Ask the Car People.SM


Nissan Altima CVT

258 messages,  Last post on Apr 22, 2013 at 2:01 PM

You are in the Nissan Altima Forum.

What is this discussion about? Nissan Altima, Transmission, Sedan

Messages Page 6 of 27

#47 of 258 Re: Love the CVT [godeacs] by madpistol

Apr 18, 2009 (9:19 am)

Replying to: godeacs (Apr 17, 2009 4:58 pm)
I don't experience the vibration at high speed. I'm not sure what most people are talking about there.
 
However, I do get some jerkiness at speeds under 40mph. My guess is it's just because the CVT has a limited number of set ratios at lower RPMs. I know it's the CVT "shift-logic" because if you move it over to manual mode and shift it that way, the engine is very smooth and pretty refined feeling. There's absolutely no jerking in manual mode other than what you feel when you shift between ratios.
 
(Now enter theory stuff)
 
I believe that with the next generation of Altima we'll see both engines get significantly redesigned. Now that Nissan has established that CVT-based vehicles are what they wish to pursue, I think they're going to start designing their engines around this. As of right now, they're currently designing the CVT to be compatible with their chosen engines. However, if you design the ENGINE to also be compatible with the CVT, the refinement will reach a whole new level.
 
The current engines are very content with a manual gearbox, but a little sluggish with the CVT. That's because the engines aren't designed to take advantage of a CVT's gearless system. In other words, the engines have very specific power bands, and thus, it only feels energetic when the engine is in that power band. I believe we're going to see more torque and horsepower from lower RPMs and the peak will be far lower in the rev-band as well. That way, cars will feel much more energetic from a stop AND there won't be a "flat line" on power between 2000-3000RPMs (in the 4-cyl). This should also eliminate jerkiness from the lower revs, as the CVT won't have to shift as much to keep the power up.
 
1st generation CVT: high rev acceleration, rubber-band feeling
 
2nd (current) generation CVT: smoother acceleration, higher horsepower engines
 
3rd (future) generation CVT: engines designed for CVT, MUCH quicker acceleration, more linear power delivery.
 
This is only speculation, but if you're a fan of CVT based Nissan cars, I think it's about to get a lot better in the 3rd generation. The first 2 generations were test beds to see if it would work. Now that Nissan knows it works (and is selling well) they should invest a lot more in their powerplants this time around. Only time will tell though.

#48 of 258 CVT is a great transmission by altimacoupe08

Apr 26, 2009 (11:44 pm)

Have owned a 2008 Altima Coupe V6 SE since it had 5 miles on it, now has 21,000 miles. The car drives like I would imagine a slot car driving, just push on the throttle 0 to 100 mph (freeway on ramp) and you would never know that the transmisson found another ratio except for the tach movement.
 
The only thing that I have found disappointing in the Altima Coupe is the electronics. My 2000 Ford Expedition's electronics were much better in the fact that the drivers seat, inside rear view mirror, and outside rear view mirrors could be set and would adjust according to which remote control was used. Am also disappointed in the navigation system, it cannot find housing tracks that have been in existance for 10 plus years! For the price of it, it should be up to date one would assume.

#49 of 258 2009 Nissan Coupe by chilady

Apr 27, 2009 (1:30 pm)

I have been a Nissan customer for years. I've had a 1999 Nissan Altima, a 2003 Nissan Altima and now drive a 2006 Nissan Frontier. I'm looking into a new 2009 Nissan Altima Coupe but have been reading so much about the problems with the CVT on this car. Any suggestions??? Get another Frontier or get the Altima Coupe? I love this car but very unsure about this new transmission. I've never had a problem with a Nissan, that's why I have stayed with them and don't want to start having any problems now. HELP!!!!
 
Chilady

#50 of 258 Re: 2009 Nissan Coupe [chilady] by wantanaltima

Apr 27, 2009 (2:53 pm)

Replying to: chilady (Apr 27, 2009 1:30 pm)
I just bought a 2009 Altima Sedan that has the CVT. I did a lot of research before getting it b/c of the known CVT issues. Whatever you do, don't bother asking a dealer about it. The 2 that I asked just looked like a deer in the headlights and denied ever hearing anything about issues with the CVT.
 
I did my own research and Edmunds was one place. It basically comes down to this. I believe it's the 3rd generation of the CVT. It's been in some of the Nissan fleet since 2003 when they introduced it in the 2003 Murano. THere were known issues with it breaking down around 120,000 kms which is just after the warranty period. To quell any issues, you could consider getting the extended warranty.
 
Some people complain about noises at lot speeds. That's just the CVT tranny doing it's thing and it's not really loud at all. A test drive will show you that. I've had mine for a month now and have zero complaints.

