Just took delivery - truck surging +\- 150 RPM???

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kep5niner

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I've read through much of this entire forum since we closed the deal last Friday on our 2011 QX56. Great information, but haven't seen this addressed. Just took delivery today.

When driving home, I noticed the truck would surge during easy acceleration. The truck RPM surges +/-150 or so, indicated by the tach and noticable in the feel as well. Almost like it's slipping during the 2-3 shift or 3-4 shift. I didn't drive it enough to nail that down. Next stop is to the dealer first thing in the morning.

Any ideas on what might be going on?

Additional info: no codes, starts and otherwise runs fine, 42k on the clock.

Any help appreciated. Thanks guys.
 
Well, according ti the service manager, after our test drive, this is a normal characteristic of this drive train / tuning strategy. Offered for me to take out another QX56 to see for myself, but assured me it was 100% normal. Will report back after another test drive.
 
Kep;

Both my son and I own 2011 QX56. His was a lease return and mine was new.

He just recently developed the same characteristics as your vehicle. I rode in his as the front passenger, and you can feel the lurch from the rear. It appeared to be the transmission having difficulty shifting from 2nd to 3rd. The speedometer was around 20-30 miles when it happened.

Son took it in to the dealer and they updated a software that governs the transmission. Upon picking up the vehicle it STILL is doing it, but not as bad. Also, just prior to dropping the vehicle off at the dealer, he replaced all 4 tires with Michelin HP Latitudes or something to that effect. It rode nice with the tires and his mileage at time of experiencing these issues and tire replacement was around 76,000or 78,000 miles. The vehicle was doing this before the tire replacement.

Hope this works out well for all concerned!
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Thanks for the input! The service manager did not discuss that as an option, but maybe I can bring it up and see what materializes. Thanks again for your feedback. If I have success down that avenue, I'll report back with results.
 
Simply disconnecting the battery, or is there more to it with this model?
 
Ive personally done these a few times. the first time I did it i noticed an immediate positive response.

I took this from a nissan titan forum. timing is important.

How to:ECU Reset,Throttle & Accelerator Position Learning

I came across this info a couple of months ago while cruising the 350Z section of the Technosquare site. With the exception of the ecu reset procedure, all the other procedures here are available in the Titan service manual. The ecu reset procedure in invaluabe, as it allows almost instant reset of the ecu's RAM instead of the usual method of disconnecting the battery and guessing as to how long you must leave it disconnected.

I think it's important to do the learning procedures periodically, as it basically recalibrates the electro-mechanical positioners, namely the throttle valve positioner and the accelerator pedal positioners. After some use, these things get a little out of whack, and get kinda lost. This can cause problems like loss of power and idle issues. This method restores the proper min/max position voltages that the ecu sees from them.

I, personally, have seen the best improvement in my engine by doing the full procedure, starting with the ecu reset, followed by the other procedures. In fact, after doing this, I got back some of my low end grunt I'd lost over the past months. I can actually catch a bit of rubber now, which I haven't been able to do for a long time! It also cured a slightly erratic idle I was having.

Give it a try, but be patient....it may take a couple (or more) tries with your stopwatch to get it right.....timing is extremely important here!

Note: Make sure engine is at operating temp and all electrical loads are turned off prior to doing the idle air volume learning. Don't think it matters for an ecu reset.


ECU Resetting Procedures

Timing is extremely critical. If it is NOT DONE within the specify time, the ECU will not reset and the Check Engine Light (CEL) will continue to remain ON. A stop watch or an analog clock with a second’s needle will be useful.

Operations Procedures

Confirm that accelerator pedal is fully released, turn ignition switch “ON” and wait 3 seconds.
Repeat the following steps (2a and 2b) procedures quickly five times within 5 seconds.
Fully depress the accelerator pedal (HARD).
Fully release the accelerator pedal.
Wait 7 seconds, fully depress the accelerator pedal and keep it for approx. 10 seconds until the CEL starts blinking.
Fully release the accelerator pedal (while the CEL is still blinking)
Wait about 10 second.
Fully depress the accelerator pedal and keep it for more than 10 seconds.
Fully release the accelerator pedal (The CEL light will continue to blink).
Turn ignition switch to “OFF” position and now you can start the car. The CEL light should be gone.
If the CEL light continues to remain ON, repeat the above steps. Timing is EXTREMELY critical to resetting the ECU.


