2010 G37 AT Downshifts

[kmckis1029]

in my g35x i down shifted all the time... never had any problems in the 72k miles it had on it...

but i still needed brakes every 30k miles...

[SteveTheTech]

It is probably just the ECU /TCU learning your style of driving.

EPA wins again. It almost shifts like a manual sometimes, but nothing is wrong with it.
Technically it really improves possible hunting when acceleration is needed while the car was decelerating. You will also notice the harder you brake the faster the upshifts. This is a sort of collision avoidance software, so if you need to speed up you have plenty of power available.

There are many things these new Infinitis can do that requires learning from both the primary operator and the automobile itself. Things like lockup control ("overdrive") can be engaged at speeds below 40 mph and the new M for an example can lockup at 7 mph. There is no way the car is going to be able to adjust and moderate transmission output speed (in a way only rivaled by the ZF) and you will not feel some aspect of it. There are several layers of programming that cannot be reset by and devices (very little information available currently) do not have access to this.

To the best of my knowledge there are no shift related tsbs, that is not to say that Monday morning there will not be one on any of the 2010s. I will check Monday.

[exit9]

.... It almost shifts like a manual sometimes, but nothing is wrong with it...

Yeah but it sometimes feels like a 16 year old learning how to drive a manual transmission car in stop and go traffic for the first time.

[zozoka1212]

Have you tried another G at the dealer to see or prove it to them.

[soul_hfk]

i loved my 07s 5 speed vs this 7 speed

[exit9]

Have you tried another G at the dealer to see or prove it to them.

I did a test drive with another G and it wasn't as aggressive as mine. For a real comparison, I would need to drive it in stop and go traffic to see if the rev matching gets chaotic and the clunks and bumps kick in. Even if it does I don't think the dealer can do anything unless corporate releases a TSB. I'm hoping with more mileage (only 2K right now) it may smooth out. If it doesn't, I may have to just cut my loses I switch to another brand.

[busterbrown]

I don't have that problem with my 2010. If I did, the first thing I would try would be a momentary disconnect of the car's battery.

[SteveTheTech]

Instead of unplugging the battery and loosing some presets and maybe window time, try the Closed Throttle Position relearn. This will give you a great shot at reteaching at least some part of the computer logic.

Start by cycling the key on for three seconds and off for ten, repeat ten times.

The car will learn the majority of the habits of the primary driver, still sporty and not the best at traffic. It hunts less than the Lexus with 8 speeds and the fuel economy demands are going to be winning from here on out.

[FlameOn]

Too smooth is not for me..Like it a little herky jerky, not too much though.

[exit9]

Start by cycling the key on for three seconds and off for ten, repeat ten times.

Is there some kind of feedback to let you know it actually worked like lights flashing? Chimes?

[SteveTheTech]

Is there some kind of feedback to let you know it actually worked like lights flashing? Chimes?

Absolutely nothing.

You will not notice anything different, before during or after.

Even with the Consult III you won't see anything change. Just reset it and go.

[RichardnVA]

I had the same problem. I brought it to the dealer and they reflashed the control module on the transmission and that fixed the problem. Like night and day! I had them do it during my first scheduled maintenance. Make sure you let them know ahead of time because it takes some time to complete the reflash procedure. They did not charge me for the reflash, not sure if that is normally covered or not. My dealership has been great so far not sure if every dealership would do that or not.

[smoluse]

We have a new 2010 G37 with about 1500 miles. The slow speed shifting issue is also disturbing for us. We go into the dealer tomorrow. There is always the feeling of a slight hesitation as it shifts thru the gears, especially when going slow on residential streets. Its fine when I accelerate fast. Dealer said there was an issue with the 08 and a software adjustment was provided. There may be a software mod coming for this but it is not available yet.

I am suprised to learn that the computer tries to adapt to your driving style...interesting!

[smoluse]

what do you mean when you say "cycling the key on" I have a push button start..are you saying to start the car or just turn on the power?
thanks

[matchan]

I have 2010 G37 Sedan (Journey+Prem+Navi). I have the exact same problem. When I am driving in sports mode (DS) and slow down due to traffic or exiting the freeway, the RPM jumps out and revs from 2k to 4k . Its down shifing very aggressively .

