[JEJump]

hey bro I just got a p1777 yesterday and I'm freaking out because they told me the exact same thing for my car I have a 08 Altima too but noticed that the 2008 one wasn't on there are the other ones a good substitute

Yeah, I'm still without my JX35 Infiniti for the moment. I never got a part number for the stepper motor, but I did find the valve body for sale on eBay. To look at the photo of it, it almost appears that there is no stepper motor there. Maybe that's why I can't figure out the stepper part number. Anyway, I can have a new valve body assembly for around $400. That, plus the cost of jack stands plus the cost of a replacement oil/filter will still be WAY cheaper than any option Infiniti will give me. I figure there's not much to lose trying to fix it myself. I've watched enough YouTubers change theirs on various Nissans/Infinitis that I feel comfortable giving it a go. I'm no mechanic, but I'm not mechanically stupid either.

Luckily, I have two more vehicles to drive!

John

 

[ylexot]

I'm not sure if Benzolorenzo1 active anymore, but I'll take a stab at some of the comments, as I've been immersed in this for the past couple months.

The stepper motor is tied to a ratio control valve on top of the valve body. In my case, I got code P1778 and the car performed like it was stuck in a high gear. It can get stuck in any gear ratio. I replaced the valve body myself (which includes a new stepper motor) and got past that particular issue (although I had other issues). The ratio control valve was stuck on mine, so it didn't allow the stepper motor to move and do what it needed to do (change the ratio in order to "shift gears").

If your car is stuck in that one ratio and isn't just sometimes getting stuck, then my best guess at solutions are:

A) Take the valve body off and see if it is the motor or the ratio control valve next to it. The valve is spring loaded. If you are able to push the rod for that valve in and have it spring back, then my guess would be that it is the stepper motor and you could just buy that and replace it.

B) If it is the ratio control valve, then I suppose there is a chance you could disassemble it and see if you could get it to move freely. I couldn't find the parts online to replace the parts for the ratio control valve, but if anyone knows of a source, I'd like to have that.

C) You can buy a whole different valve body, which includes the stepper motor and ratio control valve. The reason I did this is because I figured a car with 120K miles probably could benefit from a remanufactured valve body, where the solenoids and other valves had been cleaned and tested and replaced with other parts that were operating at spec.

How did you make out with your valve body replacement? I'm getting ready to do it as well. One question, did you have to get the TCM reprogrammed before driving after installing the new one?

 

[Ase Mosley]

About 6 months ago I received the death code P1778 (stepper motor) in my 2008 Altima. I searched far and wide, low and high, only to be told 2 things... you need a new transmission, or you need a new valve body. since I didn't have $2500 for a new trans, let alone $800 for the valve body I decided to look into this a little further. watched a youtube video the only one I could find was a Nissan armada, but thought what the hell. I drained the fluid, dropped the pan, yanked out the valve body, and found that little bastard that gave me such trouble.

now with part in hand I went to my local parts store, and told we don't sell that part, its not even in our system... went to the dealership, told the same thing and was told I needed to buy a new transmission as they are not "serviceable" funny but I had the part in hand, how can it be not serviceable?

lastly I took a gamble, I went to ebay, ordered a stepper motor. 20k miles later, still no code, no whine, and no lock up. here is how I saved thousands and bought a $35 part.

1)drain fluid.
2)drop pan (clean with brake cleaner)
3)remove the 3 bolts holding filter. (clean with brake cleaner while your at it)
4)remove the valve body about 11 bolts
5)remove the stepper motor from the top of the valvebody (the side you can't see with the pan off) 2 bolts
6)replace with the new stepper motor found here JF011E RE0F10E F1CJA Transmission CVT Stepper Motor For SENTRAN Nissan Dodge | eBay
7)take a piece of dental floss about a foot long and hold the spring loaded arm back against the stepper motor and return the valve body back to the transmission.
8)after you have a few bolts in place remove the floss before you tighten all the way.
9)reconnect trans filter and bolt back into place.
10)rejoin the fluid pan to the transmission and replace with quality cvt fluid. Amsoil makes a great product.

I hope this helps and if you have questions please feel free to ask.

