I have a 2001 GLE ("Automagic"), produced late in the model year (custom ordered, delivered Mar 1, 2001). I have noticed a hesitance when downshifting at speed (usually when flooring the accelerator, although I haven't used the shifter for this) rather than smooth response, so emergency manoevers could be delayed, especially considering how we all seem to drive these cars!. I haven't been turning off the overdrive at all (the O/D light is not on).

When I have found the TSB, it addresses this problem in 2000 and early-production 2001's, but my VIN number is a later number. Might it be the same problem? Is it normal, so I'd have to adjust? Since we expect the Nissan service guys to be either uncooperative or uninformed, I'd like to know more before I talk with them.

Thanks for your input.

 

Automagic lag is a given. We all have it.

 

I had the same problem with my 2k GLE and it was completely fixed after replacing TCM under the first TSB. The delay was 0.5-1 second before (quite dangerous) and now it shifts almost immediately if I floor it or just press accelerator say 2/3 of a way. I even can do "double" downshift - flooring/releasing/flooring again.

 

Thanks. I think, though, that I may have trouble convincing the dealers I have the same problem, considering the "youth" of my car. Any tips for convincing them they should use the TSB and replace the TCM?

 

It all depends on dealer, I think. I'd ask service manager or their designated technician to test drive it with you in the car. In my case it failed to downshift properly only in 30% of cases, not every time I floored it. Even worse - the delay itself was different from 0.5 to 1 second. I think it had that delay every time but the delay value was random in the range of 0 to 1.5 second and I was getting bigger values less often. That behavior was quite annoying - I was barely able to change lane safely on a highway due to unpredictable value of that delay. My dealer is average in service but even them replaced that TCM from the first visit. On the other side it took about 5 trips to convince them to replace my front rotors under warranty . Good luck!

 

2k1 models produced after 9/28/00 have software upgradeable TCMs and ECUs. So just take it in and have them reprogram both with the latest software and see what happens.