I dropped my car off this morning for the heated seats issue and the CVT 2.5 issue...This is the 2nd time, but this time my customer service rep had a conversation with the service manager before I left the car...instructing them to call tech line when the car is there. I stuck around long enough to watch the tech check the seat bottom and seat back with a temp gun...and acknowledge there is a difference....they were going to call tech line re: the seats and the CVT, so I left....2 hours later I get a call...."We're making progress"...there is a fix for the seats coming out soon, but because your car is here, they instructed my tech on what to do"....all he knew is it's a wiring thing....Gee, ya think.
Also they ordered a belt tensioner per tech line instructions, for the CVT moaning....he indicated he doesn't think it is the answer, but ordered the part as a emergency overnight delivery. Although he's doubtful this will be the answer...he's comfortable at least, Nissan is aware and working on a fix...He wants it as bad as we do....lot's of unhappy customers.
Oh, and he's arranging for a Hertz rental as they do not have loaners....not sure if the dealer is paying, or Nissan.....but I do know, it's not me.
I'll report back when I have some results....not too sure this overnight part thing is really going to happen that quickly....as today is MLK day.
How do you get a "Customer Service Rep"? My Altima is going in, in 4 days, for the CVT lugging, engine light (emissions), navigation unit (keeps blinking blank), heated seats, drop in MPG (sounds like probably related to the emissions issue).
Call 1-800-647-7261, follow the prompts. The 1st person will take your information and assign you a claim #....within 2 business days a customer service rep will call you to discuss how to proceed.
At first I figured I could just manage the way I drove to make the CVT work with me, but now I am realizing that the CVT is def rumbling and "shifting into way too high of a gear" way to early and low. It is horrible and seems to be getting worse and hopefully they figure out a way to reflash the CVT to maintain good MPG while making it a smoother feelign from 0-40ish. The paddle shifters make it liveable, but I shouldn't HAVE to use them. 3.5 engine. Argh... I love this car and don't want this CVT to make me hate it.
If you haven't already, call and go on record with Nissan Customer Service. It appears the numbers of customers calling and complaining is making a difference. The higher the numbers, the less likely Nissan is to not address the issues. My dealer is taking on a different attitude based on the numbers of customers complaining to him...finally he's agreeing the CVT complaints are legit. I think he's concerned as well he should be (so should Nissan) about the loss of future business. Remember the dealers communicate with corporate....unhappy customers = unhappy / concerned dealers = headache for manufacturer. Complain to the dealer's Service Manager, General Manager, Sales Manager and if available, the owner....let them know this will affect your future purchases....Don't be argumentative....let them work for you. Get them on your side. Believe me, they want happy customers.
Excellent and very well stated advice Conkris. Like you, I believe that an increased volume of complaints is the best way to get Nissan to address the problem. I hope other buyers of 2013 Altima’s speak up so we are not all stuck with an engineering mistake. I’m confident Nissan is planning to correct in next year’s production run. That is certainly the most cost effective way for them to get past the problem but would leave us 2013 owners with a flawed product that is annoying to drive and has low resale value. Please report the issue.
I believe they will take care of us....it would be stupid not to. Think about it....if you did not own a 2013 and were in the market for a 2014, and knew they didn't stand behind the 2013's, leaving customer's with a inferior product, would you consider a 2014???? I wouldn't. Social media is very powerful...years ago something like this would travel slowly, maybe they could get away with it....but not now a days. Information travels almost instantly. IMO, they will take care of us.... I think it will however, take time....they need to make sure the fix truly is a fix. I also don't think the tensioner is the answer...
They do not want a reputation of not standing behind their product...that would be suicide.
Just dropped of my car at the dealer this afternoon for the lugging noise and vibration issue for the 4th time. The service dept. is still telling me they're waiting for a pernament fix from Nissan. This time they didn't seem too confident a fix is forthcoming anytime soon. The term used was "hoping". Now I'm having another issue with the torque converter not locking up at all in the morning when the car is cold. It takes about 4 min. of driving before it does. Has anyone experience this? Two other issues are excessive wind noise from the driver side mirror area and passenger side air bag light coming on while seat is occupied.
This is really depressing.
Mine tranny does this as well (no cold temp lockup), I suspect it is normal, as it started happening as soon as the weather got colder, and it takes longer on really cold days than on less cold ones. While there seems to be no direct reference to this in the owners manual, there is a mention of manual mode not being available when CVT temps are too low. I suspect the delay in lockup availability is to force CVT fluid temps to rise as quickly as possible to ideal levels.