Also if I switch to manual from DS by pushing the transmission stick down , the RPM goes to 5k! Test drove another 2010 G37 off the lot , it did not have the problem. Complained to service manger and he reset the transmission fuzzy logic and the problem went away!!!

However two weeks later, the problem has come back. Now I do tend to drive a bit aggressively but I certainly dont redline the engine or anything like that. This whole transmission logic is a mess. I'm a bit disappointed in Infiniti. The whole reason I bought this over the Acura TL was to enjoy the performance characteristics. Now, its more of a 'watch and debug issues' routine.

I hope they release a TSB for this or else, I will consider selling this car.

[exit9]

I got over 11k miles now and some days are tolerable and some bad. It still clunks and bumps sometimes when downshifting and drags in high gear in stop and go traffic. Don't think I'll be keeping this car too long either.

[SteveTheTech]

I have been watching this thread as well as a few others with similar concerns since the RE7 transmission came out.

There was indeed an update to the software in 2008 RE5 transmission. I remember when these were new they had a serious issue with the tendency to get "stuck" in overdrive.

Here is what the new transmission does differently- The RE7 has the ability to engage full torque converter lock up duty cycle at a much slower (~22mph) speed than almost any other car Nissan makes. (The CVT locks up at ~7mph!). TC lockup used to be "overdrive" per say, now it plays a much more active roll in control and economy. This is one of the ways they decrease engine load when the input parameters call for it. Also with the addition of two gears to the famous JATCO (a Nissan owned subsidiary) they have altered timing of several of the functions.
These cars do indeed have minds of their own. Almost no two of these shift and drive the same.

Here is what Nissan is saying-
Most of the field reps have Gs and they all acknowledge there is some getting used to it. It is not dangerous or they would have had an immediate fix (no joke), replacement of any of the parts has no impact on this type of concern if it is shift timing. I personally spent allot of my free time committed to helping EX owners in 08 to find the route cause of this problem.

However- As mentioned above these are adaptable transmissions. There is really nothing you or I for that matter can do to alter the timing in any way. Although there are only two main parts of these transmission (the valve body and integrated control module and the rest of the transmission assembly). Keep in mind that the goal of the RE7 transmission is to save fuel economy. If you bypass by initiating DS mode while cruising about town you might have better luck, that has a tendency to hold the gear longer to get more of the power band under modest acceleration but there is no TRAFFIC mode at this point. Although the new M is pretty close to having something similar. These cars (like e readers) are getting more advanced by the day, now the transmission can actually learn what you do...and the GPS knows where you have been.

[consultant1027]

But isn't the additional fuel economy over the 07/08 5AT like 1 MPG? Seems like a lot of hurky jerky going on to get a measly 1 MPG more, heck even if I was generous and said 2 MPG that would equate to what kind of cost savings (it is a higher displacement, higher HP engine than the 3.5 so the MPG improvement is offset a bit by that.)

Say you drive 10K miles a year. Say premium $3/gal. At 20MPG average, you are looking at 10,000/20 = 500 gallons = $1,500. 22MPG = 10000/22 = 454 gallons = $1363. So in exchange for a less smooth transmission the average owner saves $137 a year? I realize it isn't about real-world cost but more about marketing. But geez, I'm sure 99% of G37 owners would gladly exchange 1-2MPG less mileage and $150 annual cost for a smoother 7AT - assuming the part of the logic that is trying to conserve fuel economy is the main culprit here? Or is it the opposite that it is trying to be too sporty!?

[SteveTheTech]

You are not taking into consideration CO or CO2 emissions from the tail pipe. The 7 speed may not offer significant real world improved fuel economy the load is more linear than ever before possible.

I agree that the masses of owners would like an ideal acceleration experience...however the car was tested with a certain set of parameters and cleared Federal DOT regulations. There are just some things that cannot/will not be changed.

[anfmichael82]

I got my 2010 G37 at the end of July and has always shifted roughly up and downshift, downshift is probably the worst. Sometimes coming to a stop it literally jerks me forward when it downshifts. Upshift can be pretty rough too. Im at 7,000 miles and the dealer is trying to say that the car is learning my driving style and may take up to 15,000 miles, at which I told him I wont keep it that long with this problem. I dont care what the heck the car is trying to learn, it should still know how to shift! I feel like I am driving a 2004 Ford Focus. I am taking it in again shortly for this problem again and will tell them to get with Infiniti because I don't want it back until it actually drives like a $40,000 car! I miss the 2005 G35 i traded in, it drove smoother than any car I have ever been in.

