darrelfsu

At low RPMs, does anyone experience a deep humming sound from the CVT, which sends a slight vibration through the vehicle? For instance, from a dead stop and slowly accelerating at low RPMs, my CTV produces an obvious humming sound. After about 2000 RPM, the car is very quiet. One of the salesmen says that it is normal. I think otherwise.

Anyone experience the same thing?

blackmax07

i duno, but i think mine vibrates a little to much..i dont remember it doing this earlier, like the gas pedal moves a bit? its hard to explain, maybe i'm paranoid.

bb700092

I haven't noticed any humming sound but sometimes I feel minor vibration when accelerating from low rpm. This happens only sometimes, not always. But this is nothing new, I always felt it since the day I bought the car. I do not think that is anything to worry about though I haven't talked to my dealer just because I won't be able to re-create the problem.

utas424

I am hearing the humming sound when i'm driving slow. I don't remember hearing it before either. But everyone is saying they haven't noticed any difference. Maybe its my mind......

tehaviator

That will happen with almost any motor under load at low RPM. For example, put a 5-speed transmission in 5th gear at 30mph and depress the accelerator pedal to the floor. Some call it "bogging down" the motor. Looks like Nissan screwed up a bit when programming the tranny, but it is VERY minor, and I don't think it is any cause for concern. I feel it all the time when I'm trying to conserve fuel, but for my normal everyday driving, i experience no issues at all.

STARR

iTrader: (1)

It's normal, brand new cars are so silent it's not until they have some mileage that the normal everyday noises and vibrations come out.

Terrentius

Yeah, I agree. If you go to manual mode and go 6th gear to quickly at low speed, then you will feel that exact same thing. Like said above, they programed the auto transmission incorrectly and so it goes right to 6th gear too quickly. Hopefully Nissan will do some software corrections and update our ECUs when we roll in for maintenance.

04MAX_ILLIN

iTrader: (3)

Thats normal...its the torque converter making noise. MY 04SE does it as well.

arunsoft2k

I get the same vibration at a low RPM in my 09 maxima. which is just a month old.

Terrentius

Looks like Nissan has not learned of this yet

jcalabria

The noise is not from the tranny or torque converter itself... but, as Terrentius and Tehaviator noted, the aggressive programming pushes the engine to the edge of lugging and the resulting resonant vibrations, especially in the exhaust system, can be somewhat annoying. Its not necessarily a bad thing, as the engine has the torque to operate in this mode and it is very good for economy. But it does cheapen the overall experience.

Try this... the VQ/CVT is extremely sensitive to even the slightest change in throttle pressure... at whatever RPM you want the slide in ratio to stop, just infinitesimally increase pressure on the pedal... the ratio change will be arrested and the lugging can be avoided. Mine will start resonating at an indicated 1,400 rpm... I just don't let it get below 1,500 by ever so slightly increasing pedal pressure at that point.

There are many little techniques like this that are somewhat unique to the VQ/CVT, but once you learn them it becomes a much more enjoyable experience and adds a level of driver involvement not available in conventional automatics.

08MaxCash

first off i have a question darrelfsu, do u have an intake installed?? well i feel the same thing, doesnt the CVT have lik only 2 gears? for me i reach 2000 rpms nd it drops to 1400 rpms as well i think thats how the CVT works

jcalabria

The stepper motor that sets the pulley ratios has 210 discrete steps. Any of those 210 "gears" can be selected by the control system depending on a number of system inputs.

kevin007

I have the same slight vibration on my cvt. I sure it is coming from the heat shields on the car the CVT has way more heat shields than the 04-06 Max's. Nissan put heat shields on the Y-Pipes where the bends are in the front and they have a large bracket clamp holding it as well. I sure thats where the vibration is coming from. You can see the heat shields under the car in the front.

BadBlackMaxSL

iTrader: (1)

I have it too on my 04 SL 5 speed auto. It is the engine at low rpm and high load of moving the car. Mash the peddle to make it go away!!!

tisucka

Hate to bring back an older post, but I also am noticing a similar issue and I just want to make sure that we are all still agreeing that this is not an issue and we can just ignore it without any future CVT or other problems.

eminemdpc

I too have this vibration/grinding/humming noise! It is soo annoying! People always ask if there is something wrong with the car. I used to like the CVT. Now I hate it. I wish I had an 04-06 Tranny.

MaxLoverAz

iTrader: (1)

If it's that noticeable you better have a visit with your dealer this doesn't sound right (no pun intended) LOL...

denbigh97

I hate to bump a 2yr old thread. I also noticed vibrations when my 07 Max is accelerating from a stop. The vibration goes away after my speed surpasses 25mph. The vibration is especially noticeable when the car is under stress in situations like going uphill at a slow, but accelerating speed. Very annoying... Did Nissan ever put out a TSB for this? I'd imagine a software update could easily correct this. Thanks in advance.

Hv10688

i have 07 max and i have the same issue, idk if anybody else is having this issue but with intake its a bit louder. wish they fix it, i took it to dealer twice and they say "it might be heat shield, so we fixed it." but still no change. wonder if they will ever fix this.