Auto transmission question..

[370Z/28]

I took my car in yesterday because the transmission is so jerky and bogs the engine. My drive to and from work is a long road with traffic lights on every corner. I'm usually going 10 to 20mph, then back to 10. My car will stay in the higher gear, then bog the engine when I go to take off again. I usually have to give it a good bit of gas to make it go on and downshift.

OK....so I take it in yesterday and the service guy and the mechanic take it out, they get it to do that, but he tells me that Infiniti designed the transmission like that to save on fuel. WHAT?? How can jerking and bogging save gas?

Does everybody's car do like this?

I should have gotten a 6sp.

[joe603]

Are you driving in "D" or "DS"? Will it do it in manual shift mode?

[Poyzinous]

I would recommend you put it in manual mode, drive yourself how you want it to shift, and do that for 2 days. The transmission will learn your shift pattern and begin to shift like that. The 7 speed will do a lot at those low speeds, going from 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 1 to 2 and thats why its a little jerky... because you're fluctuating the throttle so much its going to 3rd when you're braking so it has to go back to 2nd. Drive it in manual mode, keep it in 2nd without going into 3rd, and when you leave it in DS it will do similar, staying in 2nd instead of going to 3rd and then back to 2nd immediately afterward.

[infg35coupe]

yep u shoulda of bought a 6mt lol

[370Z/28]

Thanks guys. I will try driving in manual a while and see if that helps.

I could kick myself in the butt for getting an auto transmission. It is just like that is the only driving I do is stop and go and I had gotten tired of all the shifting. I miss it though.

[pfarmer]

Thanks guys. I will try driving in manual a while and see if that helps.

I could kick myself in the butt for getting an auto transmission. It is just like that is the only driving I do is stop and go and I had gotten tired of all the shifting. I miss it though.

I would drive in the DS mode (just remember to shift when you do stop). I have similar issues (at least they sound similar) with my 08 sedan and round abouts. In my case I slow to about 20 for the round abouts and then upon entry the auto will decide it is the time to shift which makes it a little jerky. I don't regret getting the auto, but there is this little spot where this comes into play and it sounds like you are in the spot.

Perry

[silver37]

My 7 speed seems to shift fine on the upshifts, but the 3-2 downshift between 25-20 mph is driving me nuts. It's like stepping on the brakes when all I'm doing is letting off on the gas. It's really bad when I add brakes and those big rotors/calipers kick in. I'm having to do some serious brake pedal modulation to get it to brake smoothly. Is there any way to train it to downshift smoother between those gears?

[pfarmer]

Thanks guys. I will try driving in manual a while and see if that helps.

I could kick myself in the butt for getting an auto transmission. It is just like that is the only driving I do is stop and go and I had gotten tired of all the shifting. I miss it though.

Not sure if you have the paddle shifters or not. If so keep in mind that they do work when in normal drive mode. I find this useful when going through the round abouts in my area. It will stay in the gear selected long enough to exit the round about and doesn't have the issue you seem to be describing.

Basically I approach the round about at a normal speed of about 35 for most of them. I then downshift using the paddles ending up in second gear at around 20 mph, which is good for the round about and also the often present school zone. It will typically stay in second until shortly after exiting the round about and then shifts back into normal 'D' mode.

Perry