2.5 CVT Vibration Issue-Help Needed

[CraigDaModeler]

2.5 CVT-At exactly 1.2k rpm I there is a distinct vibration thing happening. Either ramping up to (of course this is via a slow gradual acceleration) or when slowing down to 1.2k rpm. The vibration will remain as long as it held there. Now this is not a violent vibration more like a “buzz” I can feel on the steering wheel, shifter, in the seat and my feet on the floor. There is also a slight audible “buzz” associated with the vibration.

I don’t even need to look at the tach anymore to know when I am at 1.2k rpm, I can feel it. When accelerating past that point I don’t notice it.If some of you 2.5ers can specifically check this situation out or know for sure if it is normal or not, your help would be appreciated.

Before I bring up this issue to the dealership, I would like to know if this is a normal thing.
Modified by CraigDaModeler at 4:20 PM 4/7/2008

[LongBeachCoupe]

i havent noticed anything vibrate or anything at all with mine... 2.5 with 11k miles (jeez)...

Maybe my attention to detail isnt as good as yours... judging by your modeling pics (not naked girls guys, dont bother lol) it looks like your attention to detail is 300x mine... half of the time i cant tell if your pics are a real car or a model!

[CraigDaModeler]

i havent noticed anything vibrate or anything at all with mine... 2.5 with 11k miles (jeez)...

Maybe my attention to detail isnt as good as yours... judging by your modeling pics (not naked girls guys, dont bother lol) it looks like your attention to detail is 300x mine... half of the time i cant tell if your pics are a real car or a model!

Thanks,Well it could be that I drive quite conservatively (most of the time). Slow acceleration (most of the time) from a stop especially when passing any gas station looking at the prices advertised. Don’t panic guys I do my share of “stretching her legs” as the term goes. But dang...those gas prices.....they keep me in check.

Maybe you could do a little test for me if you don’t mind. When I first felt it, I thought my phone, which I keep on vibrate mode, was ringing.

Oh and thanks for the comments on my models (again car models not nude models). I am finally back at my work bench after a two year motivational slump. Hopefully will have something new to show soon.

[LongBeachCoupe]

hmm... ill give it the old 1-2 on the way home and let you know my results.. but its only on a slow accelleration from a stop? at around 1500 rpm?

[CraigDaModeler]

hmm... ill give it the old 1-2 on the way home and let you know my results.. but its only on a slow accelleration from a stop? at around 1500 rpm?

Shoot, I just realized that I have been saying at 15k rpm, it is actually at 1.2k rpm. I am going to edit my other post just in case some others would check this out as well. Simply put, any time the car is driving at 1.2k rpm, I get this vibration situation. both acceleration and decelleration.

It is easy to keep it right at 12k rpm at about 25mph.

Thanks for helping out.

[Mr. Music]

Mine doesn't do anything like that. Don't know what the problem might be, but have you checked the transmission fluid to make sure its not low? I'll pay special attention to that RPM range now and post in here later tonight when I get back...EDIT: So yeah, nothing; smooth as usual. I hope you can sort the problem out pretty quick...
Modified by Mr. Music at 9:04 PM 4/7/2008

[dbog]

Hi,

I am experiencing the EXACT same symptoms. Have a new 2008 and love it but the vibration thing is driving me crazy - to the point i may trade the car in! Were you able to find out what it is? I took it in today and they said they couldn't find anything and the car ran great. HELP!

Thanks,

[xkursion]

I have noticed a slight "bucking" and vibration... well more of a deep humm then vibration, as the CVT spools up and starts dropping to max ratio, usually happens about 25-40 km / hr and about 1200 - 1400 rpm. A common example would be accelerating slowly and then easing off the gas, the CVT ups the ratio to get the revs down for economy, thats when I notice it. It feels pretty normal to me, kind of the feeling you get when letting out the clutch slowly on a manual car. Personally I like the nice deep rumble and sound it makes when that happens haha. I should add that this doesn't usually happen except in traffic as otherwise my right foot is usually buried to hear the other end. On and quick tip ** if you're going fast enough by the gas station the numbers blur and you feel allot better **

[08AltimaMan]

having this same problem. Kind of wonder if its at all related to the CVT hesitation issue going on that an outstanding TSB addresses.

anyways, I just posted this over at nissanclub.com


I have noticed, and seems more recently since I seem to be paying more attention to my car, that when I am accelerating there are particular speeds, usually in the 20's or 30's where if I hold a particular speed or hold the peddle down at a particular pressure...I can hear the cvt accelerating but its like a deep vibration. I usually can feel it across the car and in my feet and its not quiet either.

if I give it a bit more gas it goes away and if I don't give it enough gas it won't do it... but I can replicate it on command.

for all I know this is particular normal, but worth mentioning.

