2013 Sentra losing power?

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Texas Jay
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Car: 2011, 2013, and 2015 Nissan Sentras. First Nissan: 1978 Datsun 510 Hatchback.
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Hey all. I have a 2013 Sentra with 107K miles and it’s been a perfect car. No problems until now. I used to drive at 70 mph on the highway at an even 2,000 rpm’s. Now I hit 2,000 rpm’s at just 60 mph. Around town, I could go 40 mph at 1,100 rpm’s. Now 40 mph is at 1,500 rpm’s. Maintenance has always been by the book and only at the dealer. What’s going on?
Last edited by Rogue One on Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Revise Title


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VStar650CL
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2004 Nissan Altima 2.5 S

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Sounds like the tranny is slipping. I don't think the '13 Sentra has judder-detection logic in the TCM, so slippage without another malfunction probably won't light the MIL. It also could be the 2-speed diff clutches that are slipping and not the CVT belt. In some sense the 2-speeders combine the worst traits of both a CVT and A/T, it has clutches to wear out like an A/T and thus lacks the "potentially unlimited" life span of a pure CVT, but still retains the CVT's vulnerability to bad or overheated fluid.

Here's the really bad part: If the dealer did "by the book" maintenance, then chances are your CVT fluid has never been changed. Nissan calls for it only under "severe" conditions. Living on a hill is pretty much "severe", but that's a different discussion. The bottom line is, if it's never had a fluid change then chances are it's a dead horse. I'd pull your maintenance records and find out immediately.

Texas Jay
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Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2021 4:34 pm
Car: 2011, 2013, and 2015 Nissan Sentras. First Nissan: 1978 Datsun 510 Hatchback.
Location: Dallas, TX

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Thanks. We had the CVT fluid changed at 89K miles in 2019. I asked for it, but no Nissan Service Advisor ever mentioned it to me. I had to request it.

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VStar650CL
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Texas Jay wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:12 pm
Thanks. We had the CVT fluid changed at 89K miles in 2019. I asked for it, but no Nissan Service Advisor ever mentioned it to me. I had to request it.
Sadly, I rather expected that. They need it at 30K, and going past 60K for the first one is a crapshoot, particularly with the 2-speeds.

Texas Jay
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Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2021 4:34 pm
Car: 2011, 2013, and 2015 Nissan Sentras. First Nissan: 1978 Datsun 510 Hatchback.
Location: Dallas, TX

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The dealer said I’ve been such a good customer that “the factory” will help me with the cost of a new CVT, if that’s the problem.

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VStar650CL
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That's good, sounds like they value your business. Nissan has an official "goodwill" program and the SM's recommendation is often the biggest factor in getting it approved. Nissan originally warranted their CVT's for 100K and they'll usually help out with any failures that happen in that neighborhood, so you stand a good chance of getting substantial help. :)

Texas Jay
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2021 4:34 pm
Car: 2011, 2013, and 2015 Nissan Sentras. First Nissan: 1978 Datsun 510 Hatchback.
Location: Dallas, TX

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VStar650CL wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:52 pm
That's good, sounds like they value your business. Nissan has an official "goodwill" program and the SM's recommendation is often the biggest factor in getting it approved. Nissan originally warranted their CVT's for 100K and they'll usually help out with any failures that happen in that neighborhood, so you stand a good chance of getting substantial help. :)
Thanks. Let’s hope so.

Texas Jay
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2021 4:34 pm
Car: 2011, 2013, and 2015 Nissan Sentras. First Nissan: 1978 Datsun 510 Hatchback.
Location: Dallas, TX

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VStar650CL wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:52 pm
That's good, sounds like they value your business. Nissan has an official "goodwill" program and the SM's recommendation is often the biggest factor in getting it approved. Nissan originally warranted their CVT's for 100K and they'll usually help out with any failures that happen in that neighborhood, so you stand a good chance of getting substantial help. :)
I have an update: on the 2013 Sentra, we had the CVT fluid changed at 51,000 miles (in 2016) and at 89,000 miles (in 2019).

We had the car given a complete diagnostic today (at 111,000 miles). The dealer said there is nothing wrong with the car. They said it’s in fantastic shape both mechanically & cosmetically. But it’s now running 2,400 to 2,500 rpm’s at 70 mph, whereas it ran at 2,000 rpm’s at 70 mph until just a month ago.

I guess the CVT is starting to wear out? The dealer just tells us “everything checked out as normal”.

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VStar650CL
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That ain't normal, it's exactly how they behave when they start slipping.

Texas Jay
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Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2021 4:34 pm
Car: 2011, 2013, and 2015 Nissan Sentras. First Nissan: 1978 Datsun 510 Hatchback.
Location: Dallas, TX

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VStar650CL wrote:
Mon May 10, 2021 5:35 pm
That ain't normal, it's exactly how they behave when they start slipping.
Thanks. I guess we’ll just run it until driving it becomes more difficult than we can tolerate. We’re keeping it at 60 mph (2,000 rpm’s) on the highway. Other than that, the car is like new.


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