How do you know when your transaxle is bad and CVT belt?

2011 NISSAN MAXIMA
132,302 MILES • 3.5L • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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DLO448
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How to diagnose a bad transaxle and cvt belt?
Sep 23, 2021 at 4:32 PM
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SQM
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Hello,

One of signs of a stretched CVT belt is that the RPM will be higher than usual for a given amount of speed/throttle. The RPM can also go down when you are expecting it to go up under throttle.
It can also become noisy.

What issues are you experiencing?

Please let me know little more information.
Thank you.


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Sep 24, 2021 at 7:48 AM
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ASEMASTER6371
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Good morning,

You can tell by delayed gear engagement. That is where it hesitates to go into gear at any time.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-and-add-transmission-fluid

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/automatic-transmission-problems

You can tell by the shift points not being correct or not shifting at all.

You can tell by abnormal leaking around the transmission itself.

Can you tell us what is going on with your car?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-service-an-automatic-transmission

Roy
Sep 24, 2021 at 7:59 AM
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DLO448
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When I’m driving feels like I hit the gas pedal and it’s like a delay for the car to accelerate den the RPMs go up and it catches gear. sometimes when I’m even at a red light and I go to take off it’s like creeps slowly and then out of nowhere it takes off like a rocket. I just feel like I don’t know what gear it supposed to be in when I’m driving it. that’s how I feel like When I’m driving a car.
Sep 24, 2021 at 10:17 AM
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ASEMASTER6371
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Thank you.

This sounds like a pressure issue internally. Most likely you will be either have this rebuilt or replaced. There is no quick fix for this issue.

I attached a youtube video for the removal of the transmission for you below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYMTouv5704

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Roy
Sep 24, 2021 at 10:51 AM
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SQM
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It does sound like internal wear of the transmission. Likely need to be rebuilt or replaced. These CVTs does have a tendency to have these internal issues.
Let me know of any questions.
Sep 24, 2021 at 10:53 AM
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DLO448
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From cold start I’ll drive and it won’t act up. Until the transmission warm up that When it starts to act all stupid. And I really couldn’t find good diagrams and videos on the transmission. Could you guys help? Even repair videos. Could it be the transmission speed sensor? And I was told because I replaced the valve body that basically I had to get it reprogram or something like that for the solenoids??
Sep 24, 2021 at 4:21 PM
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ASEMASTER6371
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No, the transmission does not need to be reprogrammed.

You have an internal failure that will require it to be rebuilt or replaced.

Most transmission shops will not rebuild them. They are headaches. They replace them with new or used transmissions.

Roy
Sep 25, 2021 at 12:21 PM