2011 Nissan Rogue S AWD 148K
Just the other day my GFs car started to make a grinding/rattling noise when placed in gear.
Its loudest when staring off, accelerating hard, or going up hills when torque demand is high.
Park and neutral make no noise when revved.
Drive and reverse make the noise even when brake pedal is applied and engine is revved.
No signs of leaking and fluid level when running, at op temp, and level ground is within marks.
The fluid pump whines when under greater load or high speeds due to the fluid being overheated a couple of times on long trips activating the limp mode.
What should I look at/for?
Took it to a nissan dealership to get it diagnosed.
Final result was the differential carrier was making the vibrations and sending those up the driveshaft into the cvt. The creaking while turning was the same cause.
There no power surges during operation.
And im not aware of the service history on it.
Change the CVT fluid as fast as possible - maybe you can still save it!
At these kinds of mileages it's best to change it every 15k miles at most, clean oil is super important in a CVT.
( a VERY simplified explanation of why clean CVT oil is critical)
These transmissions are a metal belt going between two rollers , just a little bit of friction can outright destroy it.
Unlike a dual clutch where the power is transferred through metal gears and oil is mostly used to lube up the bearings or cool down the friction,
On a CVT the entire power transfer is NOT done with a solid mechanical link is depended on oil to moderate the friction to be a set correct value
- so that the belt and pulleys ("cones") have enough friction to transfer power but not enough to eat away the metal parts.
IF this friction isn't correct because of low oil causing belts to not have enough friction and causing the belts to slip (metal rubbing on metal and ruining the tyranny),
Or because old dirty oil there's too much friction and the metal parts get turned into dust
remember the good old days where all cars were 4 speed automatics and could go 300k miles easily and had clear indicators of oil wear? I really miss it when it was all simple...
If it wasn't changes for 50-60k miles there's a chance that there is a lot of wear inside your tranny.
I'd advise you to consider replacing this car with a better built car
OR
taking it into a tranny shop as from your distinction it seems you a new belt (Unlike Toyota, on Nissan Cones usually don't get destroyed), a new pump and an inspection of all the other parts - This will NOT be a cheap or fast fix.
Is your drive belt slipping?
youtu.be/ppold2-jUGo
Did you change your oil frequently?
150k miles is a lot for a Nissan CVT.
By this kind of mileage these trannies typically need a belt, solenoids and values, stepper motors and replacement of all 4 pulley bearings...
There no power surges during operation.
And im not aware of the service history on it.
I would take the car to a transmission shop as soon as possible. It seems that the transmission has some internal issues.
It needs a cvt.. most common issue on that body style rogue is cvt overheating especially at higher miles but it sounds like that’s your issue
