08 Altima whine/ flashing cruise
Coming home from a friend’s wedding, hot day, hills, speed limit of 65. Started hearing a high pitch whine after we passed the halfway point, cruise control “set” was flashing. Pulled over, checked cvt fluid. It was smoking. Let it cool for about 25 mins; tried 65 again held fine for about 10 miles, then it came back. Stopped, let it cool for another 20. Took off set cruise at 55 and made it 25 miles with no whine at all. Am I lucky and it’s just the trans cooler or is my cvt dying?
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When cool make sure your coolant/radiator is full and coolant mix is correct. The CVT relies on good engine cooling.
CVTs are VERY sensitive to underfill AND overfill. The whine sounds like low fluid to me. Any leaks?
V6 or the 2.5? How many miles? Has CVT fluid been changed?
I believe the V6 has an external CVT fluid filter as well as the flat strainer filter in the pan. Some Nissans have a filter built into the transmission cooler itself.
I would do a complete fluid exchange, swap ALL filters, and clean the magnets in the pan.
Deshra [OP] 1 points · Sep 2021
2.5, don’t know if it’s been changed it was bought used. I’ve never changed it so I don’t know if it was beforehand. Coolant looks over max but it’s also hot. It’s at 184k miles, engine temp wasn’t rising and I had a coolant flush and fill done this spring. It’s been fine for our in town driving and heading out on our trip, but it was really windy that day and not as hot too.
GotMyOrangeCrush 2 points · Sep 2021
Since it's still working, it's probably okay.
These transmissions need fresh fluid to stay alive. Since yours is at 184K, I would suspect the fluid has been changed at least once.
At the very least do a splash and fill of the drain pan (maybe four quarts?) and use either Nissan NS-2, Idemitsu Type-N or Eneos Eco (green stripe on bottle). Measure precisely to get level correct.
NS-2 is $26/qt at dealer
5Qt jug of Idemitsu is $54 on Amazon
Eneos is $12/qt at NAPA
FSM is here: https://www.nicoclub.com/nissan-service-manuals
and here: http://www.nialtima.com/
Deshra [OP] 1 points · Sep 2021
Maybe just a fluid issue over anything else then? If so I can have my mechanic do that. I would but no place to actually work on it.
I’m really hoping because it’s our only vehicle and being disabled it’s my only way to appts, as well as my wife’s only way to work.
GotMyOrangeCrush 2 points · Sep 2021
Overheating is a common problem with Nissan CVTs. While these units don't last forever, they will last a long time with fresh fluid.
(I own a 2007 Maxima with 180K miles on the original CVT. I change fluid every 30K miles).
Deshra [OP] 1 points · Sep 2021
Understandable. I called my local shop to have them do it. They’re saying they don’t even drain and fill it over 120k unless it’s been flushed every 60k and that draining and filling now is a gamble as to whether the cvt will fully fail or not. From what I’ve seen I can do it myself. I just know that when luck is involved, I always expect to lose.
GotMyOrangeCrush 2 points · Sep 2021
There is some luck involved. Some shops will refuse, otherwise they get blamed if things go wrong.
The flashing set light is a different issue, BTW. A cruise control malfunction of some sort makes the set light flash. In some cases it means the brake pedal switch is bad. Check to make sure your brake lights are working.
Below is long discussion about flashing SET lights
https://forums.nicoclub.com/flashing-cruise-control-set-light-t620633.html
Deshra [OP] 1 points · Sep 2021
I think it was just flashing because cruise was set and it wasn’t holding power. It didn’t do it at all after I had let it cool and ran a lower speed. I’m thinking it’s going to be better off if I do it, since it’s roughly $100 cheaper. I just have to hope that luck is on my side for once.
GotMyOrangeCrush 2 points · Sep 2021
It will be fine. A splash and fill is easy.
Use ramps or a sturdy floor jack with jackstands.
Deshra [OP] 2 points · Sep 2021
I’ve got ramps, and my driveway is an incline so I can easily back it in and go on the ramps and have it mostly level. Thank you, I really appreciate the input.
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