[audtatious]

Weird...While both of mine can be somewhat "downshift aggressive" in DS mode yet they are usually tame in drive. I've only had a couple of experiences where the car downshifted roughly while in drive, each time it was under heavy braking or an odd circumstance.

Welcome to NICO

[jimbo0607]

I have this same exact problem with my 2011 G37xS Sports Package. I bought it with 300 miles on it so I thought maybe the people who tested the car beat on it. I now have 2500 miles on it.

The hard downshifts from 2nd to 1st are almost unbareable. I basically can't drive fast in the car cause' when I do the hard down shifts occur. It takes the fun out of driving the car. What ashame.

The problem seems less when I drive like miss daisy.

Brought it to the dealer and they basically made me out to be like I was making it up. They didn't have a TSB for my car either.

I'm definately selling the car soon; I'm just trying to deal with it for a little while to get my moneys worth.

This is the worst car I've owned btw although it's gorgeous inside and out.

I will never suggest an Infiniti to anyone.

Jim

[audtatious]

There is a couple of Technical Support Bullitin's out for harsh 7AT transmissions:
ITB10-075 is for various issues including harsh 2-1 downshifts
ITB09-032b which has to do with 4-3 downshifts

You can find them here: http://www.infinitig37.com/Infiniti-G37 ... itins.html

[joe603]

Perhaps my 2009 G37S Sedan does not have this problem...or I'm simply used to it. I've never felt the 1-2 downshift aggressive in AUTO mode, D or DS. However, I have noticed some quirky-ness on some occasions. The other night I slowed down for someone turning left off a 55mph backroad, when I hit the gas to speed up, it did not accelerate for a second, then downshifted 2 gears. I didn't have the pedal floored, but that's how it acted. Now it was a slight incline and a corner, so that may have been why. But the norm is smooth (I was in "D" mode).

For my daily driving, I switch off the VDC and put it in DS mode. The only issue is that at first it holds the gear too long until it realizes that I'm just cruising around town, then it shifts normal...until I floor it...then it takes forever to go back to "cruise mode". Sometimes I just use the paddles if I don't want to wait. All of this does not happen in "D" mode, only "DS" mode.

[audtatious]

Don't worry, I have the same "issues" with my 5AT.

[jimbo0607]

I talked to a co-worker today who I've been trying to convince that an Infiniti is a bad idea and she's decided to go with an 2008 Acura TL.

I asked her why she officially changed her mind and she said that one of her friends owns an M series Infiniti and it has the same hard down shifting problem that my G37 has.

Wow.

Jim

[audtatious]

You know, it's a catch-22. Have power but a slow shifting transmission and you have people complain about it. Have power and a firm shifting transmission and people complain about it. Have no power and any transmission and people complain about it.

whiners

[jimbo0607]

I wouldn't complain if the transmission was consistant but instead the hard downshifting only occurs every few days (if that). And when I say it occurs only every few days, it only hard downshifts once that day. For instance - it hasn't hard downshifted since Saturday.

I could totally see hard downshifting every time as being fine and I would prefer it that way.

A transmission should be consistant, bottom line.

[exit9]

haven't been on the board for a while. fed up with the G transmission issue and is considering trading it in. went to the dealer today for brake service and mentioned the outstanding transmission issues. he mentioned a tsb update to smooth things out a bit. so far, it feels a little better. not perfect but it's not as jerky/clunky as before at low speeds.

tsb info: http://www.infinitig37.com/TSB/ITB10-075.pdf

[exit9]

had an opportunity to really test the transmission update in stop and go traffic this morning. overall, the patch makes low speed driving a little better but it still needs improvement. the 2-1 downshift is now a mild bump. not the harsh clunk/jerk as before. it feels as though the rpms are getting too low in second gear before the transmission shifts to 1st causing the bump (500-700 rpms). the engine braking is not as excessive as before. you can still feel it but it doesn't make the car feel too clunky/jerky with each downshift or dragging at low speeds.

overall, the update is a much welcome patch but the transmission behavior could be better for a near luxury vehicle. the 2-1 bump still needs to be addressed eventhough it's mild and the engine braking could still be smoother. if infiniti is working on patch B it would be a welcome update to improve driving performance it on otherwise fine car.