New 2014 Owner - A few Questions

[F10inSD]

Hi Team,

Just picked up a 2014 SV with Prem Package, gun metal with charcoal. I had a few questions and was hoping for some help from you wise Nico folks.

1. I read online that the downhill engine breaking feature on the CVT could be disabled by simple programming from the dealer… Is this possible? (I asked my service advisor and he had no idea what I was referring to)

2. Is it normal for the outside temp to always read about 7-10 degrees hotter than the actual outside temp?

Thanks for all your help and be easy on this newbie.

[JB'sTitanXD]

1. if you go into your drive assistant menu, you can turn it off.

2. yes, the sensor gets hit by some of the engine heat.

[daltonvol]

I don't know about your second question...mine is generally within a degree or so of being correct.

[Rogue One]

Hi Team,.. 2. Is it normal for the outside temp to always read about 7-10 degrees hotter than the actual outside temp?...

This topic has been discussed in multiple threads. Here's a few.

Where is it?

outside-temp-sensor-t547279.html

The FSM says it is behind the front grille. I am unable to find an exploded parts diagram that shows its position - HAC-114 only says "remove front grille, then disconnect sensor". Grille removal instructions are on EXT-19.

what-are-these-wires-for-behind-the-gri ... re%20these

Outside Thermometer Inaccurate post6499462.html
incorrect-outside-temp-readings-causing ... 55715.html

[F10inSD]

Guys.. Thanks for the quick and informative responses.

I went in and turned off the engine braking... feels a lot better to me.

The temp issue is just a little added bonus I have to live with i suppose. I am a tiny bit let down by this small detail since the gauge in my Explorer and BMW are always spot on. 1-2 degrees off is one thing, but 8-10 isn't uncommon in my Rogue.

On another note... I called my local Katzkin Leather dealer and plan on upgrading to full leather interior. The quoted price was 1295 installed plus tax... not bad and my SV will feel a lot nicer inside!

[tsumeone]

I can tell you that turning off the engine braking in the menu does not turn off where it does engine braking on its own down hills. It only turns off the feature where it does engine braking while you press the brakes to augment the brakes. People keep repeating the myth here that it turns off engine braking entirely, but it does not. If you don't believe me, try to coast down a steep hill and watch the RPMs

As for #2 I have the same thing. After driving for ~5 minutes it returns to a much more realistic number. The temp sensor must be in a spot that gets warm in the sun.

[F10inSD]

Hummm.. Ok so then is it possible to have it turned off by the dealer like I read online?

[tsumeone]

Hummm.. Ok so then is it possible to have it turned off by the dealer like I read online?

I'm not sure. Where did you read that?

[Rogue One]

Hummm.. Ok so then is it possible to have it turned off by the dealer like I read online?

I'm not sure. Where did you read that?

It's in the owners manual. You should try reading it sometime.

ACTIVE ENGINE BRAKE

The Active Engine Brake function adds subtle deceleration by controlling CVT gear ratio, depending on the cornering condition calculated from driver’s steering input and plural sensors. This benefit to easier traceability and less workload of adjusting speed with braking at corners.

The Active Engine Brake also enhances braking feel by adding subtle deceleration with CVT gear ratio control according to driver’s brake pedal operation.

The Active Engine Brake can be set to ON (enabled) or OFF (disabled) through the Vehicle Information Display “Settings” page. See “Vehicle Information Display” in “Instruments and Controls” for more information.

Section 5-42: Starting and driving p.315

[JB'sTitanXD]

It's in the owners manual. You should try reading it sometime.

Gotta love the know it alls

[tsumeone]

I'm telling you guys that you're wrong. That says absolutely nothing about disabling the engine brake when going down hills, which is what the OP asked about. You don't need to be rude about your misunderstanding.

[F10inSD]

What I read online may or may not apply to the transmisson model thats in my Rogue... thats what I was trying to figure out with your guys help. It was from an Altima website that addressed the engine breaking issue... apparently there's a value that can be changed by dealer programming to reduce the amount of engine breaking downhill.

I took the advice of JB and turned off the setting in my drive assit menu.

[JB'sTitanXD]

Did that make a enough of a difference for you? It reduced the amount of engine braking enough for my tastes.

