Transmission skips 2nd gear when downshiting

[airmarbury]

Hi Guys,

Just noticed something for my transmission and I guess this is the cause of my shutter/hard shifting.

When you use manual mode, you can let the computer to control the downshifting and you can see the gear position in your dashboard. I just noticed that no matter how you slow down your car ( a hard brake, gentle brake or let the car slow down by itself) the transmission always skips the 2nd gear.

For example, if you hit your brake at 50km/hour and you will see the gear position drops from 4 to 3 at 40km/hour and then it shifts from 3 to 1 when vehicle speed is around 5km/hour. And when the transmission shifts from 3 to 1 at 5km/hour, you feel a shutter/hard shifting

Does it happen to you guys . it is normal ?

Thanks

[frapjap]

No idea on that one!
I'll see if I can't get someone to help you out.

[AWGD8]

This is normal. You will never see 2nd gear when yoh cruise down to stop from 3rd or 4th gear to total stop. It will always go from 3 to 1.

I have a 5 speed AT 2008 EX35.

[airmarbury]

So why it doesn't downshift to 2nd gear ? A transmission guy told me this problem is called transmission gear not engaged/slips?

I thought this was the cause of my shutter/ hard shifting. But I do feel a hard shifting every time it downshifts to 1st gear

Anyway. Thanks AWGD 8

[AWGD8]

So why it doesn't downshift to 2nd gear ?

Anyway. Thanks AWGD 8

Could be a lazy programmer? LOL!

With hardshifting, how many miles in the car? If you have a ATF dipstick check for color of the ATF and amount of ATF.

[airmarbury]

So AWGD. Does your transmission also shift to 1st gear around 5km/hour. ?

[Chelsea John]

I have a 7 speed so not sure if this helps,tested on my way to work today and at all times trans shifted down in sequence 5-4-3-2-1.
I tried some quick slow downs and always saw 2nd gear engage. Now an emergency stop may be different but were talking normal driving here.
Before My EX I always dove a manual car and would never downshift from 3-1. Would never downshift to 1 in a manual without some form of whiplash :-)
So I can understand how your experiencing the 'shutter' you describe. To me it doesnt seem normal , 3-1.

[airmarbury]

Thanks Chelsea John.

[XIS]

This is normal.

If you want it to go into 2nd when slowing down in DS mode, you need to do it manually.

[AWGD8]

I have a 2008 5 speed and if I am on Manual mode, slowing down from 5th gear to full stop, no 2nd gear indication that shows up and no hesitation etc, but smooth stop.

I have Q40 now with 7 speed transmission , I have not tried it yet.

[airmarbury]

I have a 2010 with 5 speed transmission it is because there is a difference between 08 and 10 ex35 ???

I just tried it again. If I put transmission in neutral before it downshifts from 3 to 1. Very smooth stop and I feel nothing so I am pretty sure the shutter is caused by the downshifting from 3 to 1. But you guys all said it is normal for Downahifting from 3 to 1. I got confused......

Or it is because the shifting point is too low? My transmission downshifts from 3 to 1 when speed is 5 km/hour . What about you guys ?

Anyway. Thanks guys

[AWGD8]

So as you cruise down using manual mode from 5th gear --->4th--->3rd---> 1st ( normally 1st gear shows on almost full stop)

All this is done smoothly, letting the transmission downshift on it's own... I never feelt harsh engagement from 3 to 1.

Any harsh downshifting is not the reason why the indicator is not showing the 2nd gear. As we all verified with 5 speed auto that your issue is something else. Slight hesitation upshift and downshift before in my car was fixed by me changing the entire ATF and replaced the right amount.

It worked for me...

Are you downshifting on your own or you let the transmission does it automatically? Normally, If I cruise and needs to downshift, you need to be in the right gear to make it engage smoothly. Sometimes if I need to engine break (not a good habit to keep) the lowest you engine break is in 2nd gear) like from 4--3>--2 .
You do not need to downshift in 1st gear.... It is very big of a gear... If you manually downshift and unable to ... transmission is not allowing it for you to avoid damages or over revving....
This post is all in manual mode not DS.

[airmarbury]

When downshifting, I let computer to control my transmission and no matter what mode you use ( D, DS, Manual or Snow), you always feel the shutter when it comes to stop.

OK, here is the whole story, I got car from infiniti dealer (they recommended a new TCM because I have warranty and I said YES )

FOR THE FIRST WEEK

Engine RPM is stuck at 1000 when idling (the normal is around 600 or 700) and It was very hard for me to stop my car at low speed ( between 0 – 30km/hour). For Example: when traffic lights turn to green, we normally release brake and give a little gas so it moves. But my car is different, you release brake and then it accelerates by itself and you have to hit brake to slow it down. In other words, you don't need to give gas between 0 – 30km/hour and if you don't want to hit the car in front of you, you have to hit brake to slow down because it accelerates too fast.

However, if your speed is over 30km/hour, everything becomes normal.


AFTER ONE WEEK


All problems happened during first week are gone but there are three new problems
1. You feel shutter/hard shifting every time when it comes to a stop.
2. You feel a hard shifting (more like ..jerk forward) sometimes when downshifting from 5-4 or 4-3
3. I also noticed that my brake becomes so spongy but after few minutes, it becomes normal!!