Accelerator Pedal Release Position Learning

Operation Procedure

Make sure that the accelerator pedal is fully released.
Turn ignition switch “ON” and wait at least 2 seconds.
Turn ignition switch “OFF” wait at least 10 seconds.
Turn ignition switch “ON” and wait at least 2 seconds.
Turn ignition switch “OFF” wait at least 10 seconds.

Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning

Operation Procedures

Make sure that accelerator pedal is fully released.
Turn ignition switch is “ON”.
Turn ignition switch is “OFF” wait at least 10 seconds.

Make sure that the throttle valve moves during above 10 seconds by confirming the operating sound.


Idle Air Volume Learning (Throttle Position Learning)

Operation Procedures

Perform “Accelerator Pedal Released Position Learning”.
Perform “Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning”.
Start engine and warm it up to normal operating temperature.
Turn ignition switch “OFF” and wait at least 10 seconds.
Conform that accelerator pedal is fully released, turn ignition switch “ON” and wait 3 seconds.
Repeat the following (steps 7a, 7b) procedures quickly five times within 5 seconds.
Two parts
Fully depress the accelerator pedal (HARD)
Fully release the accelerator pedal.
Wait 7 seconds, fully depress the accelerator pedal and keep it for approx. 20 seconds until the Check Engine Light (CEL) stops blinking and turned ON.
Fully release the accelerator pedal within 3 seconds after the CEL is ON.
Start engine and let it idle.
Wait 20 seconds.
Rev up the engine two or three times and make sure the idle speed and ignition timing are within the specifications.
Click to expand...
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Wow! Great post, Marc - glad I asked. Now I'll just have to figure out how to make that happen w/o an actual key and old school ignition cylinder. When all else fails, I'll read the owners manual.:) Thanks again for the concise information.
 
Still disappointed. Took the truck back to the dealer, and directed them to complete TSB 11-020. I even handed them the TSB printed out, with the corresponding symptoms hi-lighted. They completed the TSB, which included the ECM/PCM/TCM resets referenced in an above post. Erratic shifting still remains. Dealer indicated this is normal behavior, which I find impossible to believe. The truck is not at all enjoyable to drive.

I'm somewhat at a loss. Any thoughts on another course of action?
 
shift

Bummer that it is still not shifting like you want.
I like shifting it myself, over in manual mode. Listening to the motor and shift when it seems right. Fourth gear is a little tall, I think and beeps at me if I shift too soon. But the computer is probably right, with me shifting to soon sometimes on a downhill run.
Fourth gear you can wind out and let that motor pull.
Put it in manual mode and you tell it when to shift. Maybe it will 'learn' your driving style then?
Are you a long ways from another dealer ?
Have a good one
Parrott
 
Troubleshooting with the manual shift is a good recommendation. I'll give it a shot next time I'm driving it. Mechanically, the trans seems sound. WOT shifts are firm and on time. Leads me to believe it's a control issue.

The closest dealer is about 45 minutes in traffic, and the next closer one is every bit of 1.5 hrs. I would like the selling dealership to fix it - they touted their CPO status of the vehicle, so they own the problem as far as I'm concerned. Although I tried to bring the horse to water...

What's even more puzzling is the dealership indicating this is "normal" for this vehicle. I've driven many vehicles over the years, to include custom tuning for superchargers, aftermarket transmissions, etc. with an advanced skillset as your "shade-tree" mechanic (I was a helicopter mechanic for years before I started flying them). I'm potentially not their average Infiniti client regarding mechanical experience and ability. In other words, I'm not imagining this shifting problem.

And in the end, if this is how this truck was designed to perform, I just made a $45k mistake.
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not normal

>"What's even more puzzling is the dealership indicating this is "normal" for this vehicle. I've driven many vehicles over the years, to include custom tuning for superchargers, aftermarket transmissions, etc. with an advanced skillset as your "shade-tree" mechanic (I was a helicopter mechanic for years before I started flying them). I'm potentially not their average Infiniti client regarding mechanical experience and ability." <

Yep, you are Way beyond the service adviser in knowledge ! They just don't know what's wrong. Don't give up on the QX yet. You just have to find the right person with the knowledge. I hate it when something doesn't work right.
keep us posted.
Have a good one
Parrott
 
Call the Regional Infiniti Rep and tell them you want it towed to another Infiniti dealer with better techs/advisers. If they say no.. take it back to the dealer every week until they get so tired of seeing you that they will LEMON the truck.
 
kep5niner said:
Well, according ti the service manager, after our test drive, this is a normal characteristic of this drive train / tuning strategy. Offered for me to take out another QX56 to see for myself, but assured me it was 100% normal. Will report back after another test drive.
Click to expand...

