My parents had a 99 Maxima that had a similar problem, but it was independent of the weather. Went in 4 or 5 times before they decide to replace a wiring harness that linked the transmission to the ECU. Just a thought.

 

Did the dealer ever solve the problem? Did you mention that they may want to connect the car to the "scanner" to see what is happening? It could be anything from a faulty sensor to a bad injector coil pack to everything in between.

Good luck.

 

The dealer has had my car for a total of about two weeks. Not only have they connected it to everything possible, but the regional tech expert has poured over it, too.

If I have it right, there are so many things it could be that to begin replacing various parts and then waiting to see what happens is not practical. Plus, if this is, indeed, altitude and weather related, there isn't much snow this year in Denver, making it even more difficult to duplicate. Further, there are never any warning lights and nothing registers on the computer diagnostics.

It's not like I don't understand and empathize with them; I do. However, I'm left with a car that is seriously dangerous at times. My wife won't drive it, I won't allow my kids in it, and I drive it only when necessary. We're scared of it. If it were to happen when merging onto the freeway, or when turning into traffic, or when simply going around a corner--well, it's an accident waiting to happen. The risk involved plagues us.

The time is near for more action, this time on my part.

 

have they checked every solenoid?

 

I don't know.

I spoke with an Infiniti Consumer Affairs rep today. LONG conversation, but in the end I gave her approval to schedule an appointment with the regional service rep if it's not greater than one week from today. If it's longer than that, no thanks. She will call me tomorrow with that news.

The Consumer Affairs rep treated me very well on the phone, and understood why I am unhappy. I even asked her if I was being a butt about all this, and she replied, "No. You certainly are not."

As I have previously written, she believes a request for a buy back "will almost certainly be denied since there has been no attempt at repair." I said, "So even though the dealership has had my car for two weeks over three occasions, even though I'm rarely driving the car since my family and I are in serious danger every time it happens, and even though the dealership knows there is a real problem they cannot figure out, that does not constitute an attempt at repair. Have I got this right, and does that seem ridiculous to you?" She replied, "Yes, you have it right, and yes, it seems ridiculous."

After I hear from the rep, I will be contacting my attorney.

And thanks for your help, everyone. I'm posting here for two reasons: 1) you know more about this car than I do = I learn from you; 2) I'll have a record of what's gone on.

Thank you.

 

Well, I've got it--proof on video.

To be brief because it's late, it happened for a fourth time tonight. That's 19 days since the last episode. As ridiculous as this sounds, I have been keeping trip miles to a minimum out of fear that the next time it happens will cause an accident. However, since the weather was great--dry and warm--I decided to take it on the longest trip yet. I got the car in early January.

My wife and I drove about 1.8 hours from Longmont to Colorado Springs for a concert. At the very end of our return trip it did it again, lurching and bucking and refusing to go past 2300 rpms.

And there was no snow, no rain, no slick conditions at all. The temperature was about 47 degrees. After speeds of 60 - 80 mph on I 25, I was going about 53 mph on a straight away when it began. I wasn't braking, I wasn't turning, I was simply approaching my neighborhood with my foot resting on the accelerator.

Throw all the theories about snow and cold out the window.

I will upload the video tomorrow morning and post the site address. On the video you can clearly see the gauges, see the speed, see the rpm needle bouncing and refusing to go past 2300 rpms, you can hear the motor searching at idle, and sputtering when in D at 2300.

This is awful.

 

I called my insurance company last week and informed them. My cost will not go up, and they have made a note about it in my file. In the event of an accident, they will take appropriate action.

Here's the link to the video. The web site will only accept a five minute video, so it cuts off at that point. When I restarted the car, everything returned to normal, including the idle at 850 rpms, it didn't sputter at 2300 rpms, and there were, of course, no warning lights.

http://s223.photobucket.com/albums/d...l142009web.flv

I am in contact with the tech rep at my dealership, and will shortly call Infiniti directly.

 

Just watched the video. That just sucks . I really do hope everything works out for you, sir. If you pop it into DS or Manual mode, does anything happen/change?

 

Wow, that's horrible. I hope Infiniti finds a solution for the problem and takes care of you.

BTW, I'd buckle up as soon as I got into that car especially considering the way your G lurches and bucks. j/k

 

No change.

There is virtually no progress with Infiniti Corp. The dealer is at it's end of trying to figure out what's wrong (they cannot) and won't give me a loaner. Hands are tied. Corporate wants me to be happy to wait for a drive-along with a tech rep who looked at the car about a month ago. I'm certain that's an attempt to show me what I'm doing wrong.

Meanwhile I'm stuck with a car I'm afraid to drive and which is really affecting me and my family.

On we go.

 

Have you contacted your state's Attorney Generals office??? You gave them approximately $40,000 and you didn’t not get what you were supposed to. The car has a warranty and they are NOT fixing the car...

 

Since this is a potential safety issue, you might want to contact the NHTSA and send them a copy of your video. That might get the ball rolling with Infiniti.

 

Yeah that suck but good job with the video. At least they can't give you the "you must be imaging this look". Proof is in the video. Good luck.

 

Tomorrow (Tuesday, April 21) I have a ride-along with the regional tech rep. Along with the techs at the dealership, he poured over the car a month and a half ago without finding anything wrong.

I will post what goes on with him.

 

I just heard from the dealership and the regional tech rep.

After again finding nothing out of line through the computer diagnostics (as they did over a month ago), the tech nevertheless downloaded and applied two new software updates. One will hopefully better regulate the air-flow to the car (same as the Canadian issue), and one will smooth-out the decelerating gear change from third to second, something many owners have complained about. Both software updates have become available in the last month.

The regional rep noticed the abruptness or jerkiness of the gear change from third to second while driving my car, and took it upon himself to make the update. I appreciate that. Further, he did the 3,750 mile service to the car, since it’s now at about 3,100. He used ester oil, and recommends it for the life of the car. He said that if I used synthetic, it will work fine but the engine will sound a bit louder. There was no charge for this service, and I appreciate that.

There have been four “episodes” that I have had with the car in the three months I’ve had it, so the clock has started. I suspect I will not be at ease until a few months have gone by.

My deep thanks to the members of this forum. Because of the information I have found here, as well as your helpful suggestions, I directed them to the Canadian issue and video taped the most recent occurrence in my car. Those two things convinced them to move aggressively. I suspect nothing would have happened as yet were it not for you.

I’ll post back if something happens—God forbid.