What changed in the transmission in 2012?

 

I was planning on getting a max w 40k specifically cause thats the recommended time the fluid should be changed. You should of had the fluid condition checked as soon as you got it. Checking the fluid is the "only?" way to determine if it needs changing. It depends on how hard the car was driven.

 

I thought it said the fluid should be "checked" not changed until 90k or something like that. Personally, I think 90k miles on the same fluid is a bit much. I actually planned to change my fluid soon as a precaution but the fluid condition was normal when I purchased the vehicle. Both my mechanic and myself checked it. As for how I drive the car, it's not my daily driver and sits in my garage until the weekends usually

 

well its worth reading what Nissan officially says. check the manual. If you think about it they would prob void the warranty if the change was required. Just as I am sure they would not cover a failed engine which has never had an oil change.

 

Nissan recommends CHECKING the fluid at 30K (the service dept has the equipment to do this properly), but recommends CHANGING the CVT fluid at 60K.

I would be surprised if not changing the fluid within 48K would have anything to do with your CVT problems unless the first owner either lived on a dirt/gravel road or pulled heavy trailers or drove it very hard or took it to the track.

 

I have the 12 Max and hands down my wife 13 3.5 SL Altima is a beast when it comes to power and speed. the CVT in the new altima is no joke its quick i can feel and see the difference.

 

With our Maximas you seem to have to feather the throttle up a little then stomp on it. If you just stomp on it from the get go it seems to bog down a little (in D mode, not Ds) Is this gone with the new CVT?

 

It's not a max but I had a 2013 Pathfinder as a rental for a few weeks and the CVT was very responsive! I even had the wheels spin a few times of the line at lights. I was impressed considering it was an SUV.

 

I have heard from a friend in Smyrna that one of the reasons the 8th gen Maxima release was delayed a year or two was that the newer, quicker CVT in the newer Altimas and Pathfinders is giving some problems, and Nissan wants the rollout of their 8th gen flagship Maxima to be perfect.

I had already read about probelms with the latest Nissan CVT, and had feared they would also be in the 8th gen Maxima, but evidently Nissan does not want that to happen.

 

I can believe it. My pathfinder rental did hesitate several times while I had it. The shuddering was pretty bad actually. At first I thought it was because I was driving it like I stole it! Ha! But even under "normal" driving conditions it would shudder on me. The pathfinder has 9k when I got it and I turned it back in with just over 11k. I certainly hope the new max doesn't suffer the same fate. Although, when it worked, it worked well

 

Would your source know anything about the CVT fluid and if it has anything to do with the problem(s)? I just saw a TSB regarding CVT fluid and it states CVTs prior to the 13 Altima use a "green" fluid, NS-2. The new transmissions use a blue fluid, NS-3. The TSB also states that using the older green fluid will lower fuel economy... so it got me thinking they thinned the blue out for MPG and that may be causing some problems (less protection due to lower viscosity, perhaps?). Anyway, was wondering if you had anymore info on the new CVT problems.

If anyone wants me to post the fluid TSB... just ask. I'm too lazy to look it up unless someone wants me to.

 

Kawowski - Sorry, but my acquaintance is an IT worker in the computer center involved with work for the Nissan budget office. He sometimes hears discussions in the snack bar/cafeteria, but is not mechanically oriented. I am hoping he can overhear discussions regarding when generation 8 will eventually arrive.

My connection with him was not through his job at Nissan, but through an encounter with him while he was working for the company with which I spent 35 years, all in IT.

 

I got the same code as you. Also posted something about trouble up and down shifting. Took it to the dealer and like I suspected I am in need of a new transmission. I only have 56k on her so its covered under the warranty. What a shame tho...I hate imagining my baby being opened up like that for a major repair. At least it's free....

 

It should be a basic bolt on swap, no ?

At least you're getting a new ( and supposedly) better tranny

I had to get new short block on my 2013 at 3500 miles