Automatic 2-1 rough downshifting

c41006

Mine does this sometimes in D

JACKPAC

It's normal for some jerkiness while in M mode. The "auto" downshift in M is at a low RPM as others have mentioned. It's not normal to jerk in pure D mode however.

wilsonp

I ran some parking lot tests in my car coasting at 15MPH down to 0 (level and up a slight hill), and the car did downshift before stopping, at a very low speed. There was no jerkiness in M or D mode going from 2 to 1.

The sport brakes are a little grabby, and I have never noticed the downshift even when barely using the brakes.

My car has 18,000 miles but I am the second owner.

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2014 Cayman S PDK Sport Chrono White/Black
Was 2009 370Z Touring Sport+Nav 7AT Metallic Black/Persimmon
Was 1991 NSX Auto Black/Black

Dpeters

Did you guys notice the last post on this thread was 4/15/2009 and, all of a sudden, goes to today? Kinda odd how 1 1/2 years go by and the thread continues right where it left off.

wilsonp

It is what happens when good users search before opening new topics

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2014 Cayman S PDK Sport Chrono White/Black
Was 2009 370Z Touring Sport+Nav 7AT Metallic Black/Persimmon
Was 1991 NSX Auto Black/Black

Jordo!

Normal. Probably either something that could be smoother in the rev matching logic or something due to the physical actuation of going from lock-up to fluid coupling from 2nd to 1st.

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Sebz

I used to owe a 350z automatic with manual option, and that was the best I have owned so far. I currently own a 370z with similar transmission and I have experienced rough shifting when upshifting or downshifting. Though I don't usually shift down to 2 or 1. This is quite disappointing since I love nissan products. I believe that they should have limited their gears to 6 not 7 for automatics, but I can see why at this time they didn't - lower rpm while cruising.

bumblez

Mine does that too only in M mode. Had chance to took my car to the dealer last year, but the tech told me not to using M mode...
Now I have about 24000 miles on it but the jerk is still there but not that bad though. Maybe Im getting used to.

VCuomo

The tech's "solution" was to tell you to not use manual mode? You shoulda' told the tech to ...

UNKNOWN_370

My Z is pretty jerky in manual mode. Especially if you use the stick instead of the paddles. I kinda like it. It reminds me of the way the old 280z manuals used to feel like. Everytime I take off hard I think of that scene in cheech and chong up in smoke, when he meets chong for the first time. Lol. He's flippin gears and his car is jerkin while shifting. Its fun.
On another note. When I'm light on the peddle, there's barely any jerkiness if not any.

jr92

mine is more jerky in auto than with the paddles. It like my Z doesnt know the right gear to be in sometimes, keeps changing its mind at times

wstar

Are you coming to a stop soon? Are you coming up on a corner? What's the min speed you intend to hit in the corner? Are you accelerating slowly right now for a few seconds (someone's in the way), but about to get on the gas right afterwards (there's an opening in another lane a few seconds away)? Are you accelerating hard right now, but intending to drop back off the gas considerably once you reach XX mph?

All of these sorts of things and countless others go through your head picking your current gear manually. An automatic transmission in D-mode really only has three basic input variables to work with for making a gearing decision for you: Current Vehicle Speed, Current Engine RPM, and Accelerator Pedal Position. That's true of any auto transmission, even on a minivan.

If your tranny can't make up its mind and settle on a gear, it's because your inputs (the 3 above) are fluctuating in patterns that don't make sense for what it's designed for. It can't possibly know all of the other factors in play. For everyday poking around in traffic, an automatic transmission makes reasonable gearing decisions for average drivers, focusing mostly on fuel economy, and trying to respond quickly with a downshift if you stomp the gas pedal hard to pass someone.

It should come as no surprise, especially in more complex situations, that an auto transmission makes poor or even schizophrenic gearing decisions. Use the M-mode, Luke.

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UNKNOWN_370

That I get when I accelerate fast n just stop push the peddle suddenly. The car revs up then higher, then I let go of the gas and press on it a lil for it to find the gear. Its kinda weird. It only happens once in a blue though

kidkotic2001

I believe that this is normal, I have the same issue I told the dealer they did not find any issue with it. I really do not switch to M mode unless I am on the highway in city I stick to D.

UNKNOWN_370

Yeah I'm not even concered with any of this. The CVT is just a weird tranny. I've owned four cvt's already. The performance is sick... knock on wood they have all been reliable, but they all had strange personalities unlike normal trannies. Infinitie gear ratios. Makes this car have to think on its toes. Sometimes she gets a lil confused. With so many gear ratios I totally understand her n it doesn't annoy me at all.
Sports cars are jerky. At least in my experience they have always been... maybe I don't spend enough money on cars? Or maybe I need to own german to appreciate a non jerky sports car??? Lol