Car will not move when in gear

2009 NISSAN ROGUE
85,000 MILES • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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AGSTEEL
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When I was driving suddenly lost power and was almost as if car was in manual. Parked car and noticed transmission fluid was quite low and refilled (filled two quarts and I think capacity is eight to nine quarts so was not empty but was below dipstick level). After filling CVT fluid still nothing happens when I put in gear (forward or reverse). When starting up engine revs up when in park but after putting in great and revving rpm's go low and will not rev up, even after putting back in neutral (only reaches 1,200 rpm's).

I am going to take to car shop but curious if transmission is likely shot or if could be something else based on rpm issue? When I restart in park revs up fine without seeming to have any issues.
Jun 21, 2018 at 7:04 PM
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STEVE W.
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That is a common sign of a failed CVT unit. The chains in them fail and come apart. The low fluid would have made it worse.

If you want to see the process and what likely failed there are is video series on the Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics channel on YouTube.
Nissan Rogue Transmission Swap parts 1 - 5
and Ivan tears apart the expensive core unit just to find out what failed in the two part series
Nissan CVT: Teardown and Failure Analysis -Part 1
Nissan CVT: Teardown and Failure Analysis -Part 2 (re-release!)

You may want to call a dealer about it as Nissan has issued a new warranty of 10 years 120,000 miles on that transmission and were replacing them free.

"2008-2010 Nissan Rogue. The existing power-train warranty coverage of 5 years/60,000 miles was extended at no cost, for CVT repairs, replacements or related towing, up to 10 years/120,000 miles (whichever comes first)." No reason to pay for it if you do not need to. I would not mention the low fluid though.
Jun 22, 2018 at 12:13 AM
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AGSTEEL
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Would you recommend I flush and refill with Nissan CVT N-2 fluid? I am not sure if at some point before I bought car (four years ago) prior owner filled with non-Nissan CVT fluid and this would cause Nissan to decline my claim using extended warranty?
Jun 22, 2018 at 5:59 AM
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STEVE W.
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As long as the fluid met the specifications for that CVT they cannot deny the claim. Plus if they had used non-CVT fluid you would have known it long ago, these units do not act real well if the wrong fluid is used, normally they fail real fast, under a couple thousand miles usually.
Jun 22, 2018 at 9:18 AM
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AGSTEEL
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Thank you Steve, this has been extremely helpful.
Jun 22, 2018 at 9:19 AM
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STEVE W.
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If you search online you should be able to find the information about the warranty change,
https://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/psa-nissan-doubles-warranty-on-cvts-to-10-years-120-000-miles/

Print that out and have it in your pocket just in case.
Jun 22, 2018 at 9:37 AM