#51 of 258 Re: 2009 Nissan Coupe [chilady] by dajani

Apr 28, 2009 (7:55 am)

Replying to: chilady (Apr 27, 2009 1:30 pm)
Test drive the V6 SE Coupe and V6 SE Sedan. I bought a V6 SE sedan with CVT tranny and I love it. I do not like the Altima 2.5 with the 4 cylinder engine. Nissan is offering $1000 cash bonus plus 2.9% till April 30, 2009.

#52 of 258 Re: Love the CVT [madpistol] by victrolajazz

Apr 28, 2009 (1:54 pm)

Replying to: madpistol (Apr 18, 2009 9:19 am)
"The current engines are very content with a manual gearbox, but a little sluggish with the CVT. That's because the engines aren't designed to take advantage of a CVT's gearless system."
 
This may be true with the 4 cylinders, but I find my 3.5 V-6 to have tremendous pull at all speeds. I love the CVT--in fact it was the reason I decided on a Nissan. I had had experience with a CVT when I test drove a Saturn several years earlier, and altho I didn't particularly care for the car itself, I liked the utter smoothness of the transmission. Also, in the Saturn any desired increase in speed was accompanied by a tremendous revving of the engine almost to 6,000 RPM. None of this is present in the Nissan--the engine seems to be able to increase speed without having to scream itself to death.
 
"3rd (future) generation CVT: engines designed for CVT, MUCH quicker acceleration, more linear power delivery"
There's just one problem--with the influence of the government pushing for lower emissions and higher gas mileage, we may enter another era similar to the 70's when cars actually lost ground in the areas of horsepower and performance. The more powerful V-6 may not be made available in all the models that it is currently available in. In fact, I average 24-26 MPG in my car consistenly.

#53 of 258 Re: 2009 Nissan Coupe [chilady] by jd10013

Apr 28, 2009 (2:52 pm)

Replying to: chilady (Apr 27, 2009 1:30 pm)
what problems have you been reading about? yea, it feels and handles differently than any other trans you've driven, but those arn't problems.

#54 of 258 Re: Love the CVT [victrolajazz] by madpistol

Apr 28, 2009 (10:03 pm)

Replying to: victrolajazz (Apr 28, 2009 1:54 pm)
"This may be true with the 4 cylinders, but I find my 3.5 V-6 to have tremendous pull at all speeds. I love the CVT--in fact it was the reason I decided on a Nissan. I had had experience with a CVT when I test drove a Saturn several years earlier, and altho I didn't particularly care for the car itself, I liked the utter smoothness of the transmission."
 
The 4-cyl pulls plenty hard about 80% of the time. The only time where you get any remote feeling of hesitation is when you're below around 1500 RPM's and accelerating slowly. Push it up to 2000 RPM's, and acceleration is much much quicker and easier to modulate. At less than 1500 RPM's the engine feels very lethargic.
 
I've test driven the V6 model as well, and you are correct. It has great power and pull. However, the power curve is far from linear. The engine still has the majority of its grunt in the higher RPM's. If you pair the engine with a manual transmission, it feels much more powerful... The engine was designed to work with a manual transmission first, and the CVT was designed around the engine. If Nissan was smart, they'd design the engine to have a much broader power band and make full use of the CVT. As it stands, even the V6, while powerful, does not take full advantage of the CVT.
 
I seriously doubt we're going to revert to an era of 4-cyl's and V6's only. If anything, engines will continue to get bigger and more fuel efficient. I would expect the 4-cyl to gradually disappear again in favor of much more refined, torque rich V6's. That's what lexus chose to do with their IS250, and last I checked, that car was a huge success.

#55 of 258 Worried... Normal? by armygirlcrys

Jul 18, 2009 (10:14 pm)

I just bought the 2008 Altima 4 cyl. that has CVT.... I was freaking out thinking my tranny was going to go. After researching on here and elsewhere I see that CVT works way different than conventional transmissions. My question is... Should my car really be redlining and not switching gears?! I punched the gas today the RPMs kept going higher and higher and no switch in gears. I was hitting 5500-6000 RPMs and nothing. It shifts normally when I'm just cruising, but if I give that car any good bit of gas... it just revs and revs. Now I read that this is normal, but to what extent?! Really, 5500 RPMs is high and still no switch. Someone please help me so I know whether to return this thing and get my car back before it's too late.

#56 of 258 Re: Worried... Normal? [armygirlcrys] by jd10013

Jul 19, 2009 (3:46 pm)

Replying to: armygirlcrys (Jul 18, 2009 10:14 pm)
it depends. if you have it in manual mode, it wont easily switch out of gear. But, if you have it in drive, then it should switch gears between 2-4k rpms. the only exception to this is if you are gunning it pretty hard. In that case it will function kind of like an overdrive so you can quickly accelerate. for example, if your trying to pass somebody, or merge into traffic you don't need your transmission gearing down and slowing you up.
 
no if your just moderately accelerating and it won't switch gears, and your in drive (not manual mode), then you need to get it looked at.

Messages Page 6 of 27

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement