08AltimaMan

Just thought I would update. Got off the phone with Nissan North America earlier. It was a painful process. What sucks is they simply don’t pull up the service bulletins so you can talk to them about it..so I am trying to convey a problem I am having to the service representative and it just kept going around in circles. I finally told them that I was trying to determine if THIS specific bulletin is on the customers responsibility or on the dealerships. Someone is supposed to be calling me by tomorrow on the issue.


I had to state that I have confirmed with a dealer that my car matches these problems, I had to give the service advisers name, and the dealership I took it to, as well as the charge they wanted to charge me, which was $435.
So hopefully something good comes out of it, but dang…the process was SO painful over the phone.

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Rocket67

Thanks for the website. Just sent this letter to Nissan....don't know if it will generate any interest but at least letting them know I want this fixed free of charge.


Your Message Message: TSB: NTB10-121b Dated 09/12/2011 "2007 – 2011 ALTIMA SLIGHT VEHICLE HESITATION OR SURGE TYPE FEEL AT LOW SPEEDS" I see that there is finally a TSB for the hesitation that I have been feeling for 3 years. My concern is that it's a voluntary repair where I would have to pay for it. I have been a purchaser of Nissan products since 2002 and think if you want to keep me as a customer you will warranty this issue (I have just under 60K miles on my 2008 Altima). If you don't warranty this will be my last Nissan. I had a lot of problems with my 2004 Titan (all covered under warranty) but gave you another chance. Fix this problem and you are in my good graces. My cars since 2002: 2002 Altima 3.5SE 2004 Titan Se 2008 Altima 2.5 SE Next? This problem has been driving me nuts....I was told that it was just the way the car drives and that there was no fix. This surge is not only a major inconvenience in the city driving I do it's also fairly frightening when the power surges and I get stuck trying to enter traffic with a car that does not want to go. Yes, it's dangerous. Fix it or you lose a customer forever. Last chance!! I am due a new car in 2012 and really like the Maxima. Lets do something here!!

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08AltimaMan

EDIT - nevermind saw you already did add it to my comments. Thanks!

Yea, I have noticed a few times...if I am in traffic and I rev it a bit to get going..and have to brake very suddenly...its like the car stops, but the engine braking is still in motion, so I get a very weird sensation like the car hasn't settled...and when pressing the gas again shortly after..I have had it where there is a delay and it kind of takes off. sometimes i get that when barely pressing the gas.

btw, found out my part came in today, so I am having it installed tomorrow morning. Wish me luck. still bs I gotta pay for the labor..but oh well.

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08AltimaMan

So they told me on the phone I should expect my car to be there about 1/2 the day.


I got my car there at 8:15am. I left by 10am.


They also took $50 off the labor cost because they felt I had been inconvenienced. I mentioned to them I had not, but the service tech felt because I had been in there multiple times already, he felt that was an inconvenience. The service tech was super nice and awesome.
So $120 was my charge to have this TSB applied, since Nissan NA paid for the part.


I have only driven the car about 20 miles (at the time of this update) with the fix applied, but I can say thus far it feels like a different vehicle. 1 or 2 times did I experience what I would consider “slight hesitations”. I want to NOTE something. What I consider “slight” and what Nissan defined as “slight” are two different things. The “slight per Nissans definition” I “was” experiencing prior to the TSB Fix was “significant” in my mind. The “slight” I feel now that the fix has been applied is a true “slight” meaning its not worth even stressing about.


I talked to the service adviser about what exactly the torque rods do. I thought it helped stabilize the transmission better or something. He said it actually changes the position of the pulley/belt and the reprogram of the TCM raises the RPM’s, or maybe how the car determines “when” it should shift. This is why you might see a decrease of up to 1MPG. Now, 1200 RPM’s still is the number I see when 0-40mph if I am slowly accelerating. When going 60mph I get around 1700-1800 RPM’s. I still get the low rumble/deep vibration when its hanging at 1200 rpm and I am giving it gas around the 20-40mph mark.


So I guess I am still not 100% sure “how” the TSB fix…fixes it, but thus far things seem better. I agree with the 70-80% deadening of the hesitations other users have reported. Good enough for me thus far.


I am at 56,600 miles at the time of this writing (11/17/2011)

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Rocket67

Thanks for the update. I really paid attention to mine today and under normal driving it doesn't seemt to happen that much. I remember several times where it's been really bad so I guess it's intermittent which is even worse. Not sure if the TSB is what I need yet. Let us know how it works out over time.

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dsmmace

Your level of hesitation sounds abnormal and unsafe. I haven't seen that bad of a hesitation that is fixed by the torque rod. However, I have seen a brake switch do that, a airflow meter (doesn't code up) and moreso transmissions act like your car. Also if this happens in blowing snow or rain, check your air filter. I've seen them packed with snow from the fresh air intake.

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