New Versa, clutch slippage - FYI

[Ever Victorious]

OK... now that I've tested the car a couple days and know the problem's not coming back, I feel more comfortable posting this info:

less than 24 hours after I purchased my Versa, the clutch started slipping pretty severely in all gears except 1st.

If this happens to you, and it's a warm day, have your Nissan dealership look at the ASCD switch (part of the cruise control system). It's likely expanded, slipped, and is probably binding up your clutch (likely at the rod end).

This happened to mine, and apparently Nissan engineering has had a few cases of it. Since this is part of the cruise control, this problem should ONLY affect 1.8 SL's with the manual.

[audtatious]

Awesome!

Thanks for the info

[Paula]

I was getting on the interstate just a little while ago and had a major slippage going from 5th to 6th. Called my shop..... takin' her in on Thursday (along with your explanation) !

THANKS !

Paula

[penpen-commander]

great info, too bad you had to find out the hard way.at least it's fix now.

[Ever Victorious]

great info, too bad you had to find out the hard way.at least it's fix now.

Someone's got to be the guinea pig.

I'm thinking I got a Friday car. In addition to the clutch problem I had, I just discovered that the amount of wind noise I'm getting is NOT normal, and it's caused by the driver's side mirror not being mounted flush with the door surface, causing a pocket for air to rush into.

This will be rectified. probably when I get my XM kit installed.

[Juelze]

OK... now that I've tested the car a couple days and know the problem's not coming back, I feel more comfortable posting this info:

less than 24 hours after I purchased my Versa, the clutch started slipping pretty severely in all gears except 1st.

If this happens to you, and it's a warm day, have your Nissan dealership look at the ASCD switch (part of the cruise control system). It's likely expanded, slipped, and is probably binding up your clutch (likely at the rod end).

This happened to mine, and apparently Nissan engineering has had a few cases of it. Since this is part of the cruise control, this problem should ONLY affect 1.8 SL's with the manual.

Damn man, you scared me. I have a S model but you had me scared for awhiel!

-Juelze

[Paula]

Gotta pull this little puppy back to the top and let you know what's up with my car (SL, 6 speed, conv. pkg.) !

As I said above (on 8/8), I took my car in to the dealer after the clutch slipping I described. They could not replicate the issue, so nothing was done at that time.

This past Saturday with temps in the mid 80's, I drove about 70 miles of interstate (with the cruise on). Got off the "big road" to a 4 lane state hwy. I noticed a little slippage, nothing major, so drove on. The speed limit increased from 45 to 55 and eventually up to 65. I set the cruise when I reached the 55 zone, then tried (I repeat TRIED) to use the cruise "Accelerate" feature to go up to 65. HA ! The speed increased about 4 mph, then with a little jerk, the car started slowing down.... WTH !! I looked at the dash and the CRUISE light was still on, but the SET light had gone out. I tried 3 more times... set the cruise, then tried to use the Accel. switch... incr. 4, then it was like I had hit the CANCEL button.

Coming back home from that trip (about 100 miles one way), it was after dark and had rained a little so the temps had dropped some. No problems whatsoever on the return trip.

SOOOO, back to the dealer today. Told Greg (svc mgr) what the car was doing, and again... "If I can't make the car do the same thing, there's nothing I can do." He got in the driver's seat, me in the passenger, and we went for a drive (really strange riding in your own car). It was kinda warm here today - so up the interstate we went - 20 miles. Car did fine on the way up, BUT as he was accelerating on the on ramp to drive the 20 miles back to the dealership, the clutch started slipping ! Yippie !! We get on the interstate, he sets the cruise on 60, then tries to accel. using the cruise; speed increases about 4 mph, then the cruise cuts off ! Yippie again !!! By the time we got back to our exit and he was turing on the highway, the clutch was slipping really badly.

I wound up leaving my car, but don't know for how long. I'm driving an '06 Sentra. They're going to try to get approval for a rental car for me since, 1) they don't know how long they'll need to keep my car, and 2) they don't have enough dealer tags to spread around.

Ever Victorious, thanks for your help last month !! I had to go back and dig up your post about the clutch problem so I could print it again. Hopefully that will give them a starting point. Greg also said he was going to call your dealer and talk to the service guys about your issue to see if they might could get a "heads up" on what's going on with mine.

I'm curious at this point about something tho - is this a factory/design issue and something that can be fixed at the dealer before a new 6 speed is even delivered to a customer, or is it an issue where the car has to be driven (i.e., heated up, cruise on, driven down the road for 40 or 50 miles) before what ever it is "breaks" ????? My mom is waiting on a grey 6 speed and I'd really rather she not have to go through what I have. If they can fix it before she ever takes delivery of the car, that would be best.

