Hey all first post here. I have a 09 Maxima SV and I have a weird issue I cant figure out. Ill explain in detail. I bought the car with 189000mi on it and now its around 201000mi. Its been a great car, i love it but I cant figure this issue out.

So over the summer I was taking the car into the mountains, had no issues with it. Until the one time I was cruising on the highway going up a hill and the car just stopped accelerating. Turning it off and on did absolutely nothing but no lights on the dash came on. After i turned it back on and put it in gear it drop shifted but then it went but it wouldnt go over 2K or about 60mph - sounds like limp mode. When starting again from a stop the pedal felt dead, like i would press the pedal and the RPMs wouldnt rise or anything it was like it wasnt registering the throttle position. I parked the car overnight and came back and the issue was gone. Got it back home changed the CKP sensor and then did a fluid flush and fill on the transmission. The pan was pretty clean, no chunks of metal or friction material and nothing out of the ordinary stuck on the magnet. Some obviously, but nothing abnormal. Had several past codes on the car but none active. Low line pressure, TCM, CKP (engine over speed). But still no MIL.

Fast forward a few months and the car runs and drives great, until about an hour in stop and go traffic. Starting off i have dead pedal, when it does finally come back its slow like its waking up. Still no slips like a normal geared transmission which i would expect even with it being a CVT. Occasionally I will get VDS OFF and TCS off lights. One time when i ran into the dead pedal issue i turned the VDS off and it slightly got better.

I am trying everything to avoid the transmission. Fluid is brand new and filled to the correct spot.

Anyone have any ideas? I have all 4 new hubs and CV axles but I havent put them in - I know the rears are bad because i can hear them when driving.

My theory for the moment is that the VDS/ABS/TCS is delaying power to the engine because it cant accurately read the rear ABS sensors due to heat soak + material expansion - which is amplified and gets hotter faster because the bearings are going out. And it seems to be happening faster. I did see some bubbles on my transmission dip stick but the fluid is at the top of the full mark when at operating temp so pump cavitation seems unlikely. Still, no MIL.

 

I am trying everything to avoid the transmission....but the CVT is worn out. Replacement is your only option.

 

A bad MAF causes similar symptoms. I'd check to see if there's a way to diagnosis/troubleshoot/test the MAF in the Factory Service Manual.

If it's not the MAF, it does sound like a transmission issue. Do yourself a favor and at least talk to a few reputable transmission shops in your area and see what they say.

 

Cleaning the MAF Is an inexpensive and simple, try that out first. To me, It sounds like your transmission fluid overheated, your transmission Is cooled by the radiator, check to see if your radiator Is clean of debris, use a water hose and rinse your condenser and radiator. Also check the condition of your radiator coolant and radiator cap condition.