A lot of people from Nico Club told me it is caused by the transmission fluid so I brought my car to a Nissan Dealer, They told me Infiniti Dealer doubled the recommended amount of my transmission fluid. It makes sense to me and also explains my problems during the first week. Due to the high pressure in transmission, transmission can not downshift to lower gears and that is why this car accelerates by itself from 0-30km/hour and engine RPM is 1000 ( Vehicle speed sensor tells TCM, Transmission Control Module that engine speed must match up with transmission gear)

After Nissan corrected my fluid level. Brake problem is completely gone and Shutter is getting better (You still feel it but just not as strong as before)
I already got 2 guys to check my transmission fluid so I am pretty sure it is no longer caused by transmission fluid. The reason I asked if it is normal for transmission downshifts from 3- 1 is because I suspect there may be internal or physical damage in my transmission.

I traded my 2006 BMW for this car and only enjoyed the “smooth transmission” for 3 weeks . It is really not funny because I still own $20,000 for my car loan. Infiniti Canada hopes me and the dealer can reach a common ground. Nissan told me they can do easy work but I have to go to Infiniti dealer for transmission problems. I spoke to some licensed technicians and nobody is willing to testify with me in the court. I spoke to Government and they refer me to BBB. I called a lawyer and he told his friend has similar problem but there is nothing he can do. The lawyer asked me to sell my car to someone but I feel really bad (what is the difference between me and car dealers !!!! ) There is a nice transmission guy told me they can provide a legal assessment for me but I have to drive it a lot ( especially in downtown with frequent stops because I need to make my transmission worse so that dealer has to fix it under warranty) Currently, I just want to know what causes this problem ( or what parts need to be replaced) so that I can prove myself in the court….Sorry about my complaints in here but it really sucks !

Anyway, guys, thank you so much for your help… Hopefully I can find an honest technician or nice lawyer …..

[AWGD8]

Do you physically check the transmission fluid when they fill it up? Do you have an ATF dipstick where you can see it?

If you have a dipstick, did you check the color of the ATF.

Here is what you do.

Park in a empty parking lot with open space in front of you.

Start the engine-- open the window--- no a/c or radio on.

Open your driver side door--- press brake pedal and put AT shifter to N ( listen for any wierd noises)
Still with the brake pressed , shift to R (noises? Hard engagement?)

Next with brake press, move to D and listen and feel .. Move to M and manually move the lever. Noise/shuddder?

You wont be able to shift to different gear so you have to feel and hear any weird noises with window down and car moving...

[NJGuy]

Do you physically check the transmission fluid when they fill it up? Do you have an ATF dipstick where you can see it?

I thought Infiniti did away with the dipstick on the transmission for 2010?

[AWGD8]

NJ, oh eah! I forgot about it!

[airmarbury]

I just got someone checked the fluid again and this is the third time I check the fluid. I don't feel any difference before and after.

I did what you say and what I feel is

I the morning when I drive to work . It is easy to pull shifter from p to r to n and to d . However I do find that it becomes hard when I drive in the afternoon ( when weather gets warm). I didn't hear any noise

However. When I drive around 30 - 40 I do hear a special Noise like something is viberating.. It is not from engine not from my wheel and pretty sure it is from the transmission........

[AWGD8]

Have you checked the transfer case ? Front and rear differential? Just trying to r/o other issues connected to the drivetrain.

[airmarbury]

I have a transmission guy checked my transmission last time and he said there is something wrong but he doesnt know what it is. He said it could be the computer program but I got nissan to reflash the TCM/ECU and they said there is no update so that they can not reflash it. That is why the transmission guy suggests me to drive more and hopefully, the problems get worse so that dealers have to fix it.

[AWGD8]

So car is under warranty right? How far is the next Infiniti dealership that you have not gone to? I would probably drive there and tell them I am in the middle of a long road trip and you noticed this issue.

Kind of starting of with a new dealer to work with.
Have them test drive it again and see what they say.
Since, you are on middle of a long road trip, this will force them to find the issue and not beat around the bush...

[AWGD8]

Can you also drive in DS mode all the time for a few days? Then drive it hard on DS mode to see if the transmission can relearn.

[airmarbury]

i can try it but i really feel the problem is caused by the TCM. after the dealer installed TCM on my car, SES was on , code is IPDM (intelligent power distribution module) they blamed it to my autostart ( an aftermarket part ).. it doesnt make sense to me because my old TCM works well with this part but the new TCM doesnt work well with this part ?

in fact, I also tried to reset my TCM/ECU couple times, (use both battery disconnection OR the easy-way) after resetting it, I can feel the hardshifting ( jerk forward) from 4-3 or 3-1 at the first 50km everytime and then it is getting better. Eventually, the 4-3 hard shifting is gone ( unless you drive on uneven road) but 3-1 never gets better. however, it is really funny, if i give a very very hard brake, i never feel 3-1 hardshifting or there is only a minor one.

Anyway, Thanks for your help AWGD8, I spent too much energy and time on this issues and feel tired now. Just google infiniti dealers and looks like there are 3 in Boston .. only 9 hours drive from Nova Scotia, Is someone from Boston and any recommendation for a honest dealer ?

Thanks