Hello MSC!
I have noticed some time now that when I was accelerating, on normal driving conditions, the car would build the revs around 3000 RPM and would not give much of performance. In other words, it was like driving with a slipping clutch. It had the same feeling. Also the fuel consumption went HIGH SKY, from around 4.9-5.9 to 8.5.
After I've done some research I discovered that the Transmission Control Unit have a similar system like the Mitsubishi's INVECS system, where the TCU learns the driver's driving manners and adjusts the transmission accordingly.
I admit that in the last 2 months I've been always in a hurry and that the TCU may have registered other driving style than the factory one.
In the following lines I've written how to reset the CVT TCU's memory to the factory settings and how to re calibrate the TCU in case someone will remove the battery.
How to identify if a CVT TCU is out of the factory settings:
When you accelerate the car from a stand such as a traffic light and the engine will rev at around 2000-3000 RPM but the car will not accelerate as desired OR while driving at around 50 kph (30 mph) the RPM should be around 1500 and on the slight acceleration the RPM should drop few 100's revs reaching around 1000-1100 RPM. Also on hard acceleration, the engine revs but the car has poor performance and feels like the engine have no torque.
Best time to do a reset is when someone arrives home and the engine is hot.
a) CVT Memory Reset:
1) Start the car and wait until the temperature is normal (Cold Temp light off if fitted with one).
2) Do not open the radio (On Nissan Connect turn the volume all way to mute) or other electrical equipment (such as headlights).
3) Pull the handbrake up and hold until the end of the process (Don't need to hold it... just lock it on).
4) Press the brake pedal and keep it pressed till the end of the process.
5) Move the gear to the "N" position for 2 minutes (use a stopwatch and allow 2-3 seconds overtime).
6) After 2 minutes (and few seconds), move the gear to position "D" for 1 minute (and few seconds overtime).
7) End the process.
8) Turn off the car or drive away... anything you wish
At the end of this process the CVT TCU will have the factory settings, and will drive as it was new. The factory settings are based on the lowest RPM while driving, for the best fuel consumption.
I have tried this "Memory reset" and it worked like a charm. The fuel consumption is back on normal and the car feels like new (with a torque feeling around 3000 RPM ).
b) CVT Re-calibration:
1) Start the car and wait until the temperature is normal (Cold Temp light off if fitted with one).
2) Turn off the engine and start again.
3) Turn on the headlights.
4) Press the brake pedal and move to the "N" position .
5) Move from "N" to "D" to "L" then back to "D" and "N"
6) Repeat step 5) for 3 times with a tempo shift of 1-2 seconds.
7) End the process.
8) Turn off the car.
I haven't tried the Re-calibration yet because I didn't disconnect the battery till now.
How to verify if the CVT Memory did reset properly:
When driving away from a stand, on the first acceleration input the car will rev to about 2000 RPM and at around 20 kph the revs will drop to around 1000 - 1300 RPM and stay there till 50 kph, when the revs will slowly increase. The feeling will be like an engaged clutch and not as a slipping clutch as it was before. Also while driving and accelerating on a road, the car must feel "Torque" and the RPM should not rise fast, but the speedometer should show an increase in speed. Always when you press the acceleration after a brake, the RPM will rise, but after 1 second will fall a bit (200-300 RPM). If there is no fall, then a Memory reset is in need.
With the hope that this thread helped someone, I wish you a nice day! And remember: always drive safely and use the seat belt!!!
I have noticed some time now that when I was accelerating, on normal driving conditions, the car would build the revs around 3000 RPM and would not give much of performance. In other words, it was like driving with a slipping clutch. It had the same feeling. Also the fuel consumption went HIGH SKY, from around 4.9-5.9 to 8.5.
After I've done some research I discovered that the Transmission Control Unit have a similar system like the Mitsubishi's INVECS system, where the TCU learns the driver's driving manners and adjusts the transmission accordingly.
I admit that in the last 2 months I've been always in a hurry and that the TCU may have registered other driving style than the factory one.
In the following lines I've written how to reset the CVT TCU's memory to the factory settings and how to re calibrate the TCU in case someone will remove the battery.
How to identify if a CVT TCU is out of the factory settings:
When you accelerate the car from a stand such as a traffic light and the engine will rev at around 2000-3000 RPM but the car will not accelerate as desired OR while driving at around 50 kph (30 mph) the RPM should be around 1500 and on the slight acceleration the RPM should drop few 100's revs reaching around 1000-1100 RPM. Also on hard acceleration, the engine revs but the car has poor performance and feels like the engine have no torque.
Best time to do a reset is when someone arrives home and the engine is hot.
a) CVT Memory Reset:
1) Start the car and wait until the temperature is normal (Cold Temp light off if fitted with one).
2) Do not open the radio (On Nissan Connect turn the volume all way to mute) or other electrical equipment (such as headlights).
3) Pull the handbrake up and hold until the end of the process (Don't need to hold it... just lock it on).
4) Press the brake pedal and keep it pressed till the end of the process.
5) Move the gear to the "N" position for 2 minutes (use a stopwatch and allow 2-3 seconds overtime).
6) After 2 minutes (and few seconds), move the gear to position "D" for 1 minute (and few seconds overtime).
7) End the process.
8) Turn off the car or drive away... anything you wish
At the end of this process the CVT TCU will have the factory settings, and will drive as it was new. The factory settings are based on the lowest RPM while driving, for the best fuel consumption.
I have tried this "Memory reset" and it worked like a charm. The fuel consumption is back on normal and the car feels like new (with a torque feeling around 3000 RPM ).
b) CVT Re-calibration:
1) Start the car and wait until the temperature is normal (Cold Temp light off if fitted with one).
2) Turn off the engine and start again.
3) Turn on the headlights.
4) Press the brake pedal and move to the "N" position .
5) Move from "N" to "D" to "L" then back to "D" and "N"
6) Repeat step 5) for 3 times with a tempo shift of 1-2 seconds.
7) End the process.
8) Turn off the car.
I haven't tried the Re-calibration yet because I didn't disconnect the battery till now.
How to verify if the CVT Memory did reset properly:
When driving away from a stand, on the first acceleration input the car will rev to about 2000 RPM and at around 20 kph the revs will drop to around 1000 - 1300 RPM and stay there till 50 kph, when the revs will slowly increase. The feeling will be like an engaged clutch and not as a slipping clutch as it was before. Also while driving and accelerating on a road, the car must feel "Torque" and the RPM should not rise fast, but the speedometer should show an increase in speed. Always when you press the acceleration after a brake, the RPM will rise, but after 1 second will fall a bit (200-300 RPM). If there is no fall, then a Memory reset is in need.
With the hope that this thread helped someone, I wish you a nice day! And remember: always drive safely and use the seat belt!!!
