I use to have a older Altima and the engine would hold redline as long as the gas pedal was held to the floor. My new Altima has a shift (like a non CVT) to the transmission in both "D" and "DS", is this normal?
Ds (DriveSport)mode-Move the shift lever from D(Drive)to the Ds (DriveSport).The position indicator in the meter shows “Ds”. In Ds (Drive Sport) mode, transmission operation changes to Sporty driving shift operation, creating a more aggressive acceleration feeling than the D(Drive)mode and a gear change sensation when the driver accelerates or when using the shift paddles (if so equipped). During Ds (DriveSport)mode operation, the driver must move the shift lever from Ds mode to D mode and back again to re-select Ds (Drive Sport) mode.
It's normal in Ds, but it shouldn't happen in D. My 2013 revs up and holds RPMs at a set point if you floor it. If it doesn't do that, there's no point in having a CVT that holds RPMs in the "sweet spot" for acceleration.
Yes 15951 that is what I was thinking and that's the way my old Altima worked. I was told by the dealer they work different now, so I was hoping to find another 2016 user and get their input. Throckmorton yes I read the manual but it really does not describe normal mode. Or at least I don't understand.
Help me understand this...what input are you looking for from other 2016 owners?
Your car CVT "shifts" as you have described, the dealer told you that this is now how the latest generation CVT operates...but somehow, you think something is wrong with your car?
I think all new nissans have "step logic" because of all the complaints of cvt drone. Even in D if a certain amount of throttle % is applied it simulates shifts. It should still act like a regular cvt when light throttle is applied.
I'm not trying to be a wise guy but what got all this started was when I very first test drove the 2016 Altima the CVT worked just like I thought a CVT should work. Hit Redline and stayed there. But now even in "D" mode the CVT shifts. With a "Ds" mode on the gear selector, I guess I was thinking "D" mode would work like a old model CVT (no shifting) and "Ds" would stimulate shifting. My first thought was the car was stuck in "Ds" mode. On the first test drive if the car "shifted" this question would have never came up. No I'm not unhappy just trying to understand "how things work"
Interesting. So Nissan is now programming the CVT software to artificially "shift" regardless of mode, which should result in slower acceleration at WOT. I'm sure they did this to pacify the idiots bringing their cars in for troubleshooting the CVT because it "hangs at redline".
The next step in this flawed thought process is to mimic shifts at all times, which logically leads to dumping the CVT and going back to a conventional automatic transmission.