My 17 SR with 1600 miles on it feels awkward at slow speeds. Below 30 mph it feels like it is engine breaking. A definitive deceleration above and beyond coasting. Is this normal? I don't like it wasting all that kinetic energy and it feels annoying. Cruise off so it's not the collision avoidance doing it. Anybody else get this?

 

I was told by the service manager that the light jolt is the torque converter engaging and disengaging... my Max. Does not seem to like the 25-30mph range, so I try and avoid it, haha

 

Normal, mines does it too. I see your new to the CVT too. Enjoy its a beast, one time on highway I let it rip just to see...WOW

 

You can turn off the engine braking in the menu on your dash screen.

 

Really? Which menu?

 

Settings...drivers assistance..chassis control

 

did it work for you because I'm thinking about purchasing a 2017 Maxima but then I am hesitant because of all the complaints about the car jerking or whatever at lower speeds

 

Yeah my car doesn't jolt

 

Can you take a picture if the "turn off engine braking" screen? I can't seem to find it.

 

my car is smooth, but when you try to coast it dose slow down. but so has all my new cars after 2013. that would be great to fix this. can it really be done.

 

This fixed the issue I was having.

The screen is not in the console screen, it is in the speedo screen behind the wheel. Settings-Driver Assist-Chassis Control-Active engine breaking OFF. You can leave Active Trace Control ON.

 

Thanks for the help!

 

Engine braking is not a bad thing. Your brakes will last even longer using this feature

 

I felt it was too intrusive in daily grind conditions. Plus it annoyed me knowing I was bleeding off all that kinetic energy unnecessarily... I want the car to coast when i let off the gas.

 

Is this just an SR option?

 

Sorry they are not in order

 

It maybe just a SR option.

 

I have a 17 platinum... do not get the chassis control option

 

Is there one that reads "engine braking" or something?

 

Nissan first put this engine compression braking on the 6th gen 2004 Maxima. I loved it from day one. It worked beautifully on my 7th gen 2009 Premium also. If I didn't want it to kick in, I left just enough pressure on the accelerator pedal to keep the RPMs from dropping, so engine compression braking did not kick in.

When Nissan released this feature on the '04, they touted it as a way to make brisk driving fun again. I especially loved it when driving on curvy mountain roads, where it helped save my brakes under aggressive driving, and made long, steep, curvy descents more manageable with less braking.

But I can understand that folks who use the car as a daily commuter may not be as enthralled with engine compression braking. I am glad there is a way those who want it off can turn it off.

 

I'd rather have wear on my brakes that I can change all four corners for $200 than put extra wear on the engine and transmission. Just my $.02

 

I have understood (by the service manager since the day my car was delivered to me at the dealer and he was explained to me the chassis control options) that the Braking Assistant (BA), helps to apply the max braking force when the brake pedal is applying suddenly or in a emergency brake situation.......but even more, the BA feature, is part of the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) feature, in order to keep the course when the car undertake a curve or a slippery or winding road. Both features are an active security measures when driving. Well is up to you...he told me...

 

The active trace control that applies brake input during certain turning maneuvers operates independently from the engine break assist.

The front collision avoidance, that helps you stop the car in an emergency also operates independently of the engine break assist.
You can turn one, both, or any combination of the three off regardless.

 

Yes only on the SR, not available on the other trims.

 

Which sucks... I would love to turn it off on my platinum.

 

If I am understanding this, What MONTE 01/97SE is saying is that engine compression braking exists only on the SE in the 8th gen Maxima, not that the cutoff switch exists only on the SE.

This would be very reasonable, as only spirited drivers would be sure to want engine compression braking.

 

I think they all have braking. I'll admit that when I had the 07 I hated not being able to coast, learned the feather pedal trick to keep it rolling longer, but wished there was a way for it not to do that. Now driving a different car (wife has the '16 Plat), I find myself Constantly downshifting with the paddles...turns out I actually miss the frequent engine braking. You'll get used to it is my point, and find that if you're a spirited driver, its actually a useful tool...

 

I sure agree with your observations. I am l a bit jacked that Nissan removed the shift paddles on my 2016 Platinum. Did have them on my 2010 Max Premium and used the downshift BRAKING lots. Never a problem with the tranny and was still on the original brakes when it was traded with 50,000 miles.

 

Only the SR, not even an option on the other trims. Its part of the "Intergrated Dynamics-control module" on the SR only.https://www.nissanusa.com/content/da...-maxima-en.pdf

 

Thanks MONTE 01&97 SE. I was sure you were correct on this when you said it in your post here on March 15. Thanks for eliminating any doubt. I knew I had not experienced the same engine braking with my '16 Platinum that I did with my '04 SL and '09 Premium.

 

Engine braking may be adjustable on the SR, but the engine braking "feature" is standard on all these cars, going back to the 6th gen. I promise you, they all do it.

 

My 2010 Maxima Premium's CVT provided very noticable engine braking (not breaking) Even if I did not use the paddle shifters. On my 2016 Maxima Platinum, engine braking is very minimal except when I manually drop the shifters when coming to a stop. I like the 2016's CVT and it's inherent improvements with the sport mode option. I do wish Nissan included the paddle shifters on the Platinum

 

No prob Light, on all of my rentals of the 16/17 S/SV Maximas for work none have had that feature.

 

Who would want their engine to break? I can't imaging anyone would...

 

You always make me smile, which makes my life happier.

 

I would think they fixed the issue with the cvts in the newer generation

 

 

The situation being discussed here is as a result of engine compression braking, which the poster did not completely understand. I don't consider it to be a 'jerking' , but simply using engine compression to assist in braking. It is a sporting feature which I truly enjoyed in my '04 and '09 Maximas, but is only on the SR version in this 8th gen Maxima. It is found on many high-end Italian sports cars. Folks not used to it often do not enjoy it. As I said, it is only on the SE version of the 8th gen Maxima, and can be turned off if you wish.

Please do NOT let this feature give you any concerns when you are considering buying a Maxima.