2007 maxima weird CVT operation

[dilleyoshempy]

hi everyone, i recently picked up an 07 maxima se and my cvt is operating unusually, first of all id like to ask if this is normal, when cruising and releasing the gas pedal there is a sudden deceleration feeling, this doesnt seem to bad but its a bit annoying having the car slow down quite a bit everytime the pedal is released, now for the really annoying part - mind you when i test drove an 07 maxima it did not do this - when cruising, releasing the gas pedal and then getting back on the gas (not aggresively) theres a sort of "kick" sensation, now when travelling under 40mph it becomes very annoying and harsh, releasing the gas pedal and reapplying some gas the car jerks pretty violently, you can sort of hear a very faint clunk but the feeling is very obvious, it feels like a hard kick , one of the reasons i got a maxima was because i was tired of other traditional automatics crappy sloppy unsmooth shifts, now look what i end up with lol, feels like im riding a bull, anyone have an idea as to what maybe causing this? id like to mention i have a dealer installed CAI which was my first though, i tried driving around for quite a bit to maybe get the computers adjusted to the CAI but it hasnt helped, this really sucks

[dilleyoshempy]

anyone with a CVT experiance this..?

[InfiNissan Lover]

Hi dilleyoshempy,

I just wanted to let you know that there are other members here experiencing the same thing, so please don't feel like you are the only one. As from what I have read about the CVTs, I found out that there is a "learning curve" that these units seem to go through in which they are trying to learn your way of driving. While it is true that what you are experiencing is NOT normal operation, the best thing that you could do is take your vehicle back to the dealership and explain to them what is happening.

One of the members here in FA did mention that 1 out of 300 CVTs would be somewhat defective. I hope that this is not the case with the one in your car but it seems to me like it could be a computer problem, either the TCU (Transmission Control Unit) or ECU (Engine Control Unit) might be malfunctioning or may need to be reprogramed at the dealer.

I hope that your issue gets resolved without too much frustration, and I hope that you please keep us all posted to whatever results occur from your experience.

[InfiNissan Lover]

http://forums2.freshalloy.com/showthread.php?t=161947

Here is another FreshAlloy member going through a similar issue dilleyoshempy, so all we can do is continue to keep in touch here on the forums and hope that one dealership finds a fix for this issue.

I am sure that a Nissan engineer was dispatched to the area where the above member's vehicle is in the link for the thread that I placed here. I am certain that Nissan would be very interested in this problem as it is one of the first few examples of it.

[dilleyoshempy]

thanks for the info, the link you gave me, im not experiancing what that member is, this feels like the motormounts are broken or the cvt tranny is bolted on lose if that makes sense, im just worried as it is hard enough that it seems like it may be damaging to the cvt

[InfiNissan Lover]

Originally Posted by dilleyoshempy

thanks for the info, the link you gave me, im not experiancing what that member is, this feels like the motormounts are broken or the cvt tranny is bolted on lose if that makes sense, im just worried as it is hard enough that it seems like it may be damaging to the cvt

If that is the case then it sounds like a dealer visit is in serious order here, good luck. I hope the problem gets resolved.

[RonSteinbach]

Update please. I am sorry, but I tend to discount complaints posted by new members who disappear after posting several notes.

[dilleyoshempy]

sadly no update yet, the dealership tested out many areas of the car and found nothing, now nissan themselves will be dealing with it

but i noticed something today, and ron maybe you can help me out since youve had your max for a long time, when i drive my max, accelerating at a regular pace the rpms jump to about 2000 rpm and pretty much stay there right? this is how the cvt worked on 2 other maximas ive tried, on mines right when it gets to 2000rpm it feels like the torque converter locks up (if that makes sense) and the revs start to slowly drop, which makes the car extremely sluggish then i have to really dig into the throttle to get it back up to 2000rpm, at the same time when this "torque converter" lockup sensation occurs i hear a faint rattling sound, like popping popcorn... weird

i hope my baby gets fixed sooooon so i can enjoy her!!!

[RonSteinbach]

I feel nothing like what you are experiencing. When I touch the accellerator, the engine RPMs immediately jump up. I tried this several times driving home tonight from my office. No hestitation and no lag. I punched it hard one time and the RPMs jumped to 5,000+.

