Anyone Have This Shifting Problem?

Anything automotive in nature, be it Nissan or one of those "other" manufacturers.

Moderator: volvite

towel1981
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:49 pm

Anyone Have This Shifting Problem?

Postby towel1981 » Wed Sep 24, 2008 5:00 pm

Hi all,

I am at wit's end. My brand new 2008 Path was doing fine for the first 2 months. However, for the past week, I have been experiencing the following problem:

1. Problem: Delay when shifting from Reverse to Drive on upward slope

When the vehicle is on a street that is sloped upward, and after backing up I shift from Reverse to Drive, the vehicle will continue to roll backward (downhill) as if it is in Neutral for a few moments before it changes to Drive.

2. Problem: Delay when shifting from Drive to Reverse on downward Slope

When the vehicle is on a street that is sloped downward, and after driving forward I shift from Drive to Reverse, the vehicle will continue to roll forward (downhill) as if it is in Neutral for a few moments before it changes to Reverse.

3. Problem: Delay when shifting from Drive to Reverse or Reverse to Drive

When the vehicle is on a street that is level and not sloped, and I shift from Drive to Reverse or Reverse to Drive, the vehicle may not roll due to the lack of a slope, but it will have a delay as if it is in Neutral for a few moments before it changes to Reverse or to Drive.

The mechanic at the dealership said that this issue is 100% normal and that his personal Pathfinder does the same thing. He says it was okay until now because it was not yet broken in.

Is it true that this is typical or is it in fact a transmission problem?

(note that once the gear is engaged there is no rollback, it is only in the first few moments after switching from Reverse to Drive or vice versa.)


User avatar
blink32
Sponsored Member
Posts: 898
Joined: Wed Sep 13, 2006 6:38 am
Location: World Traveler

Postby blink32 » Wed Sep 24, 2008 5:58 pm

Mine acts the same way. So did the two that I test drove before I bought mine. I am very diligent in placing the vehicle in gear and waiting until everything is sync'd prior to giving it any gas.

towel1981
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:49 pm

Postby towel1981 » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:05 pm

Thanks, Blink, that was what I was hoping to hear...all I really wanted to know was that it's normal. I feel much better now.

User avatar
Cr@2y Gr33k
Posts: 185
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:06 pm
Location: Reading, PA

Postby Cr@2y Gr33k » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:46 pm

Yep, same thing here too. I don't see a big deal in it. It was kind of weird at first, but I got used to it.

towel1981
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:49 pm

Postby towel1981 » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:47 pm

My solution is to hold the brake down for a few more seconds until I feel the lurch of the gears shifting.

me&pathy
Posts: 319
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:35 pm
Location: California

Postby me&pathy » Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:27 pm

only problem i have had when shifting is that it is very hard to put it in drive from any other gear and makes a really loud clunk

towel1981
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:49 pm

Postby towel1981 » Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:33 pm

did u have it looked at by the dealer?

me&pathy
Posts: 319
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:35 pm
Location: California

Postby me&pathy » Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:38 pm

they tell me there is nothing wrong with it, and nothing has has gone wrong with the transmission *knock on wood* :D

towel1981
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:49 pm

Postby towel1981 » Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:11 am

I guess cars are not perfect machines all the time

me&pathy
Posts: 319
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:35 pm
Location: California

Postby me&pathy » Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:58 am

towel1981 wrote:I guess cars are not perfect machines all the time

not sure bout that my little matrix has never done wrong me. i just show's the less there is the less will go wrong

User avatar
thetiger
Posts: 120
Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 1:13 pm
Location: El Paso TX

Postby thetiger » Thu Sep 25, 2008 8:18 am

I guess I never paid attention to this but mine does it too. I always considered it normal.

User avatar
00void
Posts: 65
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:48 am
Location: Holmdel NJ

Postby 00void » Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:37 pm

me&pathy wrote:only problem i have had when shifting is that it is very hard to put it in drive from any other gear and makes a really loud clunk
mine does the same and i've experience the same problems as the OP.


Return to “General Automotive”