Paula

[electech]

I believe I would tell mom to get the CVT!! Good luck getting yours fixed and let us know what they find.

[Ever Victorious]

Sadly, that is a question that I believe would need to be answered by your service tech.

I had a friend once buy a car identical to one I already owned, that I had recently before he purchased it received a recall notice on. I told the dealer to perform the recall before he took delivery, but I think that may be a different case.

In any case, my problem has not returned, so I do believe that adjusting the ASCD switch will fix your problem.

[Paula]

You just go right ahead and do that ! I'll be right here.....

:hide



This will most likely Mom's last new car. She's 67, very active, don't seen any signs of her slowin' down anytime soon ! She wants a grey 6 speed SL with the conv. pkg., and "by damn, that's what I'll get or I won't get one at all !!"

[electech]

She sounds like a real "strong willed" type!!! LOL!!! Better watch her, next thing she will have is a Z06 'Vette!!!

[Ever Victorious]

And/or a Harley?

[Paula]

Sadly, that is a question that I believe would need to be answered by your service tech.

I just wonder if he would be able to answer that question.

In any case, my problem has not returned, so I do believe that adjusting the ASCD switch will fix your problem.

I take it you didn't ever have the problem I'm having with the cruise acceleration ? At first I though the car had died, it's so quiet.

I should be able to give an update probably sometime Thursday. They're pretty backed up and said they won't even be able to start looking at mine til Wednesday at the earliest.

[Paula]

Nope... no Z, no vette... can't hardly carry the blonde bitc* (the dog) in one of those !

No Harley either.

Got to be something that will hold the pool cue cases, tackle box, and fishin' poles !!!

I'll check back in when I know something.

Paula

[Ever Victorious]

To be honest, I wouldn't know about the cruise acceleration problem. The problem with slippage was VERY distinct, and it occurred when I was driving on city streets (so no opportunity to use the cruise).

It makes sense that it would happen, though, because the ASCD switch is what tells the cruise computer that the clutch has been depressed, which is tantamount to pressing the "CANCEL" button on the wheel,

[kc5f]

Concerning the cruise control, in the manual it says that it will cancel itself if the speed drops a certain number of mph below the setting. It's more than 4mph (I'm at work and can't go out and look at the manual), but yours may be kicking off lower than normal. Hopefully it's a easy fix or software reset.

[Edited: I just went out and checked the manual. The cruise will cancel if the vehicle speed drops 8mph below the set speed.]
Modified by kc5f at 1:43 PM 9/12/2006

[mgmay]

Cruise control?? I don't believe cruise control is available with the 6-speed manual??

[kc5f]

Cruise isn't available on the S model, but standard on the SL, which can be had with the 6-speed. I'm assuming that's what Paula's got.

[Paula]

Yes, I've got an SL, 6 speed, with the conv. package. Cruise works great, btw ! Doesn't vary 1 mile +/- going up and down these Tennessee hills !!!

OK - took my car in on Monday, got it back yesterday afternoon. The problem WAS the ASCD switch.

OH ! Mom got her car yesterday !!!

Black SL w/CVT. I drove it today - that transmission is amazing, wierd, and sweet all at the same time ! She really didn't really want a black one, but this one just "spoke" to her. Our dealer had traded a white one to another store and got the black one in return. First black one we had seen. It's scheduled for 35% tint on Tuesday. Vent shades should be available hopefully in mid November.

Paula

[Ever Victorious]

Wow... 4 days... did the switch actually FAIL? On mine it was just out of adjustment, I had it back the next afternoon.

Good that it's fixed tho, and cool on your mom getting a V also.

The cruise is good, but you have to watch your incline vs. gear. I had it shut off from slowing down when I went to E. Wa... apparently the eastbound approach to Snoqualmie pass was too much for it.

[Paula]

I honestly know if the switch had failed or need adjustment. Really the only reason it was in the shop so long was because they were backed up quite a bit. The building my dealer is in is pretty old and they've got a small shop and just 2 techs & 1 oil change person. I KNEW it would be Wednesday afternoon at the earliest before they'd even get a chance to look at it.

I could have kept the car, but since it was slipping so badly I certainly didn't want to cause any more damage AND I felt it was unsafe to drive. They gave me a Sentra to drive. Tried to talk the owner into lettin' me drive the new red Z they had on the showroom floor, but he wouldn't go for it !!

Mom loves her car ! Can't wait to see the black one with tint.



I'll watch the cruise..... don't have any steep hills (or passes for that matter) around here. I could see some problems maybe in east TN going through the Smokies, or going up 9 mile hill heading westbound out of Albuquerque - BUT I don't see me heading back to either of those places any time soon.

Paula

[BenDupre]

Car does look good in Black!

Ben