Outstanding my good man you did a great job! I just replace my valve body today, come to find out my stepper motor control arm wasn’t locked in place all the way. So, I’m gonna have to retrace my steps with a small allen wrench or a skinny screwdriver again… But, I didn’t think about the whole dental floss thang😲 👏🏾NICE!!💯
🤙🏾😎🤙🏾

 

[Mmonte]

About 6 months ago I received the death code P1778 (stepper motor) in my 2008 Altima. I searched far and wide, low and high, only to be told 2 things... you need a new transmission, or you need a new valve body. since I didn't have $2500 for a new trans, let alone $800 for the valve body I decided to look into this a little further. watched a youtube video the only one I could find was a Nissan armada, but thought what the hell. I drained the fluid, dropped the pan, yanked out the valve body, and found that little bastard that gave me such trouble.

now with part in hand I went to my local parts store, and told we don't sell that part, its not even in our system... went to the dealership, told the same thing and was told I needed to buy a new transmission as they are not "serviceable" funny but I had the part in hand, how can it be not serviceable?

lastly I took a gamble, I went to ebay, ordered a stepper motor. 20k miles later, still no code, no whine, and no lock up. here is how I saved thousands and bought a $35 part.

1)drain fluid.
2)drop pan (clean with brake cleaner)
3)remove the 3 bolts holding filter. (clean with brake cleaner while your at it)
4)remove the valve body about 11 bolts
5)remove the stepper motor from the top of the valvebody (the side you can't see with the pan off) 2 bolts
6)replace with the new stepper motor found here JF011E RE0F10E F1CJA Transmission CVT Stepper Motor For SENTRAN Nissan Dodge | eBay
7)take a piece of dental floss about a foot long and hold the spring loaded arm back against the stepper motor and return the valve body back to the transmission.
8)after you have a few bolts in place remove the floss before you tighten all the way.
9)reconnect trans filter and bolt back into place.
10)rejoin the fluid pan to the transmission and replace with quality cvt fluid. Amsoil makes a great product.

I hope this helps and if you have questions please feel free to ask.

Lorenzo, dud this is why I joined to get knowledge from good people like you. Thank you for this great post brother!!

 

[Bigdsmith]

the inside of my stepper motor. The magnet had a crack on both sides causing it to short out. Best 35 bucks ever.

 

[Rbuck137]

How did you get the gear ratio pin to line up? I am currently doing the same thing to my 2012 Nissan Altima however can not get the pin to line up have put it all together just to take it all apart again 5 times now I can get it up to 20 mph no problems but as soon as I accelerate to the next gear it won’t shift

 

[Rbuck137]

When my wife tried calling around no one would touch it due to the fact that you would be taking the transmission apart to service it although the stepper motor is only a $35 part if they messed something up while putting it together it would cost them a lot more to replace it

 

[Benzolorenzo1]

I'm happy to hear that I have assisted so many of you. I got to 160k+ miles out of the altima until I finally sold it. I hadn't had any transmission issues from this moment until I sold it... So thats a plus. So I have been absent, well because I no longer have the car. I am happy to see some of you taking the torch and assisting those that have come after us.

 

[Benzolorenzo1]

When my wife tried calling around no one would touch it due to the fact that you would be taking the transmission apart to service it although the stepper motor is only a $35 part if they messed something up while putting it together it would cost them a lot more to replace it

This is not a mechanics write up. A mechanic will try and sell a new trans 100% of the time. This is a joe schmo write up, in which you would do in your garage. I really hope this helps you, and you get your car on the road soon.

 

[msisko74]

About 6 months ago I received the death code P1778 (stepper motor) in my 2008 Altima. I searched far and wide, low and high, only to be told 2 things... you need a new transmission, or you need a new valve body. since I didn't have $2500 for a new trans, let alone $800 for the valve body I decided to look into this a little further. watched a youtube video the only one I could find was a Nissan armada, but thought what the hell. I drained the fluid, dropped the pan, yanked out the valve body, and found that little bastard that gave me such trouble.

now with part in hand I went to my local parts store, and told we don't sell that part, its not even in our system... went to the dealership, told the same thing and was told I needed to buy a new transmission as they are not "serviceable" funny but I had the part in hand, how can it be not serviceable?

lastly I took a gamble, I went to ebay, ordered a stepper motor. 20k miles later, still no code, no whine, and no lock up. here is how I saved thousands and bought a $35 part.

1)drain fluid.
2)drop pan (clean with brake cleaner)
3)remove the 3 bolts holding filter. (clean with brake cleaner while your at it)
4)remove the valve body about 11 bolts
5)remove the stepper motor from the top of the valvebody (the side you can't see with the pan off) 2 bolts
6)replace with the new stepper motor found here JF011E RE0F10E F1CJA Transmission CVT Stepper Motor For SENTRAN Nissan Dodge | eBay
7)take a piece of dental floss about a foot long and hold the spring loaded arm back against the stepper motor and return the valve body back to the transmission.
8)after you have a few bolts in place remove the floss before you tighten all the way.
9)reconnect trans filter and bolt back into place.
10)rejoin the fluid pan to the transmission and replace with quality cvt fluid. Amsoil makes a great product.

