some additional information that you might find useful.

If it is the Nissan Dealership doing the work, they don't want to bother with trying to troubleshoot the issue with the current transmission in the truck now. It's cheaper AND faster for the Dealership just to pull it all out & replace it with the "correct" transmission.

You might have better luck with an "independent" transmission shop to fix what you have in there now but you're gonna have to find one that the experience, expertise AND knows how to work on the RE5R05A transmission. This RE5R05A transmission is NOT an easy transmission to rebuild / fix / get working right, (See three links below), The independent shop might have to tear everything apart & start from scratch.

WHOMEVER does the work, best you print out the attached three links, take the printouts with you & discuss this matter with the person doing the repair. If they are experienced & knowledgeable about the RE5R05A transmission, they'll already know what you are talking about in these printouts.

Understanding Nissan’s RE5R05A Transmission

Gears Magazine - The Nissan RE5R05A is Getting Old!

A look at an uncommon problem with a common unit The RE5R05A made its debut in 2002 in the Infiniti Q45. Since then, it’s become standard equipment, an automatic rear wheel drive transmission found in most models for Nissan and Infiniti. Variants of this unit are found in some Kia and Subaru...

gearsmagazine.com

https://atracom.blob.core.windows.net/gears/2011/2011-04/2011_4_4.pdf

 

A while back I had researched this for another CF member that was in need of a replacement transmission and it seemed like there was a range of different part numbers for specific years, options for remanufactured transmissions were as follows through Advance Auto, be aware this may have currently changed:
05-08
09-13
14-15
16-19
There were some other members that reported to have installed used and reman transmissions out of newer years that didn't shift correctly until they installed original TCM from their older model into the newer transmission, which makes me think that if you could get the TCM/valve body from the original transmission of that 2007, and transplant it back into the 2017 transmission, it should work since you would have the factory programming for the 2007 in. Or you could look for a replacement TCM for your 2007, install it and then take the whole truck to Nissan Dealer to have it mated to your truck's VIN. Dorman Products seems to carry reman TCMs and it seems they are year specific and vary depending if truck is RWD or 4WD, you can go check on their website.
(609-255 for RWD; V6 4.0L) or (609-254 for 4WD; V6 4.0L)
Another option is to contact company below, seems they sell reman TCMs and can even send them to you already programmed to your VIN:
Remanufactured RE5R05A Valve Bodies | Street Smart® Transmission (streetsmarttransmission.com)