Some European and Asian cars use a continuously variable automatic transmission, which ensures uniform speed changes and reduced fuel consumption. When carrying out regular maintenance, it is necessary to check the oil level in the variator: a decrease in fluid volume or the appearance of contamination indicates the need for servicing the unit. Lack of oil leads to accelerated abrasive wear of the V-belt and tapered pulleys, which will result in costly repairs.
Checking the oil level in the variator with a dipstick
Before checking the oil level in the variator, it needs to be warmed up. To do this, you need to travel about 10 kilometers in summer and twice as much in winter. After this, it is important to place the car on a horizontal surface and leave the engine idling. You need to alternately switch the positions of the variator lever, holding the brake, and then leave the handle in the “P” position.
After this, you need to open the hood and do the following:
- Remove the dipstick from the neck by unscrewing the fixing fastener.
- Wipe the dipstick dry with a lint-free cloth.
- After this, the dipstick must be placed in the neck and lowered to the bottom, hold for 5-10 seconds.
- Check to what mark on the dipstick the oil level has reached. Ideally, it should be in the Hot interval.
- After checking the oil level, the dipstick must be returned to its place and the lock must be snapped into place.
Self-diagnosis of the Nissan Qashqai variator
Before you begin diagnosing the variator, the engine and transmission must be warmed up while driving. Some car instructions require connecting Consult and checking the temperature sensor in the CVT box. The voltage there should exceed 0.9V. Simply put, you need to drive a few kilometers before diagnosing the variator. The sequence of actions in preparation for self-diagnosis of the CVT gearbox is as follows:
- Warm up the car while driving.
- Disconnect all consumers of electrical energy from the battery.
- The battery is in good condition with a charge of more than 12 V.
- There are no alarms that break the standard circuits.
- The gearbox selector is moved to position “P” - Parking.
The procedure for diagnosing a CVT transmission:
- Insert the key into the lock and turn it to the ON position.
The warning lights on the dashboard should light up. Carry out the procedure quickly twice OFF- ON – OFF – ON – OFF. Leave it turned off.
- Switch on the ignition with the gear selector in position P and turn on the ignition. Wait until the CVT (Sport) light comes on for a couple of seconds and then immediately turn off the ignition.
- Press the brake pedal and move the selector to “D” – Drive.
- Turn the ignition back on.
- Release the brake pedal and move the selector knob to position L.
- At the same time, fully depress the brake and gas pedals and move the selector back to D.
- Release both pedals.
First, there will be a starting pulse of 2 seconds, as when you turn on the ignition, then the lamp will flash 10 times, at this time you need to look at the flashes. Some of them will be short, about half a second, some longer, about a second. Let's assume that the self-diagnosis procedure did not start for some reason.
If the variator is constantly in emergency mode, then first check the condition of the Step Motor windings at the box connector under the battery. Through this connector you can diagnose all internal electronic components of the variator. If you replace them, you will have to drain the oil and remove the pan with filter.
If the malfunction is complex and does not always manifest itself in motion, then measurements must be taken from external speed sensors and directly in motion. On passenger cars, this connector is usually located in the center of the dashboard. On minivans - under the glove compartment on the passenger side, closer to the left pillar.
If the car moves in the emergency mode of the variator, both on a warm and cold engine, then there is a high probability that the Step Motor has failed (the winding has broken). A malfunction that occurs after warming up is the rotation sensors. In this case, you need to disassemble everything to access the ECU and go actively driving for about ten minutes. Once this time has passed, connect the device and watch the signals.
If the variator begins to slip, then check the pressure in the port and the voltage at the pressure sensor in Stall Test mode. This will help you learn a lot about the condition of the CVT gearbox. In order not to move on a “keg of gunpowder”, if you purchased a used car with a CVT, the mileage of which has already reached a critical number, change the transmission at the first maintenance so as not to spoil your life with restless thoughts.
Checking the oil level in the variator without a dipstick
Checking the oil level without a dipstick is much more difficult. The easiest way out is to go to a car service center and trust the professionals.