I hope this helps and if you have questions please feel free to ask.

I am having this same exact issue as you are, is the ebay part you found equivalent to the stepper motor for a 2011 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL? If not, how can you be sure of compatibility? Thank you for your time!

 

[Benzolorenzo1]

I am having this same exact issue as you are, is the ebay part you found equivalent to the stepper motor for a 2011 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL? If not, how can you be sure of compatibility? Thank you for your time!

I cant confirm if the part number is the same... However it's cheaper to try than to buy a new valve body... I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Lisa_2005Murano]

Okay so I know this is for an Altima but I have a 05 Murano I've had it since about May I think. So when I got it the battery had been dead for months and she told me that it was throwing a code for the speed sensor well come to find out it was for the speed sensor, the stepper motor, and something else I forgot but I bought all these items from Amazon and fixed. Only thing left was the only problem I had to start with which was hesitation from stop after warmed up. Just acted like it wasn't pressing the pedal. Heard that after battery 🔋 was off after 30 mins r longer you had to get the tranny relearn so did that 125.00 later didn't help tho. But then my friend to me she had the same issue on her honda Accord and done a idle relearn and doing my search Muranos need the idle relearn, throttle body control relearn, and pedal relearn but that fixed mine. Hope this helps.

 

[Bingo]

About 6 months ago I received the death code P1778 (stepper motor) in my 2008 Altima. I searched far and wide, low and high, only to be told 2 things... you need a new transmission, or you need a new valve body. since I didn't have $2500 for a new trans, let alone $800 for the valve body I decided to look into this a little further. watched a youtube video the only one I could find was a Nissan armada, but thought what the hell. I drained the fluid, dropped the pan, yanked out the valve body, and found that little bastard that gave me such trouble.

now with part in hand I went to my local parts store, and told we don't sell that part, its not even in our system... went to the dealership, told the same thing and was told I needed to buy a new transmission as they are not "serviceable" funny but I had the part in hand, how can it be not serviceable?

lastly I took a gamble, I went to ebay, ordered a stepper motor. 20k miles later, still no code, no whine, and no lock up. here is how I saved thousands and bought a $35 part.

1)drain fluid.
2)drop pan (clean with brake cleaner)
3)remove the 3 bolts holding filter. (clean with brake cleaner while your at it)
4)remove the valve body about 11 bolts
5)remove the stepper motor from the top of the valvebody (the side you can't see with the pan off) 2 bolts
6)replace with the new stepper motor found here JF011E RE0F10E F1CJA Transmission CVT Stepper Motor For SENTRAN Nissan Dodge | eBay
7)take a piece of dental floss about a foot long and hold the spring loaded arm back against the stepper motor and return the valve body back to the transmission.
8)after you have a few bolts in place remove the floss before you tighten all the way.
9)reconnect trans filter and bolt back into place.
10)rejoin the fluid pan to the transmission and replace with quality cvt fluid. Amsoil makes a great product.

I hope this helps and if you have questions please feel free to ask.

hey the link you shared doesn’t list 2008 Altima. It says 2009- 2.5 liter engine. Just want to confirm it will fit 2008 Altima before I buy that part ! Thank you for all the info

 

[Altimate_Driver]

About 6 months ago I received the death code P1778 (stepper motor) in my 2008 Altima. I searched far and wide, low and high, only to be told 2 things... you need a new transmission, or you need a new valve body. since I didn't have $2500 for a new trans, let alone $800 for the valve body I decided to look into this a little further. watched a youtube video the only one I could find was a Nissan armada, but thought what the hell. I drained the fluid, dropped the pan, yanked out the valve body, and found that little bastard that gave me such trouble.

now with part in hand I went to my local parts store, and told we don't sell that part, its not even in our system... went to the dealership, told the same thing and was told I needed to buy a new transmission as they are not "serviceable" funny but I had the part in hand, how can it be not serviceable?

lastly I took a gamble, I went to ebay, ordered a stepper motor. 20k miles later, still no code, no whine, and no lock up. here is how I saved thousands and bought a $35 part.

