Why does CVT not shift properly when temperature is below -5 deg.C
Asked by clif Mar 08, 2022 at 09:27 AM about the 2018 Nissan Altima 2.5 S
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
At -5 deg. C and below , seems cvt will not upshift to allow car to accelerate
beyond 35-40 km/hr , until transmission warms up some. Engine revs high.
Depending on ambient temperature , sometimes this takes a long time.
3 Answers
CVT's are a joke for a transmission, they should be left in scooters and snowmobiles. With that being said I recommend you either start it let it idle to operational temp before driving while it is that cold. Or put an oil pan heater on the transmissions oil pan and plug it in after your done driving it. I would recommend in the very near future trading it in or selling it as you will have the transmission go bye bye costing you a bundle.
This is odd for a four year old car unless you have a LOT of miles on it. Nissan CVTs are made in Mexico and were junk when installed at the factory. You need to have a Nissan transmission mechanic diagnose the problem. Nissan CVTs need accelerated maintenance if they're to work at all well. After you get this fixed, follow recommended service at about double the recommended frequency. Or do as everyone else does: dump the car.
Stay away from CVTs in cheap Nissans. They're better in the more expensive models and trucks.
