Automatic Transmission (CVT) issues

[udfxrookie]

I have a 2008 Nissan Altima 2.5 that has recently started doing very unusual things while driving. It seems when I stop the car stays in 5th gear so when I start to go it crawls, then slips down to a lower gear and begins driving normal again. Sometimes when I stop at a like I switch to manual mode to ensure it drops to M1 then put it back to auto drive to start going normal.
This is an intermittent problem that seems to be getting worse.

I JUST got this car a few weeks ago from a friend, the kind that doesn't take care of their car.

I did the oil change asap, the a/c compressor froze breaking the belt... changed. Also replaced starter and battery. When the oil was done I was VERY unaware of CVT fluid change... my question is, could this be a simple issue solved by changing the fluid according to pg MA-30: http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Altima/2008/ma.pdf
or would be wasting $130+ because in reality I need a new transmission?

(I HATE going to transmission shops as everytime I've gone its $1k plus for a full rebuild, etc and it never solves my issues lol)

[udfxrookie]

So the guide was perfect and shifting is going INSANELY smoother. I did feel a few slips though while driving, not sure if that was the fluid circulating through the system fully or not.

Tomorrow I have a 40 mile trip to make so I'll be more sure at that time. But so far, it does seem a lot better.

Also used Valvoline cvt fluid vs NS-2 and by draining the pan and letting it pump out while the car was on from the outlet hose pushed close to 6.5 quarts out (which smelled burnt, but no particles)

Oh,and car is pushing 138k miles and more than likely NEVER had this maintained.

[seldomseen]

The CVT has an adaptive learning mode that will initiate when new fluid is detected. In most cases the CVT will learn your driving style after a few hundred to one thousand miles. You could also take the car to the Nissan dealership to have the CVT programmed to address the problem as well.

[udfxrookie]

Still feels like its slipping, no check engine light on the pump anymore.
Car drives like crap though... you can go WOT from a light and it takes forever to go,
then it seems like it jumps into gear and flys.... ideas?

Or is this like seldomseen said? Needs to be reprogrammed? Ideas on cost for that at the dealership?

[seldomseen]

Still feels like its slipping, no check engine light on the pump anymore.
Car drives like crap though... you can go WOT from a light and it takes forever to go,
then it seems like it jumps into gear and flys.... ideas?

Or is this like seldomseen said? Needs to be reprogrammed? Ideas on cost for that at the dealership?

For starters you should've used Nissan's CVT fluid to cover your butt. Nissan's CVT oftentimes engages the CVT's adaptive learning mode soon after it detects new CVT fluid. The mode will make the CVT feel like it slipping and causes delayed throttle response from a standstill or while driving. Yes, it's annoying as hell, and frightening at times. It can take several hundred miles, and or a few thousand miles for the adaptive learning mode to resolve the CVT slippage/delays.

However, the dealership can reprogram your CVT to reduce the symptoms of the adaptive learning mode, which will accelerate the CVT's ability to relearn your driving characteristics.

I don't know what the cost would be for a reprogram is, but it should've be overly expensive. If you had the Nissan dealership perform the drain and fill; they wouldn't charge you for the CVT reprogram as it's very common after a drain and fill.

Good Luck

[udfxrookie]

So this insane crazy driving will eventually... stop after it learns?
Or I can drive to Nissan tell them fluid was changed and they'll take it from there?

It's scary because if you go to pull out... and it crawls you risk the chance of getting hit. At lights in the rain I go to go and people behind are honking (lol) then it suddenly takes off and the car wants to slide out because of the pavement... not cool =(

[udfxrookie]

PS...
Close to 700 miles now, three round trips to Orlando then Tampa, Brandon, Valrico... all from Hudson area... yeah I added a ton on in a week

[udfxrookie]

Well waiting surely doesn't fix the issue (over 1300 miles now) and logic says... the learning isn't this rough.
Else no one would drive these vehicles because off the line with 0 miles the transmission would know absolutely nothing about the driver, or "learning" and I doubt it would ever take 1,000 miles to get this under control.
Sometimes it works great, most time it is horrible... honestly believe at this point it is the transmission needing replaced. To pay a "rebuild" is more than $1k, the dealership wants almost $300 JUST To diagnose it, and them I'm sure a ton to repair or just tell me I needed a new transmission...
While at the same time I can buy a used transmission with low miles and a warranty for $200-$400 and take care of this one properly from the start.

[udfxrookie]

I do see where you are getting your knowledge from (http://www.toptransmissions.com/transmi ... learn.html) but these transmissions are ALWAYS learning... continuously variable transmission (CVT) and even with the oil being changed and not being exactly the same, etc... it would never drive this crappy for this long, unless there was another problem or the transmission was just gone

[aname4u2guess]

I have a 2009 Altima 4 cyl. with 140,00 miles on it . The transmission died last week. transmission shop said that they could replace it for around $4000. The car is in great shape except for transmission. Any suggestions?

[seldomseen]

I have a 2009 Altima 4 cyl. with 140,00 miles on it . The transmission died last week. transmission shop said that they could replace it for around $4000. The car is in great shape except for transmission. Any suggestions?

Sell/trade the car!

[kallen007]

Bah... there's seldoms great advice.

@aname4u2guess - Yes... go to a U pull it shop like LKQ down here in Tampa
- Cost of transmission $176 with 90 day guarantee
- About $90-$110 of CVT Tranmission fluid (mentioned in another posting Castrol CVT is the cheapest)

You can get a friend, someone on craigslist to do the job, etc

I used markcass123's instructions: http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/2007-2 ... l-how.html

Only difference is I lifted the transmission with a lift vs dropping it. But the job isn't that hard... just time consuming =p

[chipahoy]

You could probably get one pretty cheap on ebay. Not that hard to change.

[seldomseen]

Bah... there's seldoms great advice.

You're a moron...if you think it's worth replacing the CVT on a car with 140k miles!