There is no "lock-up" or any such feel.

If I am going up a 6% grade on a freeway, I notice that the RPMs gradually increase by a few hundred RPMs to hold my speed or even to increase it. There is no downshifting and buzzing in a lower gear like on a regular automatic.

What I would suggest you try is manual shifting with your CVT for several days. What I notice is when I move the shift lever over to manual when I am on the freeway, the CVT always goes into 5M gear, instead of 6M. (Look at your instrument pod and you can see what "gear" you are in.) I suspect the reason for this is to give you instant passing power, figuring you can hit the level once to go into 6M.

Another suggestion I have for you is to disconnect your battery for several minutes to erase the memory for the CVT. You have to reprogram your radio presets, and I do not know what else. Check your owner's manual, and don't blame me if something else gets screwed up!

Anyone know of any problems in disconnecting the battery like I suggest??

[Gouda]

Does anyone know who makes the Nissan CVT? As far as I know there is only one German company making these tranny's for eveyone. But that could have changed by now. I had one in my previous car (a Ford) and it worked flawlessly for 30K miles. I went away from it when I went to Nissan because I needed more towing capacity and the quality of the Ford sucked the big one. I now own two Nissans, both of which were aquired in the last 5 months. I'll never go back. Great cars with wonderful engines.

[InfiNissan Lover]

Originally Posted by Gouda

Does anyone know who makes the Nissan CVT? As far as I know there is only one German company making these tranny's for eveyone. But that could have changed by now. I had one in my previous car (a Ford) and it worked flawlessly for 30K miles. I went away from it when I went to Nissan because I needed more towing capacity and the quality of the Ford sucked the big one. I now own two Nissans, both of which were aquired in the last 5 months. I'll never go back. Great cars with wonderful engines.

Gouda, the Nissan CVT is manufactured by a company called JATCO. Here is a good link to their Japanese website ~~> http://www.jatco.co.jp/ENGLISH/LTD_INFO/index.html

JATCO has been with Nissan for a long time. The only Nissan vehicles that I know of that didn't have a JATCO transmission were the 2004-2006 Maximas and the G35s which were AISIN made transmissions.

[dilleyoshempy]

ron im curious as to how your cvt operates, this is what still seems weird to me...

when i accelerate from a stop, the tach climbs up to 2000rpm, right around that time the revs begin to drop instantly but slowly, right down to about 1200rpm which seems like its really lugging the engine, makes acceleration very sluggish, even if i press harder on the gas pedal it still does this, only when i really give it gas to get the tach to climb up to 3000rpm that it doesnt do this

the weird thing is that when the car is cold, when i drive away everything is very smooth, the tach stays at 2 grand and its perfect, it seems like once the computers know the car is warmed up it decides to engage the torque converter (if there is one) and it all turns to crap!

[InfiNissan Lover]

Originally Posted by dilleyoshempy

The weird thing is that when the car is cold, when I drive away everything is very smooth, the tach stays at 2 grand and its perfect, it seems like once the computers know the car is warmed up it decides to engage the torque converter (if there is one) and it all turns to crap!

Sounds like the CVT is operating at an unacceptable temperature by the onboard computer's standards.

[222Max]

Regarding the"kick" feeling you are getting when you reapply pressure to the gas pedal I would recommend you get the front tie-rods inspected. Our Murano did this and it wasn't the tranny, it was a lose or broken tie-rod.

[JerryG]

Originally Posted by dilleyoshempy

ron im curious as to how your cvt operates, this is what still seems weird to me...

when i accelerate from a stop, the tach climbs up to 2000rpm, right around that time the revs begin to drop instantly but slowly, right down to about 1200rpm which seems like its really lugging the engine, makes acceleration very sluggish, even if i press harder on the gas pedal it still does this, only when i really give it gas to get the tach to climb up to 3000rpm that it doesnt do this

the weird thing is that when the car is cold, when i drive away everything is very smooth, the tach stays at 2 grand and its perfect, it seems like once the computers know the car is warmed up it decides to engage the torque converter (if there is one) and it all turns to crap!

