Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: guncrasher on July 09, 2020, 01:20:01 PM

Title: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: guncrasher on July 09, 2020, 01:20:01 PM
any owners out there.

my car doesn't have shift paddle. only had d and ds mode. have gone thru owner's manual and Google it, even called the dealer. 

how do i shift up or down on hilly road. planning to go out of state next year and there's hills about 7 miles at a steep incline/decline. dealer says just to use brakes. i have never owned a car that didn't have lower gears for hilly terrain.


semp
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: Shuffler on July 09, 2020, 02:14:10 PM
I do not own one but I did do some investigation. They have a continuous variable transmission (CVT). This means there is no set gear changes. You have (D) drive and (DS) Sport Mode.

From reading about them, it seems they have quite a bit of issues with the transmission. Getting on steep inclines will be a sure test. If you start feeling vibrations or losing power.... that is what folks feel when the CVT is having issues and or over heating.

Good luck on your trip, stay safe.

Edit.....  I acquired the following info directly from Nissan... (it actually works much like many side x side offroad vehicles)

The CVT is an automatic transmission that uses two pulleys with a steel belt running between them. To continuously vary its gear ratios, the CVT simultaneously adjusts the diameter of the "drive pulley" that transmits torque from the engine and the "driven pulley" that transfers torque to the wheels.
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: BOBO on July 09, 2020, 04:06:50 PM
It's always been my understanding that automatic transmissions don't allow for engine braking.
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: Shuffler on July 09, 2020, 04:43:20 PM
It's always been my understanding that automatic transmissions don't allow for engine braking.

They do to an extent. It can make your transmission run warmer.
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: guncrasher on July 09, 2020, 05:07:08 PM
It's always been my understanding that automatic transmissions don't allow for engine braking.

they can, I always drove auto transmissions.  the older cars used to have 2 lower speeds, 1 and 2.  in my car a 2014 chevy impala had paddles on the steering wheel, I believe they had 5 "gears". I never used them up hill as it had a v6 engine with enough power to go up hill, so only used the "manual" paddles going down hill.  then they chevy cruze only had it for about 2 months so I dont know much about it as i got rear ended and was totaled.

now on the altima, only info I could find was from some customers reporting that on ds (drive sport or sporty) it seems to slow down the car faster as oposide to just on "d" without stepping on the break.

curious thing I also found is while the car is fast for a 4 cylinder 2.5 engine, for the life of me cant figure out the hp on the engine.  some sites say it's 140 and others 180 for the model i got.  I really didnt bother to ask as when I drove it, I noticed it had more than enough power I needed.  it wasnt as fast as the impala but sure as hell didnt have 120 hp either.  I called 3 different nissan dealers and got 3 different answers. 

it's one of those things you dont think about as the most important thing for me was to be able to get in and out without much effort as I have a really bad back.  dont take me wrong it's a great car, faster than I thought and it looks great inside and out.  black on black but that was secondary thing for me.  I actually have a "ball" full of fluid about the size of an egg on my left elbow as I used it to push me out of the chevy cruze as I had to twist my body to the right.  with this car all i have to worry is get both legs out and use my hands on door opening to help me out.

semp


semp
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: SPKmes on July 09, 2020, 05:18:33 PM
having it in sports would do just as you said as the computer would keep the car to as close as possible to the optimal rev range...

I remember getting a fiat punto to use while my car was getting a cam belt changed on my car.... I thought sheesh man this car has the smoothest gear changes ever... found out it was the CVT system...
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: BOBO on July 09, 2020, 05:20:34 PM
they can, I always drove auto transmissions.  the older cars used to have 2 lower speeds, 1 and 2.  in my car a 2014 chevy impala had paddles on the steering wheel, I believe they had 5 "gears". I never used them up hill as it had a v6 engine with enough power to go up hill, so only used the "manual" paddles going down hill.  then they chevy cruze only had it for about 2 months so I dont know much about it as i got rear ended and was totaled.

now on the altima, only info I could find was from some customers reporting that on ds (drive sport or sporty) it seems to slow down the car faster as oposide to just on "d" without stepping on the break.

curious thing I also found is while the car is fast for a 4 cylinder 2.5 engine, for the life of me cant figure out the hp on the engine.  some sites say it's 140 and others 180 for the model i got.  I really didnt bother to ask as when I drove it, I noticed it had more than enough power I needed.  it wasnt as fast as the impala but sure as hell didnt have 120 hp either.  I called 3 different nissan dealers and got 3 different answers. 

it's one of those things you dont think about as the most important thing for me was to be able to get in and out without much effort as I have a really bad back.  dont take me wrong it's a great car, faster than I thought and it looks great inside and out.  black on black but that was secondary thing for me.  I actually have a "ball" full of fluid about the size of an egg on my left elbow as I used it to push me out of the chevy cruze as I had to twist my body to the right.  with this car all i have to worry is get both legs out and use my hands on door opening to help me out.

semp


semp


HP depends on where it's measured.  In America it's customary for manufacturers to measure HP at the flywheel but most other markets require it to be measured at the wheel (Brake Horse Power). 

Bad backs run in my family.  Do you use a car cane?

