CVT Rattle/Noise - Discussion Thread

[philipa_240sx]

Anyone know if the Rogue would be compatible with a conventional 4 speed automatic transmission? I have pretty much lost faith in the CVT. Would it be just as easy to install on the Rogue as the CVT? Just wondering if that might be an option instead of going through 3, 4 or 5 CVT's before getting one that functions correctly.

Nope, this is not possible. The Rogue (and just about every Nissan for that matter) has separate computers for the engine, transmission, ABS, AWD, and chassis (intelligent key, lights, etc). All of the computers in the car are linked together and exchange critical information. You cannot swap one for a different type (ie CVT computer with auto transmission computer) or even the same type (ie CVT from a Sentra into a Rogue). They are all unique and expect certain data/parameters which may be different for every car and drivetrain combination.

Just about every car out there is computerized in the same manner.... the days of carburetors and simple hydraulically controlled automatic transmissions are long gone...

[hpy11]

I have the same thing happened to me. It happened right after 6 months (~7500 miles) that I have my Rogue. I don't think that I will purchase Nissan again after this one is done.

kcfm:

How many miles on the current CVT?

[williammoses]

One forum member--can't remember who--recounted the time a Nissan Service Manager hoisted his Rogue on a lift with all four wheels off the ground. He put the transmission in gear and let the vehicle idle. What they saw was the wheels turning and the engine and transmission shimmy from side to side. After reading this, I inferrred the vehicle may have a structural weakness.

If you are on your third transmission, isn't it time to go the lemon law route? The Lemon Law procedure is described in the Nissan Rogue Owner's Manual Warranty Supplement.

I recently sold my Rogue and bought a Honda CRV. Depreciation hit hurt plenty, but the Honda seems more substantial to me. Five speed automatic is very refined.

[kerrton]

I'm sure the story is true, but I guarantee you that Rogue vehicles do NOT have a visible, abnormal shimmy of the transmission and engine under the circumstances you described, this vehicle has quality engineering that could not overlook an inherant design flaw like that. If this were true, Nissan would have gone out of business long ago.

Remember this vehicle has been sold in Japan and Europe for several years, and combined with the ones sold in North America that's hundreds of thousands of Rogues - there is no way that the powertrain on the Rogue is just "hanging" there on a flimsly little frame that is unable to support it properly. This is a completely absurd scenario, I dare say impossible.

Whatever caused this to occur on the vehicle you mentioned must have been an abnormality, such as broken or loose mounts. I'm sure the CRV will be a great vehicle for you, it's always at the top in terms of quality, but the Rogue is not a fragile vehicle with the powertrain ready to fall off as people buy these things by the thousands and drive away, that is a guarantee.

[kcfm]

I was doing a little internet search and stumbled across this forum over on Edmunds.com. Evidently there are a lot of unhappy Rogue owners with grinding trannys over there as well.

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.c...de/41

[Couz]

Geez..my Rogue is two weeks old with 600 clicks on it.

This isn't exactly getting me excited to read what I'm reading.

I hope mine stays fine.

[daytrippr]

Just an update on our Rogue.

We got our 2nd transmission at 18K miles. We never really had a 'failure', just yje annoying 'rattle' for 16K miles.

The new transmission now has 3500 miles on. No rattle has reared it's ugly head.

[Couz]

What exactly is this rattling sound like?

Can you hear it with the windows up?

[daytrippr]

What exactly is this rattling sound like?

Can you hear it with the windows up?

This has been described in length above, but, since we are now on page 14!

You can hear is best at low speeds, usually when driving below 20 mph, say in a parking lot. It is most pronounced when decelerating, some people hear it during low speed turns, but we had never heard that.

At the end, we believe it was MUCH louder afetr driving freeway speeds and then coming to a stop on an offramp.

I believe that the sound is best described as rocks in a polishing tumbler, or perhaps a lot of loose change in the clothes dryer with your jeans.

Definitely not a normal sound.

Hope this helps.

Yes, you can hear it best with the windows up.

[kerrton]

My new FWD CVT has 5000 km on it and has no noises and performs flawlessly, this is an awesome vehicle.

The noise starts out quite faint, you only hear it for a split second as you come to a stop and occaisonally when driving very slowly in parking lots, at less than 5 mph, and it gradually gets more constant and slightly louder. It is just a rattle/grining noise that you wouldn't hear if you had the stereo on but you can definately hear it with the windows up. I drove with mine for months and didn't really notice it and thought it was just a normal CVT sound, it never really bothered me until I casually mentioned it to my service department and they immediately said they were ordering a new CVT, no questions asked.

[Couz]

Can I assume the sound will come from under the hood.

