Constant variable transmissions

[67hat34c]

Bought new Nissan Murano last week. Has a CVT which I have no experience with no have I ever herd of it. Very interesting reading on this system. For those who dont know what they are, this transmission has no gears. Nissan uses 2 pullies and a belt. Pullies change size constantly to provide infinite "gear" ratios between low and high. There is no feel of shifting. System is not new, been around since the 50's but never worked very well until now. Nissan uses in all cars except the Z and not in full size suv's or the trucks. Transmission is not designed for heavy torque.

Anyhow it is odd driving a car that does not shift gears but thus far I like it.

 

[rrrestorer]

Sounds like you bought a snowmobile! Thats hw the snowmobiles transfer the power to the track.

 

[Brian Degulis]

When I was a kid my dad had a Desoto with "fluid drive" there was no transmission just kind of a giant torque converter. It worked pretty good after it warmed up on a very cold day the car just didn't want to move.

Brian

 

[Will]

Sounds also like a 1950 Buick with Dyna-Flow. They were great for pulling trailers in the snow but couldn't pass a gas station.
Will

 

[Pascal]

i had one of those tranies on an AWD subaru in the early 90s, worked VERY well one nice thing was that it's very responsive and doesn' have the torque converter slip found on small / medium slush boxes

 

[67hat34c]

Appears Subaru and Nissan partnered on this thing and made it work right. Anyhow thus far I like the car and like the drivetrane.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Ford did this same thing a few years ago on the Taurus or 500 or whatever they call it now. It was only available in the higher trim levels, though.

 

[captddis]

The belt broke om my Sisters Murano at 14,000 mi. Stranded her in Belle Glade on a Sat morning. Good luck with yours.

 

[spartonboat1]

I would think that following the book for maintenance is very much indicated. GM had CVT's in their Vibe cars, which would usually die under warranty 2 or 3 times, then GM would stop returning calls.

When I was in the skilled trades for Proctor and Gamble, back in the 1960's, I worked on the first Pampers production (converter lines they were called) lines in the world. They were complicated lines and to adjust various speeds one of the transmissions was called a "PIV" for Positive, Infinitely Variable. I.e., they were CVT's, but with steel driver belts. You varied the speed by turned a knob that varied the distance between the two drive cones internally and the steel belt rode up and down on the cones. Pure trivia...

 

[krush]

One of the oldest and simplest CVT's out there can be found on old snapper lawnmowers. It's a large metal pully with another rubber wheel mounted perpendicular to it. Moving the rubber wheel from the center to the outside changes the gearing.

 

[newinlet]

Nissan has had trouble with that transmission. I am in the auto service business, recently an 03 Nissan Altima had a noise coming from the transmission. this car had about 80K on it. After some research Nissan has extended the warranty on the CVT Trans. for 120K Mi. We sent this car to the local Nissan dealer and the transmission was replaced at no cost to the owner. I drive all types of cars and the CVT type transmission reminds me of driving a go cart . good luck with it

 

[67hat34c]

All nissan owner websites and forums indicate this transmission was a problem in 2003-4 but clean since. I can find no one complaining about them or having any issues at all.

 

[Pascal]

I m pretty sure the belt on the Subaru was steel, no maintenance no issue

 

[Avenger]

Sounds like a lot of fun to drive

I'll stick with a clutch.

Hey.....stick.... get it?

 

[67hat34c]

Sticks are for sports cars. 18yr old has 350z with 6speed.

 

[JimmyB]

I drove a 1956 Buick with this transmission. It was called a Dynaflow. It was smooth and burned a ton of gas, it also had 6 or 8 mufflers. Really felt cool with no shifting.
Jimmy

 

[Pascal]

there is nothing like a manual! the feeling you get when you heel and toe can't be matched by automatic, even paddles or slap sticks.

 

[stormchaser]

Audi's CVT is incredible...very strong, trouble free, can handle highn torque...and is as fun as an automatic can be...but I'd much rather row my own, whether that's in our "family sedan" or in my twin-turbo RX-7...