CVT Throttle Response - Can it be changed?

[rbperrie]

I'm the proud owner of an '07 Altima 3.5SL with the CVT transmission. In general I like the performance of the CVT but would like to be able to change the throttle/rpm programming. As with my previous Maxima I would like to under normal conditions do a modest acceleration with the engine between 2000 and 3000 RPM as it goes through the gears. Yet with the CVT under modest acceleration the RPM rises to about 2000 but then rapidly is driven down to about 1200 RPM by the CVT where it remains until you release the throttle. What you get is an intital modest acceleration that rapidly goes to a sluggish lugging of the engine till you reach speed. Now when it starts to drive the RPM down you can increase throttle to keep the RPM up but then the CVT seems to react by trying to rapidly drive the RPM up for hard acceleration. The end result is you wind up having to fight the CVT to maintain a modest acceleration rate with the engine RPM in the 2000 - 3000 range. Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[skylndrftr]

Your not gonna have a lot of luck reprogramming the CVT which is your real problem. The best I can offer i maybe a little more agressive initial throttle? It might make the CVT think yourbeing more agressive and encourage it to hold a ratio trend down a little longer.

[blueis300]

How would you do that as I have an 07 also and would be interested? Can you also get the ecu pin out?

[Bigvinnie]

I doubt throttle response on the CVT can be changed. It was designed to lower fuel consumption by reducing load to the drive train.I do know what you mean though I own an all wheel drive Nissan Murano.You may want to check and see if the ecu pin outs on the 3.5 CVT altima ecu are the same as the maxima, as well as the murano. You may find a jumpier throttle responce using one of those ecu combinations.

[skylndrftr]

I doubt they would change pinouts. They might however change software. The issue would be that the motors in all three vehicles you mention would be tuned differently for a reason whether its different intake or exhaust manifolds, Different options on the car and different transmission (or in the murano drivetrain). The real problem your having also is not the throttle response, its the CVT response which may even be a different controller than the ECU altogether ( without knowing the system entirely I am not sure) It would see mhighly unlikely that they would roll the functionality of the CVT into the ECU when they offer other transmission ptions with the car. That would significantly raise the price of the ECU across all the cars.

You might be able to tal kto our dealer if it is really bothering you. It is possible (although somewhat unlikely) that they might be able to reflash the controller with either a newer software rev or just a reflash of the same rev and see if that makes any difference.

[Bigvinnie]

It appears that all the 3.5 litre engines use the same cvt transmission as this is the only trans rated for high torque loads. Assuming that information I would doubt the TCU torque load points are to different from each other. Although since the Murano is the heaviest of all the Chassis's , the TCU software may make it feel a bit more jumpy for the Maxima and altima.

JF010E

* Applicable up to 3.5L class vehicles * First in class around the world * Very high torque capacity

Main vehicles equipped with this CVT:

* Nissan Murano * Nissan Maxima 2007 * Nissan Pressage * Nissan Teana

I received my information from this web site.http://www.cvt.co.nz/index.htm

[blackrogue08]

Have you tried turning OFF the overdrive (if equipped)? On the Rogue overdrive off keeps RPM range at 3000 and up depending on throttle.

[Bigvinnie]

Ro

Have you tried turning OFF the overdrive (if equipped)? On the Rogue overdrive off keeps RPM range at 3000 and up depending on throttle.

Rogue uses a completely different CVT transmission with a lower torque capacity, probably why it doesn't have a lerge RPM range when the Overdrive is off.