My experience with the CVT seems to mirror what you describe to some (smaller) degree and I just assumed it was "normal" for the CVT. The CVT appears to want to get to "high gear" asap even under moderate accel. If you flip to manual you'll see it is in "5/6" by around 25 mph under light to moderate throttle. I would describe this as going further in the opposite direction of "Sport mode" mode when thought of in terms of traditional stepped transmissions. Perhaps the CVT will "learn" it's way toward a more Sport mode in my case.

Obviously, the idea in getting to low RPM's asap is to improve fuel consumption, but the quick drop to the low rpm range feels somewhat unnatural. Conversely, I also noticed that the cold warm-up profile feels more "natural". In general, I'm finding it trickier to modulate the gas and keep the rpms where I "want" them in D-mode. Above 30mph, I like the response of the CVT; however from 0-30 I'm not digging it that much over a std 5-speed auto.

The CVT also does not seem to be compensating with better city mileage, at least not yet.

[InfiNissan Lover]

I don't like what I am reading here. I hope you guys get these problems resolved with the dealership.

[dilleyoshempy]

so does this mean this is the way the cvt is supposoed to work? i dont remember them being like this on the ones i test drove, and i drove 2 to make sure i liked them now this happens, im so angry!

also i developed a crazy rattle, ive never had one like this in any of my previous cars before, and i have a first year titan which are known to rattle quite a bit, so far with only 1000km on the car everything is going down hill, and i have to put up with this for 4 more years, not even counting any possible problems that will occur later on

i really wish i could just give it back and get something else now, like the 07 g35 sedan

[bb700092]

Dilleyoshempy, I think some of the problems you are talking about are not real problems but just the way the CVT behaves. For example, when cruising, releasing the gas pedal and then getting back on the gas (not aggresively) there is sometimes a sort of "kick" sensation. I think this is normal for the CVT and found it in all the three 07 Maximas I have driven.

Again, if you are driving at some speed, say 40 mph, and then leave the accelerator and do not brake as well but let the car cruise, you will find that the speed decreases to about 15 mph and then it accelerates a little by itself. This is also normal for CVT.

Also, its normal that the car slows down considerably when the accelerator is released but the brake is not engaged.

One thing you can do is to go to a dealer and test drive a new 07-08 Maxima and check for the problems that you think you might be having.

[jcalabria]

Originally Posted by dilleyoshempy

so does this mean this is the way the cvt is supposoed to work? i dont remember them being like this on the ones i test drove, and i drove 2 to make sure i liked them now this happens, im so angry!

What you describe is similar to my experience EXCEPT that mine never drops below 1,500 rpm (OK, maybe 1,450), certainly not to 1,200 as you describe. At 1,500 rpm its still smooth as could be yet easily keeps up with traffic. A tad more throttle and she locks in at 2,000rpm and easily pulls away from suburban traffic. Personally, for just tooling around town in traffic, I like the way it drops the revs so quickly (24mpg non-highway commute, but with the full VQ "fury" just throttle nudge away) - but again, it doesn't seem normal that yours is dropping so far on the revs.

As far as the deceleration... I have noted this several times on this and other forums. I consider it a "solid driveline", very much like driving with a manual transmission. I believe its mostly a function of the torque converter clutch not unlocking until a fairly low road speed is reached. I think the sensation some people have noted of "accelerating a bit" as the car coasts down thru the 20mph range is merely the TC unlocking and freeing up the driveline.

On mine, at least, these effects are VERY subtle and I would never complain about them. I have way more issues with the current batch of slow shifting "torque managed" stepped automatics. The feel of the engine flattenning as the timing retards to soften the shifts, followed by a slow mushy slide between gears, puts a knot in my stomach at every shift. The 4AT tranny in my '00 Max was terrible. The '03 Max's tranny was better but still could get "confused". As much as I love my Volvo S60T5 in most regards, the miserable Aisin 5AT absolutely ruins the driving experience. I wish the Max's CVT drivetrain was in the Volvo (or the Volvo seats, stereo and suspension were in the Max). The last really good automatic I can remember was a good'ol 70's era GM Turbo400 with a mild shift kit. Instant (but not harsh) shifts. Didn't need electronic torque management to keep it from grenading from 300HP. Ah, the good ol days!