2010 Nissan Cube CVT problems

Here’s my thinking on this: call the consumer affairs department one more time and explain what happened at Jiffy Lube. Now, I have no doubt that Jiffy “Lube” does good work in doing quick oil and filter replacements, but would I trust them to do anything more than that? Let me put it to you this way, nope!

Unfortunately, Jiffy Lube relies on a few constants. The first is that people only want quick oil and lube jobs and will pull away, maybe to be seen again in a few months, maybe not. They depend on volume work to make their money. Tranny work is not their strong point. The second is turnover amongst its staff. Yes, this does seem like a contradiction, but when you think about it, it does make sense. Since they pay very little above the minimum wage, you won’t find experienced lube techs or transmission techs working there. The staff tends to consist of young people on their way either to another career or who will advance to a standard training course and then get their jobs as real techs at dealerships or large shops where they can put their talents to work. In other words, your Cube was probably worked on by someone whose knowledge is limited to a Jiffy Lube training manual where they walk through a job like transmission fluid change in steps.

Next, I question the type of operation that was used. If it was a pressure cleaning, all they do is use compressed air to blow things out. If there is any metal in the fluid pan or if there are any deposits on any of the vanes of the many turbines and similar parts that are used in CVT transmissions, they can be blasted free. Believe it or not, those deposits are rock-hard and can damage some of the delicate (you wouldn’t think there are delicate parts in transmissions but there are) parts of the transmission.

Indeed, I have to question the replacement fluid they put in the CVT transmission. Was it the proper one for your Cube? If it wasn’t, then it is like putting motor oil into your transmission, it won’t work and will gum things up beyond belief. Even CVT transmission fluid is organically-based and meant to work in a transmission of a specific design. If the fluid was supposed to be used in any CVT transmission, then it was just wrong, as the manufacturer puts into the owner’s manual the type of fluid required and I will bet you a good steak dinner that Jiffy Lube’s brand doesn’t quite meet the standards of Nissan.

So, what do I think happened? I laid it out a couple of paragraphs ago. The combination of the pressure flush and probably the wrong fluid combined to take a situation that might have been marginal in the first place and make it into the situation that you have. Honestly, I think the tech who told you the transmission filter and screen could be gummed up was also right. If the filter is totally gummed up, then the amount of transmission fluid passing through the transmission is less than half-the-amount that should be going through and something — I can’t tell what from here as I haven’t seen the tranny or even a video of it, right? — has, like as not, been seriously damaged. It could be anywhere in the transmission and the drive train within it.

As to your next step, as I noted it’s back to the consumer affairs department and working with them. I know that your money is tight and that driving for Lyft is not really all that enriching unless you are willing to work about 80 hours a week but you do have to go back to the consumer affairs folks and see if they can lean on Jiffy Lube to make good. If it was operating — more or less — before you brought it in there and if it went south right after and kept on burning up fluid (something is running very hot within the transmission — likely the gummed up filter and parts nearby), then I think it is pretty clear where responsibility lies. I think Jiffy Lube should shoulder the repairs at Nissan dealer. Or, if it can’t be repaired, its replacement.

The Cube is a good subcompact and should easily hit 250,000 miles. At 122,000 miles, your Cube is just breaking it. Let me know what happens, please.

That’s a good followup question and I will answer it with one word — okay four — don’t worry about it. Yes, a Cube CVT transmission is the same year after year. Nissan, you see, relies mainly on CVT transmissions now and it just isn’t economical for them to make small changes in a transmission. It is a fairly huge expense to design a new transmission so you won’t have to worry. If it comes to a replacement (rebuilt) they can take an 09 or 10 Cube transmission and put it in with no problem.

Good luck today in your visit. I can almost guarantee that at one point or another the manager of the shop will say, “but you…” or “but your Cube…” and finish the sentence with a reason that he won’t guarantee the work (they have to whether he likes it or not as it is in their contract and it is pretty obvious it is something they did or didn’t do). Be careful, if they point out that the filter was not replaced and tell you that it’s not their fault because you didn’t authorize the added repair so they don’t have to cover it. This is a bogus stance because it is common practice within the industry to repair and replace the filter when a flush has been authorized. Press them on the point and hold out for it as they don’t have a leg to stand on here. In my opinion (remember I am just sitting here helping you a bit; I’m not a lawyer, though, I have been around this planet a few years), they stepped up and whacked a huge foul ball and now it’s time to stop arguing with the ump, even though the catcher caught it, and to do the right thing.

I would also let them know you are having the consumer affairs folks look at your problem as a little more backup (having a large club in the background always helps) and here’s something else I thought of if you have a local TV station with a good “investigative reporting” team or “help line” crew, I would call them and let them know what happens and ask them to get involved if Jiffy Lube stands there and keeps denying things. Chances are good either the consumer affairs people or, more likely, the TV folks will get you some help.