Hey all, I hope I'm posting this in the most appropriate section. I didn't see any "transmission" specific wording, but I figured this is the closest thing!
Also, please know I have tried searching for this particular issue I'm having and didn't have much success. That's why I'm posting here.

Soooo... I am going to try to put this into words that accurately describe this issue as best I can. It'd be much better if I could somehow capture it on video, but even that wouldn't really describe it any better. On a normal car (automatic), you press the gas "go" pedal and the car engages and you start moving forward immediately. Duh. But more often than not, like from a dead stop I take my foot off the brake and start to engage the gas pedal. When I do, there is like this slight delay or hesitation before the gears "catch" or engage or something. And when they do, it's a violent experience inside the car. It surprises you because you're not expecting it, first of all. Second, it's pretty intermittent. I'd say it happens maybe 60% of the time. Today was the worst because I had a friend in the passenger seat with a cup of coffee... and just accelerating normally from a stoplight it did the violent lurching thing and of course, the coffee went all over my friend and my car. Lovely. He wasn't happy either and said I am a bad driver. Lol. Sorry, it's the car bud!

Is this a common or known issue for our cars? Is there any recalls or TSBs on this? Is it something that can be fixed with tuning software i.e. EcuTek? I did buy new tranny fluid and an OEM tranny gasket... was planning to change out the fluid as the car has 120k and probably has never had the transmission fluid changed (guessing since I've only owned the car for 2 months). Have some quality AMSOIL in the garage.... but could it really just be fluid as the problem? I doubt it.

I imagine if the car was brand new or under warranty and doing this, people would take it back to the dealer for a fix all day long. But since I'm not in that camp, I gotta figure something out. The best way I can describe it is to imagine if you had a manual transmission. Easy for you manual guys ... just imagine you're doing a hard launch from a dead stop... you rev it up, let out the clutch too fast or something and the car lunges or jerks violently. We've all done that before. That's what it feels like with my 7AT.

I don't want to have to buy a new transmission! I wish there were more options for us 7AT automatic guys i.e. I wish they made an upgraded valve body or shift kit like I know they make for lots of other automatic cars. Then it'd be a worthwhile purchase for me considering the lurching issues. But if there's another easy fix I'm all ears (eyes)!

It's an unpredictable and often violent lurch/jerk/lunge forward experience. And I have no control over it. And it's over in less than a second and goes into gear and shifts normally. I don't know what triggers it. I've had to try to learn to slowly engage the gas pedal sometimes otherwise I push it, wait 1 second while the car thinks about the meaning of life and why glue doesn't stick to the inside of the bottle and then BOOM finally decides to get into gear and it's not a pleasant experience. It can't be normal either. I hope it's something that can be fixed and is not just a feature of this vehicle/platform lol.






Basically, I don't know if it's the transmission or something else...

 

Does it happen at a certain gear? I know what you're talking about, I'm experiencing it in my car and I experienced it in my 2011 mustang gt that was tuned.

I've searched the internet high and low, and there are no answers at all.

I still get it intermittently when the torque converter is warm/hot after extended driving. I know when it's coming, so I take my foot off the gas so that the gear doesn't bang in and lurch the car and **** **** up. Right before it happens, it will feel like the gear is slipping since the rpms raise and the car goes no where. And then BAM, take that!

 

The bang was worse in the mustang. It felt like you were getting rear ended. But that thing was a tank it could take the abuse

 

Low/old fluid can do this. Start with fluid changes first and make sure it has the proper level and then report back.

Ever since I had my ecm flashed with Uprev transmission line pressure was increased and a get some decent jerks. How decent? chirps 3rd gear.

So a tune might not work for you unless the tuner concentrates on the transmission drivability and even then you'll be subjected to quality of fluid and fluid level.

 

In answer to everyone who replied, THANK YOU first of all. No, I haven't used any advanced/enhanced scanner tool. I have been waiting to pull the trigger on purchasing an ECUTEK tuning kit, assuming that has similiar functionality as far as reading ECM/TCM stuff...

It's definitely nothing to do with the tune or exhaust pipes lol. I checked the fluid and it's still pretty red/pink. Basically it looks fresh. Well, fresher than the 120k miles on the car, so someone changed it before I bought it. I topped off the ATF and notice 0 difference.

I really hope I don't need a new torque converter or anything. I have been researching upgraded valve bodies a lot though. That seems like it could potentially be a fix. Sounds like our Infinitis have historically had issues with transmission shifting especially the 7AT.

FML lol wish me luck as I contemplate my next $$$ purchase for the car :/ lol

 

Hey having that issue now. Did you find what was causing it and how to fix it?

 

I'm having the same issue and it really sucks. Any solutions? I'm thinking about doing an VR trans upgrade.

 

traded the car in for a camry just recently 😅. I updated the tcm software at the dealership and it made shifts quicker but not fix!