Self-check occurs as follows:
- The gearbox heats up to 40 degrees, the engine idles.
- The oil is drained through the inspection hole.
- The oil should flow out in a thin stream.
- If it does not flow out, then the level is too low and you need to add fluid until it flows through the control hole.
- After this, all that remains is to tighten the hole plug and the procedure is considered complete.
Main advantages, disadvantages and problems of the JF011E box
One of the key advantages of the CVT model under consideration is its high reliability. Fans of a number of Japanese cars agree that the JF011E turned out to be, if not the best, then one of the best CVTs in the line in general. But it has its pros and cons.
pros
it’s easy to find and install non-original spare parts without compatibility problems - belts, pump valves, bearings, valve bodies;
a large assortment of “donors” on the secondary market, if you need a replacement assembly, there will be no difficulties with this;
The box has been well studied in Russian automotive services, the craftsmen know how to work with it, so there will be no force majeure with repairs.
Minuses
When approaching 100 thousand kilometers, the variator belt can stretch greatly, which is why it will have to be replaced;
Drivers often notice the hum of bearings while driving;
The transmission design does not have the best solenoids and sensors, so problems can occur with them too.
If you operate the box correctly and maintain it on time, you are unlikely to encounter any breakdowns.
Consequences of underfilling
The consequences of insufficient oil level can critically affect the operation of the variator. Without sufficient lubrication, its parts wear out faster, the oil pump becomes clogged, and within a couple of months after purchasing the car, the gearbox will require major repairs.
If, after checking the oil level, it turns out that the amount is not enough, then you need to immediately add more oil and do not delay the problem. But overfilling oil is also dangerous. Proceed carefully and check the oil level to ensure it remains within the limits allowed by the manufacturer's technical regulations.
Resetting the cvt nissan lubricant aging counter using a simple scanner
The essence of the oil aging meter on the Nissan X-Trail T31 is that this is an algorithm embedded in the control unit for a continuously variable transmission. Therefore, there can be no talk of any replacement of the device.
The algorithm itself involves taking into account the operating parameters of the motor and variator, correction factors that are set by the manufacturer taking into account the task of preserving the resource of the box.
If there is no MUT-III. automotive scanner designed for resetting, then you can reset the level of performance degradation using an adapter and ELM-327 version 1.5. You should purchase such an adapter with caution, since unscrupulous sellers sell unsuitable devices under the working version (version 2.1).
Resetting the Nissan variator oil aging counter is carried out as follows:
- Download and install the program (for a smartphone or tablet);
- The adapter is inserted into the connector located near the hood release handle;
- The device is located via Bluetooth and the password 1234 is entered.
- The program starts, Data Monitor appears on the screen (the aging indicator is at the very bottom of the screen);
- In the main menu, press the “Read CVTF DETERIORATION“ button, which is responsible for resetting;
- If zeroing does not occur, the procedure should be repeated (possibly several times).
Consequences of overflow
In operating mode, the oil heats up and expands; if you overfill it, it will foam and the gaskets and seals of the gearbox may leak. Oil may also squeeze out through the dipstick. As a result, the working gearbox will begin to leak. If air bubbles are visible on the dipstick, this means that excess oil inside the variator has foamed. Such a liquid is not dense enough and cannot fully perform its functions. The lubrication of the box elements deteriorates, and the consequences can be dire.
If jerking occurs when starting, then there is a high probability that the reason is due to oil overflow. Foamed oil cools worse and the box overheats. In this case, you need to stop driving and let the car cool down.
Sometimes the oil level in the variator is exceeded due to antifreeze entering the CVT from a damaged radiator. This is indicated by a change in oil color.
Possible difficulties and nuances
When deciding to change CVT oil, you should buy it from trusted suppliers. You should choose the one that is suitable specifically for your variator. When buying cheap analogues, there is a possibility of buying a low-quality product. Depending on the car model, partial replacement of the fluid in the variator is recommended after 3000 km. Also, the difficulty is finding suitable consumables and oils for CVT.