[F10inSD]

JB…

Thanks… it actually did make enough of a difference where both me and my wife can deal with it. Now on to the next project… leather seats!

[tsumeone]

I just wished it turned off the automatic engine braking completely. When I go down a hill, I want the car to be coasting.

[RyleyinSTL]

^^While the vehicle might be engine braking down a hill at 2500RPM it isn't actually consuming as much petrol as if you were revving the engine at 2500RPM. This is accomplished by the magic of computer controlled everything. You can increase brake life and still get good MPGs. Everything Nissan does in this respect is about a higher number for the EPA MPG cycle so if engine braking consumed more fuel (on average) they'd have tossed the idea.

[Rogue One]

I'm telling you guys that you're wrong. That says absolutely nothing about disabling the engine brake when going down hills, which is what the OP asked about. You don't need to be rude about your misunderstanding.

Everyone is entitled to their informed opinion. However, the misunderstanding is on your end. I was was replying to tsumeone's question "I'm not sure. Where did you read that?" It's a question on where information was obtained from, nothing more.

I have a query in to Nissan Tech to try and get a more definitive answer on turning off or disabling the engine braking system.

[tsumeone]

I'm telling you guys that you're wrong. That says absolutely nothing about disabling the engine brake when going down hills, which is what the OP asked about. You don't need to be rude about your misunderstanding.

Everyone is entitled to their informed opinion. However, the misunderstanding is on your end. I was was replying to tsumeone's question "I'm not sure. Where did you read that?" It's a question on where information was obtained from, nothing more.

I have a query in to Nissan Tech to try and get a more definitive answer on turning off or disabling the engine braking system.

That was a question for the OP. I was asking where they read downhill engine braking could be disabled by the dealer. You replied in a snide manner that I should try reading the manual sometime (which I have). The manual has no information on disabling downhill engine braking. The misunderstanding is on your end and I would appreciate it if you, as a moderator of this site, would not be unnecessarily rude when someone is sharing their factual experience with a 2014 Nissan vehicle which you do not even appear to own.

[tsumeone]

^^While the vehicle might be engine braking down a hill at 2500RPM it isn't actually consuming as much petrol as if you were revving the engine at 2500RPM. This is accomplished by the magic of computer controlled everything. You can increase brake life and still get good MPGs. Everything Nissan does in this respect is about a higher number for the EPA MPG cycle so if engine braking consumed more fuel (on average) they'd have tossed the idea.

While that's true, I'm worried about the consequences of the extra stress on the CVT transmission. It might save me brake life but that's requiring the transmission to do more work. Nissan hasn't given us a 10 year warranty on the new transmissions so I don't want to put extra load on it if I can avoid it.

[POBINVA]

Well, now I know I'm not the only one bothered by the downhill engine braking issue. It's not that I don't like it, AT TIMES, but I, too, would like to be able to turn it off when I just want a standard downhill coast sensation. I've hit a stone wall with the dealer - everything is normal Is all they can say. The regional Nissan rep is useless - won't contact me back. Nissan USA also worthless - they won't return emails or calls. I just really want to understand the system.

I read the manual cover to cover when I bought the car. But thanks to my fellow owners (you all) I think I'm finally really "getting it." The on/off switching system on the menu I guess really only turns off the CVT assist WHEN THE DRIVER MANUALLY APPLIES THE BRAKES. The "downhill" automatic engine braking, which a number of us seem to agree we'd like to turn off, is unaffected by this switching function. To me, this is unfortunate. Others may love it, and I respect that if you do, but I'd like to turn it off/on depending upon my personal driving preferences, not Nissan's. Toggling the driver assist menu switch on mine has NO appreciable effect on downhill engine/transmission behavior.

It's a hard thing to judge on a typical test drive before purchasing. The Owner's Manual and Nissan's advertising is, IMHO, not clear on this. At this point it looks like "it is what it is," and I will have to get used to it (it's a preference thing).

Someone posting indicated they had submitted a technical query about this. Have you heard anything?

CAN a dealer reprogram the DOWNHILL braking? Mine certainly knows nothing about it, so if anyone has detailed references PLEASE post!

Is my impression similar to that of others on this?

Thank you all!