1)drain fluid.
2)drop pan (clean with brake cleaner)
3)remove the 3 bolts holding filter. (clean with brake cleaner while your at it)
4)remove the valve body about 11 bolts
5)remove the stepper motor from the top of the valvebody (the side you can't see with the pan off) 2 bolts
6)replace with the new stepper motor found here JF011E RE0F10E F1CJA Transmission CVT Stepper Motor For SENTRAN Nissan Dodge | eBay
7)take a piece of dental floss about a foot long and hold the spring loaded arm back against the stepper motor and return the valve body back to the transmission.
8)after you have a few bolts in place remove the floss before you tighten all the way.
9)reconnect trans filter and bolt back into place.
10)rejoin the fluid pan to the transmission and replace with quality cvt fluid. Amsoil makes a great product.

I hope this helps and if you have questions please feel free to ask.

You have saved my life, I was so worried for my baby. I drive an Altima coupe. Again thanks a ton!

 

[Ziy’s Altima]

I'm curious what other people have had for symptoms when they have had the P1778 code.
Benzolorenzo1 mentioned it was stuck in safe mode. I'm not sure if that means slow moving or pretty much stopped.

I have a 2008 Nissan Rogue AWD. It was stuttering one day, so I put some heet in and filled the gas, thinking there was water in the gas. It seemed a little better, but the acceleration wasn't very good, especially from a stop. Daughter drove it the next day and said the acceleration was poor after it warmed up. I checked the transmission fluid and it was full and clean looking. Replaced the air filter. Checked for codes and there were none. She drove it that day and I got a call in the middle of the night, after her work shift, that she was stranded. Check engine light was on and car would barely move.

I went down and pulled the P1778 code from the computer. I didn't try to move it much, but it would inch forward or back from a stop, like you were starting in a very high gear with no torque.

I'm trying to decide if I should buy the stepper motor and replace that or just do the whole valve body with a rebuilt one.

A lot of sources online state that the P1778 code, even though it says it is the stepper motor, usually isn't. And yet, Benzolorenzo1 fixed his by replacing it.

Hoping to get an idea of symptoms from others who have been through this to gauge whether they are close enough that I should go the same route.

Thanks for any info you can provide.

I have issue p1777 only code that shows on my 2010 Altima 3.5 SR V6 car will not accelerate sometimes and sometimes it will .

 

[Throckmorton]

Appears to be a common problem.

 

[jgilchrist87]

2010 altima 2.5
I had p1778 stepper code. I replaced full reman valve body with stepper motor and both internal filters. fresh fluid, car gets to about 30mph with ease then revs. Same stepper motor code, company is sending a new valve body out of caution to eliminate a possible but rare failure. While im waiting for new valve body to get here any testing procedures to determine if there is a pressure or other internal trans issue?

 

[Ziy’s Altima]

2010 altima 2.5
I had p1778 stepper code. I replaced full reman valve body with stepper motor and both internal filters. fresh fluid, car gets to about 30mph with ease then revs. Same stepper motor code, company is sending a new valve body out of caution to eliminate a possible but rare failure. While im waiting for new valve body to get here any testing procedures to determine if there is a pressure or other internal trans issue?

P1777 and p1778 are different p1777 is usually a bad step motor, or corroded pins or cvt connectors. P1778 is a more serious issue in which it relates to the cvt pulleys , step motor/valve issue , or system in a whole (cvt) . If you already replaced valve body and had the same issue I would rule out the cvt or have a mechanic look at the car . Unless the valve body you replaced it with was bad , you might have to replaced cvt unless the new valve body was and or installed incorrectly.

 

[Ziy’s Altima]

P1777 and p1778 are different p1777 is usually a bad step motor, or corroded pins or cvt connectors. P1778 is a more serious issue in which it relates to the cvt pulleys , step motor/valve issue , or system in a whole (cvt) . If you already replaced valve body and had the same issue I would rule it out to be the cvt internally damaged (issue) or have a mechanic look at the car . Unless the valve body you replaced it with was bad , you might have to replaced cvt unless the new valve body was and or installed incorrectly. However if you already got the new part coming it’s worth a shot. Make sure you check cvt fluid is leveled correctly this can be troublesome on cvts and check temp with a tool to insure that’s not your issue .

 

[Throckmorton]

P1777 and p1778 are different p1777 is usually a bad step motor, or corroded pins or cvt connectors. P1778 is a more serious issue in which it relates to the cvt pulleys , step motor/valve issue , or system in a whole (cvt) . If you already replaced valve body and had the same issue I would rule out the cvt or have a mechanic look at the car . Unless the valve body you replaced it with was bad , you might have to replaced cvt unless the new valve body was and or installed incorrectly.

Did you get your step motor replaced? Is your CVT working properly?