What did you discover when you took another QX out for a test drive...?
 
Actually I never had the opportunity to drive another QX56. The whole process of getting the car from my wife, de-kidding it, getting to the dealer, etc. turns out to be a significant investment of time, of which I have a very limited supply (who doesn't?).

But I was anticipating returning to the dealership, ensuring my maintenance concern was verbatim the original concern. Stand by to stand-by.
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Keep us posted, i just had tsb completed also..my 2011 was skipping an entire gear....there was a major lag between 3 rd and 5th...accelerator was slow and then rpm's would launch up. Tsb fixed the gear skipping but i still feel tht 1500-2000 rpm in 5th,6th gear lags....btw, i have a 4wd
 
Started a case number with the regional Infiniti rep. Won't hear anything until Monday. Will post updates.

Update:

No word from Infiniti. This entire experience is starting to rub me the wrong way. I will be hunting them down tomorrow.

Update:

Did not hear back from the Regional Rep until I called them on Tuesday. They said I must go back to the dealer. Contacted the dealer, and they turned right around and said there's nothing they can do, and I must go back to the Regional Rep.

The accountability is truly laughable...

So I have contacted another dealership about 1.5 hours away, and I'm giving the truck to them on Saturday. I will begin researching the Lemon Laws in Illinois in the event that is the course I have to take.

This is my first experience with Infiniti, and I am not impressed with the organization as a while. I'll keep you posted.


Update:

Had an opportunity today to get the QX to the other Infiniti dealership 1.5 hours travel time. I couldn't believe what happened upon arrival:

I got the service manager up to speed on the disposition of the maintenance concern. He asked if there is a check engine light. I indicated nothing is illuminated. He said if there is no check engine light, he won't even touch it. And then proceeded to brush me off, in order to tend to other customers.

I really can't believe this entire experience I've had with Infiniti. I'm a very rational and professional individual, but this is trying my patience with the lack of customer focus from Infiniti. I've been a Ford guy for 25 years, and never encountered this lack of quality or lack of customer service before.

Anyone interested in a 2011 QX56? As a back-up plan, anyone custom tune the trans for these trucks? Truly at a loss.
 
shift

I really hate to hear that Kep5niner. Truly uncalled for. I get annoyed at gatekeepers. If you could talk with an 'transmission expert' or a skilled technician, you could go for a ride and show them.
I got lucky once on my 'recall queen' Lexus IS350. I had it in for rear shocks that went south at 6k miles. I was watching the car from a distance when they took it back. I saw him put it up on the lift and look at the shocks real close. He checked some other stuff, talked with another technician.
He then took it off the lift and drove it right out to where I was standing rolled down the window and said lets go for a ride. When we got back he got the key fob to one that had just rolled off the truck that morning and had been checked but not washed yet.
That's all it took, ordered new shocks.
I hate that it is so hit or miss to find someone that knows a little something.

My next encounter at the same dealer was not as good and the guy that took time to look at my car, he didn't work their anymore. I have never been back, that's another story & forum, LOL

Kep5niner, Unfortunately you may have to get total 'mad-dog mean' at the dealer. It a pain and annoying and I like to get along with everyone, and not have to 'show my ass'. But you have dropped a significant chunk of change on a QX, and if its not running right, through no fault of your own, they should look at it, drive it, look though their TSB's and look at the internal Infiniti message boards/list servers and see if another dealer has reported the same dam issue. geesh. Investigate.
Hope you don't have to go through a bunch of crap (or have to trade out) and actually find a 'customer advocate' .
keep us posted
best regards
parrott
 
Luckily for me, my dealer is pretty good... I tell them whats wrong, they give me a loaner and do their thing. Only problem I've had is I hate the Navigation Voice recognition on this truck and the awful MPGs... other than that, a very fine truck/experience.
 
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