[08AltimaMan]

just wanted to bump this thread.

What the OP describes in his post is EXACTLY what my 2008 Altima sedan 2.5SL does. It is driving me nuts, and I even just had the Hesitation/Jerkiness TSB installed on my car...and it didn't fix a whole hell of a lot.

I wonder if I have something loose, or if its in the CVT itself, but at exactly 1200 RPM's it does it.

What I have noticed is whether I am going 20 or 40mph...if I am holding a consistent speed it drops down to 1200RPM's and holds. Only time it doesn't is if I am accelerating enough to move the RPM's or I am at highway speeds of 50mph or greater.

I feel the vibration in the entire car, but especially the steering wheel and feet.

[08AltimaMan]

I've posted this issue over on my Nissan Altima CVT Problem's blog - http://www.nissan-cvt-problems.com/low- ... -1200-rpm/

[ben.kubichek]

I have this exact same problem...happens on slow acceleration between 1200-1400rpm (usually around 15-30mph (25-45kph). I took it to the dealer as my car is under warranty and showed them, their first guess was either rattling in the exhaust or something in the transmission.

They dropped the transmission pan...and found some metal shavings, see attached photograph. The dealer (Baker Nissan North, in Houston) stated they would be replacing the transmission because the fluid looked bad and the metal shavings. They apparently submitted the claim to Nissan. A few days later, the dealer came back and said Nissan said it was normal to have some shavings in the pan and refused to replace the transmission, even though I have followed all of the Nissan recommended maintenance.

After this issue, they came back and said it was actually the alternator. Apparently the alternator in this car has a "clutch" and bearings...I didn't totally understand the reason for the clutch...anyhow, they said that the clutch was failing on the alternator and was sticking at certain RPM, which is what was causing the vibration. It seems like a really odd answer, and I don't really trust what they are saying.

Any resolution or advice on this?? Thanks!!

[seldomseen]

How many miles does the CVT have on it? If the problem you've described is in fact related to the CVT---then it's not uncommon. Do you only notice the slight vibration when the temperature is very cold? It's not uncommon to experience some vibration from the CVT when it's very cold outside---the metal shavings are also quite normal too. You may notice the vibration more when putting your car into reverse, when it's parked on a slope. CVT problems usually result in hearing a whining noise, transmission surges/delays/slipping (your tach will jump), and/or cause your car to be completely disabled. CVT quirkiness may be more noticeable in your car, because it has the 1st generation product---unless it's been replaced. However, you should certainly research the issue further and/or take your car to a different dealership so that it can be properly diagnosed and repaired.

[NY09Nissan]

I have a 2009 Nissan Altima Sedan 2.5 S that had 114K miles when it got the same annoying vibration problem at 1200-1500 RPM. In addition to the vibrations, I would also hear ticking noises upon cold engine start-up, the engine would make a light grinding noise when idling in gear, and the car would lurch at low RPMs. I found a post on Edmunds that indicated it was a failing alternator bearing. I thus took it in to the dealer and asked them to replace the alternator. They were skeptical that a failing alternator bearing would cause all of these symptoms, especially when the alternator was putting out full voltage, but when they replaced it, the problems were completely gone. The car doesn't grind when idling in gear, it doesn't vibrate at 1200-1500 RPM, and my Altima doesn't lurch at low RPMs anymore. I couldn't be happier!

[SanoSuKe]

I have a 2009 Nissan Altima Sedan 2.5 S that had 114K miles when it got the same annoying vibration problem at 1200-1500 RPM. In addition to the vibrations, I would also hear ticking noises upon cold engine start-up, the engine would make a light grinding noise when idling in gear, and the car would lurch at low RPMs. I found a post on Edmunds that indicated it was a failing alternator bearing. I thus took it in to the dealer and asked them to replace the alternator. They were skeptical that a failing alternator bearing would cause all of these symptoms, especially when the alternator was putting out full voltage, but when they replaced it, the problems were completely gone. The car doesn't grind when idling in gear, it doesn't vibrate at 1200-1500 RPM, and my Altima doesn't lurch at low RPMs anymore. I couldn't be happier!

Thanks for coming back and giving feedback!