(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0265/0285/6739/products/carcane4_800x.jpg?v=1584711197)
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: LNG15 on July 09, 2020, 05:32:31 PM
any owners out there.

my car doesn't have shift paddle. only had d and ds mode. have gone thru owner's manual and Google it, even called the dealer. 

how do i shift up or down on hilly road. planning to go out of state next year and there's hills about 7 miles at a steep incline/decline. dealer says just to use brakes. i have never owned a car that didn't have lower gears for hilly terrain.


semp
My brother has owned a 16 base model before. He recommends that you do ds mode and go light on the brakes for the hills. If you had a Roque SL AWD for example that has its own downhill assist that would be no issue. But that would be the best bet. Go ds and go light on the brakes downhill without running them out.
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: guncrasher on July 09, 2020, 05:48:48 PM

HP depends on where it's measured.  In America it's customary for manufacturers to measure HP at the flywheel but most other markets require it to be measured at the wheel (Brake Horse Power). 

Bad backs run in my family.  Do you use a car cane?

(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0265/0285/6739/products/carcane4_800x.jpg?v=1584711197)

sob  :bhead, never knew there was one available.  thank you so much sir.  will check right away.  I see it's also multi-function.

semp
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: Lazerr on July 09, 2020, 06:10:20 PM
Is sport mode they are putting in some of these vehicles in essence the same as the overdrive/tow mode my pickup has?
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: guncrasher on July 09, 2020, 06:30:42 PM
Is sport mode they are putting in some of these vehicles in essence the same as the overdrive/tow mode my pickup has?

no, i think ds mode is just a gimick it gives you the feeling of basically stick shift without the stick shift.  it accelerates faster and slows down faster.  mine has od also.

semp
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: streakeagle on July 09, 2020, 06:44:21 PM
I loved my 2005 Nissan Altima, it was a no frills 2.5S base model that I drove until last December 2019, and I owned it from March 2005 with over 282,000 miles. If they were still making Altimas identical to the one I drove for nearly 15 years, I would gladly buy another one. But when it came time to get a new car, my friend that owns an auto shop and has worked on everything including exotics, told me he couldn't stand the transmission in the newer Altimas. His experience alone steered me away from getting another Altima.
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: guncrasher on July 09, 2020, 07:04:05 PM
I loved my 2005 Nissan Altima, it was a no frills 2.5S base model that I drove until last December 2019, and I owned it from March 2005 with over 282,000 miles. If they were still making Altimas identical to the one I drove for nearly 15 years, I would gladly buy another one. But when it came time to get a new car, my friend that owns an auto shop and has worked on everything including exotics, told me he couldn't stand the transmission in the newer Altimas. His experience alone steered me away from getting another Altima.

good thing about it they have an 8 year warranty for engine and transmission.  that aside, I'll probably get something else in a few years.  I owned my chevy impala for 5 years, put 40k miles in it.  I really dont drive that much.


semp
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: Shuffler on July 09, 2020, 08:56:07 PM
I loved my 2005 Nissan Altima, it was a no frills 2.5S base model that I drove until last December 2019, and I owned it from March 2005 with over 282,000 miles. If they were still making Altimas identical to the one I drove for nearly 15 years, I would gladly buy another one. But when it came time to get a new car, my friend that owns an auto shop and has worked on everything including exotics, told me he couldn't stand the transmission in the newer Altimas. His experience alone steered me away from getting another Altima.

Nissan has been using the CVT transmission since 1992. That was another piece of info I had come across.
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: icepac on July 10, 2020, 11:02:44 AM

Most transmissions will downshift if you close throttle long enough.

If you touch the brake pedal just hard enough to activate the brake light switch, most transmissions will go into some sort of "grade retard".
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: Volron on July 10, 2020, 11:44:37 AM
Times like these I wish CAP would chime in as well.  He would provide good information as well. :)
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: guncrasher on July 12, 2020, 03:26:12 PM
well mystery solved. there's a small hill by my house, I'm ds mode, as soon as you let go of the gas, it slows down, get the same feeling as downshifting. it kind of feels like transmission shift is tied to the gas.

thank you guys.


semp
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: 2bighorn on July 24, 2020, 10:21:53 PM
curious thing I also found is while the car is fast for a 4 cylinder 2.5 engine, for the life of me cant figure out the hp on the engine.  some sites say it's 140 and others 180 for the model i got.  I really didnt bother to ask as when I drove it, I noticed it had more than enough power I needed.  it wasnt as fast as the impala but sure as hell didnt have 120 hp either.  I called 3 different nissan dealers and got 3 different answers.
2.5L
179 hp @ 6000 rpm
177 ft-lb @ 4000 rpm

Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: Shuffler on July 24, 2020, 10:36:10 PM
2.5L
179 hp @ 6000 rpm
177 ft-lb @ 4000 rpm

LOL that is about the same horsepower as my nephew's motorcycle.
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: guncrasher on July 25, 2020, 05:15:26 PM
LOL that is about the same horsepower as my nephew's motorcycle.

does your nephew bike can hold 20 30 packs in the trunk?

true story from helping at the legion :)

semp
Title: Re: 2018 nissan altima question
Post by: Shuffler on July 25, 2020, 10:14:21 PM
does your nephew bike can hold 20 30 packs in the trunk?

true story from helping at the legion :)

semp

No... but his Hayabusa will have him there far before you are even loaded.

My vehicle has right at 500hp at the rear wheels and a bed with a gooseneck or 5th wheel, 4WD Crewcab..... I'll get your loaded car, your friends, and beer for the rest of the month there.  :aok

Some of our fellas in here even drive tractor trailers.  :D