Smoke from shift-knob!

[dragon240sx]

Hey all, I have a 96 240sx (5-speed) and today while driving into town I noticed smoke rising from the shift-knob area...also I could smell what I assume is transmission fluid. I remember someone posted about this one time before but I can't seem to find the thread now so could anyone help me out with what the problem is? Thanks!

[Kid Zelda]

Ususally when this occurs.......the problem is that the seals on the transmission are leaky, causing the fluid to drip onto the exhaust, which would cause the smoke.

hope that helps

[alchemist]

ditto.  How many miles are on your trans.  Thats not a very common problem on the s14

[dragon240sx]

It's a 96 but already has 125,000 miles on it. Today was the first time I've noticed the smoke...so is this an easy problem to fix?

[BoostDynamics]

Actually I had this same problem on my S13 when I first got it and thought it was something burning in the engine bay and creeping up in the cabin but I came to find out that if the lower boot that covers the bottom of the shfiter ontop of the tranny is busted up you will get some of the burnoff out of the tranny, the boot is like 8 bucks from Nissan and doesn't take much to get it installed just a couple of wire ties.  Yank off your shifter knob and boot, then take off the 2nd boot that reveals the bottom of the shifter, look at the very bottom and see if that boot is shredded, if it is then there is a 99% chance that's where the smoke is coming from.

[HippoSleek]

Great reply Louis!!

- I've had this problem (not the smoke, but the smell), heard this solution, but was always too lazy to look at it - thinking it was more work/$$ then necessary considering I plan a swap in spring. &nbsp;With that explanation, I may just have to fix it <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[silvia240]

i have the same problem, still havent gotton around to look at it but i have a 95 with 66,000 miles. Let me know wat you did to fix it when you do. thanks

[radhaz]

I know this is a dead thread but I just noticed smoke coming from the boot last night while driving home. I took off the trim panel and confirmed it was coming from the center of the boot, I didn't think to take off that boot to look for another one inside.

My question is, if it is the second boot that is shot, will a short shifter kit include the necessary boot? I had plans on doing this already so it would be logical to just knock it out now if that's what it takes. Thanks for the responses.

[radhaz]

:aw: I'm sure someone here has installed a short shifter (B&M preferably) that can answer this question, any help would be appreciated.

[Muzzy]

hey alchemist is it common in S13??

[MorganS13]

Originally posted by Muzzy
hey alchemist is it common in S13??
i'm not sure about the B&M but for my OBX the boot would not fit right so its not fully in place and i have the nice sweet smell of redline tranny fluid cruising on the highway, i think it adds character ;) it'll get fixed soon enough once i find something to attach the bottom of the boot to the shifter plate