And if you have it you will here it mo9re often than not

[philipa_240sx]

Interesting thing came up today...

There is a Nissan Tech Bulletin regarding a high pitched 'woowoo' sound from certain 2007 Sentra SE-R models equipped with the QR25DE and CVT transmission. Apparently it was due to a issue with the valve body. Nissan's fix was to replace the valve body within the CVT. Seems pretty involved as it requires partially disassembling the CVT to get at the valve body.

Note: This appears to be a completely separate issue compared to what some Rogue owners have experienced. It only affected a small number of Sentra's in 2007.

At least we know it's possible to do some service on these transmissions.

[Goblin]

Sorry to hear it. I can't say I blame you on your decision and will be right there next to you if my transmission acts up again. Good luck with your next purchase.

OK, you guessed it. The transmission started rattling and I pulled into the first dealership I could find and unloaded my Rogue. What a weight that has been lifted. OMG! I feel like a free man!

I couldn't take it any more. This year alone I had the transmission replaced, the hood aligned, and something with the rear end fixed. I feel like I live in the service department. And, now yet another transmission noise?!? WTF! When does it end. NOW!

I wish you guys luck with your Rogues and dealing with Nissan for any unforeseen problems.

[Roli]

Morning all, its been a while since I posted, My transmission was changed out in October, after Nissan Corp authorized it.

I am not sure if it was replaced with the original part number or a new part number.

What I found interesting was while I was at the dealer for a Service Engine soon light I stopped over at the parts department to order a few BS stuff, and was asked how I like the Rogue and I told him I hate the Rogue but love my Murano, and told him about my transmission issue. As I was talking to him he asked if I had it changed in October 2008. In which I did, and he replied that I was the only one to have the transmission changed at that dealership.

This is not a small dealership so that really suprised me that I was the only vehicle with the noise.

As for the noise, I might be sensative about it, but it does seem to come back once in a while,,,, Well in less then 24 months the lease is over so I could care less at this point....

Good Luck with your Rogues.

[kerrton]

It's funny, just for comparison, if you read the forums for the higher-priced Mazda CX7, there are lots of reports of a) transmissions that shift slowly/sluggish performance which seems to be a design limitation, and b) reports of prematurely failing transmission's requiring replacement.

[Couz]

I have a couple of friends that have the volvo xc90 or whatever...the volvo suv that say they get rattles also at times that seem transmission related

[paulvanharte]

Well we can compare other cars, but that does not help those of us with the CVT issue. I am on my 3rd CVT and this one is starting to rattle as well. I only have 2000 km on this one so the rattle is still not loud and very intermittent.I will just drive it until it gets worse( or not hopefully). I am going to talk to my service manager to find out if some noises are just typical of the CVT or if there should be no ticking/rattling etc etc noises.

Paul

[kerrton]

You're totally right about that. But this supports what I was saying about the problem not being with the CVT itself, but that it must be caused by something else such as the transfer case, computer programming etc.. Someone responded to me saying that "the problem is definately the CVT belt rattling". I'm saying that's not it, that is the part that gets damaged and makes the noise that you hear, but the more CVT's that they replace on your vehicle, I think the less likely that it is actually the CVT part that is the problem. It's the scientific method. If you continue to manipulate one variable and don't get the desired results, then that variable is not the one you need to be manipulating. In your case changing the CVT doesn't solve the problem, so something else must be causing damage to the part shortly after its replaced, causing it to fail. But it just can't be that the CVT replacements are s**t because that would mean all Rogue CVT's would be failing like crazy and that just isn't happening. There is something unique about your vehicle and a few others that cause the CVT to get damaged and I'm sure it's not a defective part itself, something else is causing that part to disintegrate and your service guys need to find out what it is or else buy back that car and give you an '09 that works properly.

[maverick_rogue]

Could it be driving pattern causing the transmission to behave in a different way than the designed one and resulting in the noise?

What I noticed is that some of us who have this issue got# of trannies replaced but issue persists (either subdued afterwards or with same intensity) , and some of us have no issue at all.There is no pattern what so ever on Part # , Year or Place of Manufacturing etc.

Is is possible to figure out something like : How much RPMs do you reach during acceleration when you push the throttle before it comes down and stabilizes. What is the median RPM at which you drive? How much is the distance you cover in one go and if possible clear the driving pattern memory by disconnecting the battery and then try again and see if it helps.

Just a thought: This might not be the cause but I do see merit in this Cause and effect theory.

[Couz]

Well we can compare other cars, but that does not help those of us with the CVT issue. I am on my 3rd CVT and this one is starting to rattle as well. I only have 2000 km on this one so the rattle is still not loud and very intermittent.I will just drive it until it gets worse( or not hopefully). I am going to talk to my service manager to find out if some noises are just typical of the CVT or if there should be no ticking/rattling etc etc noises.

