The Nissan Path

I take the truck to 35mph, in the right situation it seems it shifts into 5th gear(~1100rpms). If I ever so slightly put my foot on the throttle to maintain 35mph, the rpm's start jumping up and down about 100-200rpms. Feels like the truck is surging back and forth. This seems to happen pretty frequently and is driving me crazy. It helps to be on at least level or better yet an inclined road. What could this be? Should the truck really be in 5th gear at 35mph?

Oh yeah, and does your truck ever seem to downshift going down hills instead of upshifting? Seems like the tranny is a little goofy.

Ive got a V6 so cant help you on the 5th gear issue but yeh the transmission on mine does downshift when goin downhill only if i brake, which i like cos then instead of braking i can just use the engine braking but otherwise it maintains the gear no problem.

I am pretty sure that both the V6 and V8 stay in the current gear when going downhill. Mine does the same thing and I have the V6.

hmmm... i've noticed on my truck that it doesn't go into 5th when at 35mph... 40+mph on occasion, yes. for instance, a road leading to my house is 40mph and there's very slight incline... if i'm gassing the truck lightly and hit the incline it downshifts to maintain the speed. it could be going from 4th to 3rd tho.

i actually wish the truck downshifted more on descends. my '04 4Runner did it only when you hit the brakes. it would go from 5th to 3rd and in an instant. imo, i prefer engine braking rather than using the brake... plus when the road leveled you could just gas it (it remained in 3rd) and break out like a bat out of hell.

FOUND IT! Amazing how similar the desciption is.

NTB08045
IF YOU CONFIRM: A short-lasting (less than 1 second) bump/thump is felt: With light throttle application (slight throttle tip-in, less than 2/8), while driving on a flat or slightly inclined road, with the transmission in fith gear and torque converter at full lockup, with an engine speed of approximately 1100-1300 RPM, and at speeds of 35-45 MPH. ACTIONS: Confirm this bulletin applies. Check and compare your Current ECM Part Number to Table A on page 3. If that part number does not match one in Table A, this bulletin does not apply. Go back to ASIST for further diagnostic and repair information. If this bulletin applies, reprogram the ECM.

Looks like I'm making an appointment...I knew I wasn't crazy.

Mine does that, but I don't find it irritating enough to schedule an appointment. I'll probably have them check on it when I need to get a major service.

acomiskey wrote:FOUND IT! Amazing how similar the desciption is.

NTB08045
IF YOU CONFIRM: A short-lasting (less than 1 second) bump/thump is felt: With light throttle application (slight throttle tip-in, less than 2/8), while driving on a flat or slightly inclined road, with the transmission in fith gear and torque converter at full lockup, with an engine speed of approximately 1100-1300 RPM, and at speeds of 35-45 MPH. ACTIONS: Confirm this bulletin applies. Check and compare your Current ECM Part Number to Table A on page 3. If that part number does not match one in Table A, this bulletin does not apply. Go back to ASIST for further diagnostic and repair information. If this bulletin applies, reprogram the ECM.

Looks like I'm making an appointment...I knew I wasn't crazy.

Got an '11 V8 model here and I too have noticed the "searching for gear" sensation on the tachometer in the 35MPH to 40MPH range. Over 40MPH my Pathfinder seems to easily go into overdrive (5th gear) and stay there. I don't mind this as lower RPMs translate to better MPG. But I did find the blips on the tachometer at ~35-40MPH rather odd.

What was the final solution here on this service visit? Is it resolved? What did they do?

Went to Nissan dealer parts department for lift-gate struts and while I was there I mentioned this. They went and got their 'best technician' who said they all do this and it's normal.

I told them there was a bulletin about this phenomenon I found on the web and he dismissed it, again stating this is normal as the trans tries to find the appropriate gear.

How did your trip to the dealer go? Did you get this fixed?

i haven't really noticed it....but i'm usually pretty on or off the throttle, none of this 'barely on it' stuff.

plus i'm usually a good 5-10mph over the speed limit, and i don't go through that many 25mph zones

Mine does this, too. I printed out the TSB and took it to the dealer where I had the typical dealership experience: they said they couldn't reproduce the problem and when I showed them they said it was normal. My TSB was completely ignored.

Then two service guys tried to convince me that V8s don't have the contamination problem because they have a "totally different radiator than the V6s." Realizing that these guys know about as much about my car as a chimp, I left.

Nissan bulletin NTB08-045 applies only to 2008 V6 models, not the V8.

smj999smj wrote:Nissan bulletin NTB08-045 applies only to 2008 V6 models, not the V8.

Are you aware of any other service bulletins that might apply to a 2011 LE V8?

I swear I definitely feel some form of hesitation when under light acceleration in the ~40MPH range. The tach blips up then down as it shifts into overdrive. There's no 'clunk'or other noise associated with, just what can best be described as hesitation going into OD. Doesn't do it under hard acceleration only light throttle pressure.

anyone?