To summarize, we can say that changing the oil in the variator is a vital procedure. It extends the service life of the unit due to wear protection: the pulley, parts included in the hydraulic control unit and the plastic belt. There is no need to save money and buy cheap consumables. Remember that stingy people pay twice. We wish you excellent roads and uninterrupted operation of the variator.
What cars were equipped with the JF011E variator?
The peak of popularity of the JF011E gearbox came in 2005, when the transmission appeared on the market. It was widely used by various concerns and was found in the design of the following models:
- Nissan: Qashqai, X-Trail, Tiida, Juke and others;
- Mitsubishi Outlander and ASX;
- Peugeot: 4007 and 4008;
- Suzuki SX4 and Kizashi;
- Citroen C-Crosser;
- Dodge Caliber.
Contrary to erroneous belief, boxes of this model were not installed on Toyota and Mercedes-Benz cars, as well as on Renault Megane. You can find out whether such a variator is installed on your car in the manufacturer’s instruction manual or on one of the thematic sites.
Service on Nissan Lafesta since 2004 (+ update 2007)
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Car service
Checking the level must be carried out at a temperature of 50
The verification procedure is as follows:
1. Check for leaks of working fluid.
2. After warming up the engine, drive the car in city conditions. If the ambient temperature is 20°C, the trip will take about ten minutes to warm up the variator to 50
Lubricant selection
Original oil for Qashqai variator
In order for the J11 CVT transmission or other Nissan gearbox to work without interruptions, only high-quality lubricant must be poured into it. Using low-quality transmission fluid will lead to transmission malfunctions.
The manufacturer recommends pouring original Nissan CVT Fluid NS-2 lubricant into Kashkaev gearboxes.
To avoid purchasing a counterfeit product, when purchasing, pay attention to the code indicated on the label. For original products it is KLE52-00004. In principle, it is also possible to use other analogues if you cannot buy the original product. But the manufacturer recommends not to experiment.
Recommendations
Comments 29
Hm. No dipstick? Is there a tube for it? I remember once upon a time I saw on forums that Mitsubs with a CVT also did not have a dipstick. We bought it separately at the existential store, installed it and were happy. Maybe that's the case here too?
This won’t work here, people have already ordered a dipstick on Exist several times using the number, but in the end they receive a plastic plug. Some people still do it according to the principle: as much as was drained, so much was poured in. But this is not entirely true, because... It is not known whether the level was correct before draining the oil.
It may well be that the same variator, but a different make of car, has a dipstick. Haven't you looked?
So far, no probe fits without modification.
Even if you completely drain the fluid from the variator and then unscrew the control plug, everything will be the same as in the video. Only what was in the channel above the plug was drained. Repeat the procedure, but at the same time add to the tube for the dipstick (which is not there) until it really starts to leak.
That’s right, I first filled in more liquid than needed, and then drained it until it was a thin, intermittent stream. The manual says: “when the CVT fluid flow slows to a drop.”
Repair JF011E
Most often, drivers contact the service center to repair the following JF011E breakdowns:
- Step motor failure. The part changes the transmission gear ratio. Fails due to prolonged overheating and resource exhaustion. Average cost – 7 thousand rubles;
- failure of the high pressure pump valve. Its breakdown can be judged by low lubricant pressure and belt slippage. The average cost is 22 thousand rubles;
- belt holder malfunction. The part is not officially produced; you can find on sale either a supported original or a non-original version. The average cost is 2 thousand rubles;
- wear of shaft bearings. Typically, four bearings must be replaced at once; they fail due to overload and critical wear of the belt. The price of one part is about 4,500 rubles.
It is not recommended to attempt to disassemble the box yourself and replace parts, such as the oil pump pressure reducing valve or other components.
We invite you to watch a detailed video review of bearing replacement.
If the variator and the car as a whole begins to show signs of failure of one or more components, it is better to contact the specialists at the “Cvariator Repair Center No. 1”. Get additional information by calling: Moscow – 8 (495) 161-49-01, St. Petersburg – 8 (812) 223-49-01. We accept calls from any region of Russia.