Paul

Are you still getting these slight rattles on your new CVT at the parking lot speeds also while slowing down or are they coming up under different circumstances now.

[kerrton]

maverick_rogue, that is the thought process that I'm getting at. There are so many thousands of factors to consider I'm not sure if we could figure it out here, but I think that is the path to take in diagnosing the problem. As we know, the computer learns from your driving habits and tunes the CVT to behave according to your preferences, so each Rogue would control the CVT slightly differently, maybe a certain driving style does result in damage to the CVT, I have no idea but something definately sounds unique about those with recurring problems while the majority of other have no problems whatsoever.

[Ticmxman]

OK, you guessed it. The transmission started rattling and I pulled into the first dealership I could find and unloaded my Rogue. What a weight that has been lifted. OMG! I feel like a free man!

I couldn't take it any more. This year alone I had the transmission replaced, the hood aligned, and something with the rear end fixed. I feel like I live in the service department. And, now yet another transmission noise?!? WTF! When does it end. NOW!

I wish you guys luck with your Rogues and dealing with Nissan for any unforeseen problems.

So what did you trade for?

[Goblin]

Funny, I was trying not to thread jack my own thread. Anyhow, I ended up getting a 09 Tacoma SR5 TRD OFF Road. SWEET Truck! The deal was too grand tp pass up and it got me out of the Rogue. The dealer had marked it down $7500 with only 3 miles on it as a promo. I jumped on it.

[paulvanharte]

Update, I just came back from my dealer and the service manager joined me for a test drive. I drove slow and slightly accelerated and he could hear it. Its still in the early stages so he did tell me that if it became worse he would investigate further. I suggested maybe there is something else thats causing this, but he did not think so. All the onces they replaced are all fine ( well nobody has come back)I test drove a Murano and we may decide to bite the bullet and trade it in for a Murano.

Paul

[Couz]

Update, I just came back from my dealer and the service manager joined me for a test drive. I drove slow and slightly accelerated and he could hear it. Its still in the early stages so he did tell me that if it became worse he would investigate further. I suggested maybe there is something else thats causing this, but he did not think so. All the onces they replaced are all fine ( well nobody has come back)I test drove a Murano and we may decide to bite the bullet and trade it in for a Murano.

Paul

So your not getting the rattle like others claim is the symptom....on slow down and stop and go parking lot speed.

Your getting it on acceleration only?

[paulvanharte]

This is sort of how it starts. First you can hear it slightly upon coasting and than accelerate slightly. Eventually it will develop in a consistent rattle, which you can hear upon slowing down such as in parking lots. Remember this is my 3rd CVT so I know what to listen for and how it starts.Paul

[Couz]

This is sort of how it starts. First you can hear it slightly upon coasting and than accelerate slightly. Eventually it will develop in a consistent rattle, which you can hear upon slowing down such as in parking lots. Remember this is my 3rd CVT so I know what to listen for and how it starts.Paul

Is it that sound you posted a clip of a while back.

And when you say coasting and accelerate lightly what speeds are you talking about.

I get a slight rattle here and there but only when I give gas when the car is in high gear ratio, meaning the car RPM's drop and you get the infamous vibration.

But normal driving I dont hear much and i'm approaching 2000kms

[philipa_240sx]

And when you say coasting and accelerate lightly what speeds are you talking about.

Parking lot speeds.. less than 12mph or 20km/hr

[paulvanharte]

Yep I posted a clip of the sound last year. Now I am not saying the current rattle is going to get worse. For all I know it will not get worse at all.The service manager said that what he heard was way less than the previous CVT. Right now I can only hear it when I coast and accelerate at parking lot speeds. Its only there for maybe a second or two. If you did not know it was there, you might think its normal. The replaced CVT started like this, at the end you could hear the rattle when you just slowed down and come to a stop.Paul

[Couz]

I think the CVT makes some noises here and there.

I would find it odd if it didnt considering how it operates.

I mean if the "vibration" is normal I dont see how a couple of faint ratles here and there wouldn't be normal also.

I get the same kind of noise a manual transmission gets when its gears are too high for the speed the car is at...its a slight rattle/chatter.

And everyone knows that's completely normal in a manual transmission no quesyions asked...if the same idea is going on with the CVT than I dont see why a few noises here and there arent normal.

Now this of course may not apply to your case Paul as I dont get any rattle at coasting parking lot speeds and trust me I've checked for that.

I'm just making an observation and in the "Engine or CVT noise while accelerating" thread in the middle of the the page there's a quote I found posted a while ago on this forum from a Nissan head concerning CVT noises etc..