Quote:
Originally Posted by atglass2
Just dropped of my car at the dealer this afternoon for the lugging noise and vibration issue for the 4th time. The service dept. is still telling me they're waiting for a pernament fix from Nissan. This time they didn't seem too confident a fix is forthcoming anytime soon. The term used was "hoping". Now I'm having another issue with the torque converter not locking up at all in the morning when the car is cold. It takes about 4 min. of driving before it does. Has anyone experience this? Two other issues are excessive wind noise from the driver side mirror area and passenger side air bag light coming on while seat is occupied.
This is really depressing.
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2013 Altima 3.5SL, Cayenne Red, Beige Leather, BT trunk light mod / footwell light mod, Racing Line FSTB
Atglass2.....What do you mean when you say it takes about 4 min for the torque converter to "lock up"?......
In my case (3.5 SL) on the past several VERY cold mornings (under 15 degrees) the car will operate with pretty high rms' until it gets warm......but I think that's typical and normal......probably due to the automatic chock running the engine faster until it warms up.......in my case about 4 or 5 miles on a really cold day.
Atglass2.....What do you mean when you say it takes about 4 min for the torque converter to "lock up"?......
In my case (3.5 SL) on the past several VERY cold mornings (under 15 degrees) the car will operate with pretty high rms' until it gets warm......but I think that's typical and normal......probably due to the automatic chock running the engine faster until it warms up.......in my case about 4 or 5 miles on a really cold day.
Can you explain what yours is doing?......
Mine takes a few minutes before it locks up. Until the lock up the RPMs are way up and won't come down. Sound like you're experiencing the same thing but I have a 2.5L I started to notice this recently when the weather got colder here in NC, but nowhere near the 15 degree mark.
The RPM's do come down when I stop at an intersection, but run high while driving. As previously stated, I think this is intentional - the combo of running at a lower gear ratio and not engaging the TCC hastens the rise of CVT fluid temp. As soon as the fluid temp reaches a predetermined threshold, normal behavior ensues.
Quote:
Originally Posted by atglass2
Mine takes a few minutes before it locks up. Until the lock up the RPMs are way up and won't come down. Sound like you're experiencing the same thing but I have a 2.5L I started to notice this recently when the weather got colder here in NC, but nowhere near the 15 degree mark.
Sounds like it's normal. In my case it didn't begin happening until the weather dipped to at or below freezing. This morning, for example, the temp outside was 4 while the temp in my garage was 20....still VERY cold. I drove about 4 miles at between 30 and 40 mph and the rpms were close to 2,000. Typically in the warmer weather, by the time I drive 1 block my rpms will be around 1,100 to 1,300 when crusing at 30 to 40 mph.....again, I drive the 3.5 engine.
I just picked up my car (2.5L) ....here's what's on the repair order..
Roadtest for vibration, rattling noise at 1500 RPMs, inspect, replace tensioner pulley and serpentine belt per tech hotline....
I only went a short distance in a snow storm, so can't say if it's better. I'll repost in a few days. I really don't think this is the answer, neither does my service manager, but at least Nissan is reacting.
I just picked up my car (2.5L) ....here's what's on the repair order..
Roadtest for vibration, rattling noise at 1500 RPMs, inspect, replace tensioner pulley and serpentine belt per tech hotline....
I only went a short distance in a snow storm, so can't say if it's better. I'll repost in a few days. I really don't think this is the answer, neither does my service manager, but at least Nissan is reacting.
Thanks for the advice yesterday... I called a dealership this morning and they said they've had no complaints about the CVT. Then I proceeded to call Nissan directly and had them open a case for me to make it official and on the books. They suggested I call a dealership and have it be seen to give them an opportunity to fix it and I told them that based on the forums, that there was not a fix yet. I don't have time to go to the dealer to have them tell me they will TRY this and that and just waste my time and cause me stress. I called another dealer for th heck of it and they want me to come in to "look" at it... We'll see. I'll probably wait till I see people on here getting solid answers and solutions before I waste my time at the dealer. Thanks again though!!!
Thanks for the advice yesterday... I called a dealership this morning and they said they've had no complaints about the CVT. Then I proceeded to call Nissan directly and had them open a case for me to make it official and on the books. They suggested I call a dealership and have it be seen to give them an opportunity to fix it and I told them that based on the forums, that there was not a fix yet. I don't have time to go to the dealer to have them tell me they will TRY this and that and just waste my time and cause me stress. I called another dealer for th heck of it and they want me to come in to "look" at it... We'll see. I'll probably wait till I see people on here getting solid answers and solutions before I waste my time at the dealer. Thanks again though!!!
I'm in MA as well. What dealerships are you dealing with?
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