Cruise Control kick back problem

[DiE_PoTaTo]

Hi. Have a 2008 3.0lt ST-L Automatic Patrol chipped. Vehicle travels well...plenty of power but crap fuel economy. The problem I am having is with the cruise control. If I set on the flat at say 100km/h it holds well but as soon as I hit any incline it drops out of overdrive back to 3rd. In OD it sits on 2050rpm. On a very slight incline it may drop the torque converter out and revs jump to approx 2600rpm but even a gentle 5degrees incline will cause it to just straight back to 3rd and revs just to approx 3700rpm. It is driving me nuts as unless im on perfectly flat road the car is always revving its head off. If I drive normally out of cruise on the same inclines it doesnt kick back even if I give it more throttle.

I have heard the autos have had issues with cracks in the fly wheels or leaking torque converters which may cause this but I have no oil leaks or vibrations to support this.

Could it be a transmission ECU issue n would a re-program help maybe?
Would the mod chip cause issues with transmission?

Looking at doing a 6000km trip soon n not being able to use cruise will kill me!

[megatexture]

Mines the same, I just put it down to Nissans crap design as mines done it from brand new.

[kennyb]

I have 2008 ST-L 3.0lt CRD Auto and it does exactly the same thing. I have owned it since new and have not done any modifications to motor or exhaust at all. I tend to limit the use of cruise control on the expressway between Newcastle and Sydney for that same reason. As soon as it hits a slight incline it kicks back and revs the guts out of the engine where as if I drive without cruise control on I can climb without the massive rev burst. I guess if Mr Nissan could add a few more gears into the gear box all would be well.

[ova50]

Happens with mine as well.
I rarely use the cruise control.

[DiE_PoTaTo]

Im taking it back under warrranty so i'll see if I can get a repprogram done n see if it helps or i'll just have to buy a Toyota Landcruiser.....joke! lol

[MEGOMONSTER]

Mine dies the same.
It is the auto itself that does it, and not much can be done about it.
Spoke to wholesale automatics about it and he said there not much he can if apart from a while new different auto.

[BigRAWesty]

What about a converter lock up mod??
Father in law has the auto prado and same thing.
It's like there made for the patrols.
Anyway a flick of the switch once cruse is engaged and it tricks the auto to stay locked the whole time. Make the engine do its thing.

[megatexture]

It's not just the dropping back a gear that's sh!t it's not a smooth acceleration to maintain speed on the flat aswell, I can feel little boost in acceleration to maintain the speed. by far the worst cruse ctrl I've used by a long shot

[kevin07]

07 model same thing don't use it advice wholesale automatics lockup kit or chaz for cheap version

[firm351]

Mines the same, as soon as it sees an incline in the distance it drops back a gear and revs its box off. I never use cruise anymore it shits me to tears.

[Avo]

Mines the same, as soon as it sees an incline in the distance it drops back a gear and revs its box off. I never use cruise anymore it shits me to tears.

yep mine shits me to tears,i don't bother with it either..i wouldn't drop my car back a couple of gears and watch it hit nearly 4500rpm in an instant,don't know why they make it do this with a computer

[BigRAWesty]

Ok. Quick q. What tyres are you all running??
I'm thinking if bigger the auto already has a bit of extra strain on it. So less incline is needed for it to drop back.

[threedogs]

Get it serviced, I have an Autron CC and it will hold 110 day in day out.
See what happens after your service,
out of interest what size tyres are you running and what is your fuel consumption,
If your getting around 14/100 I would say thats normal

[BillsGU]

I have an Autron fly by wire cruise control and it does not do what the factory cruise seems to do. It does of course kick back on steep hills but not on small inclines (unless I am heavily loaded or towing). When I am approaching a hill I usually "help" the auto by clicking out of OD. I can't see how it is the auto's problem if it does not happen when you are driving it with cruise off. What setting is your three position A/T switch in? I usually leave mine in the middle (normal) position. Try the "Power" or "Hold" position on the same hill and see if it makes any difference.

[megatexture]

Tyre size has nothing to do with it, I run two sets stock and 33s and makes no difference what I'm wearing

[Paule]

I have the autron cruise in my 03 3ltr and it's great, I reckon it must be the factory cruise control module making it kick back

[SG1]

Yeah mine can do the same occasionally, although not on a small incline more of a short sharp hill, ie around Warragul coming back from Melbourne, there is a little hill there that always does it while the rest of them are fine, I know our car is not a CRD but Di like yours and others but it still is not an ideal Cruise control system and same thing shits me of but then also I think our torque converter is on its way out and needs looking at soon.

[DiE_PoTaTo]

How can you tell if the torque converter on the way out? My tyres are 285/70 -17's btw. Im thinking its just the shitty nissan factory cruise. Being a truck driver I use cruise constantly...even in the cities to keep speed down but looks like the Patrol will have to be cruiseless unless on flat road!

[SG1]

How can you tell if the torque converter on the way out? My tyres are 285/70 -17's btw. Im thinking its just the shitty nissan factory cruise. Being a truck driver I use cruise constantly...even in the cities to keep speed down but looks like the Patrol will have to be cruiseless unless on flat road!

Release of throttle and then re apply (corners at giveway signs, round abouts, cruising at 80 ect) and engine revs slightly before transmission re engages (sometimes it does sometimes it does not do itand is inconsistent in doing it, its less often on mine than more atm), coupled with slight vibration when applying throttle but only when transmission is engaged, topped with 230 tho /k's on vehicle it seems a likely possibility but open to suggestions. All oils are new and correct levels including new filter/strainer and pan removed and cleaned, was doing it before all that was done as well, not overly worried about it atm but will be on the to do list and check at some stage.