'BREAKING' 2013 ALTIMA 2.5 S (L33) DOES HAVE MANUAL SHIFT MODE!!

4932 Views 45 Replies 7 Participants Last post by scarydog892, 16 d ago

rjones6362

Discussion Starter · Oct 28, 2021

I currently own a Nissan Atima L33 2.5 S (model) and driven it for the pass 8 years. I bought it brand new off the lot with 4 miles on the dash (as you'll see on the dash, it still has relatively low mileage) .Currently adding mods incrementally and just discovered that it has "Manual Shift" mode like its 3.5 counterpart but the 2.5 doesn't come equipped with paddle shifters at all (owner's Manual doesn't mention that the 2.5 actually has Manual Shift Mode in which it does!). I figured out how to access/unlock Manual Mode after extensive research i.e. service manuals. I temporarily wired up two" pushbuttons " to the respective paddle shift jst connector on the PCB. Thanks to my wiring skills that I acquired from modding arcade fight sticks, I was able to achieve what probably hasn't been done anywhere in this country (USA) for this exact car. If it wasn't for my love of fight sticks I would've paid a premium for something I can do myself. Currently waiting on my actual paddle shifter kit (stock). It's going to be a blast putting this together Voooom! Voooom!! This car is going to be pretty cool once I'm done with it. Pics coming soon...any questions please ask!!

...soooo stoked
* UPDATE*
(Pic 1)Manual Mode unlocked!
(Pic 2) Back of gauge cluster module i.e. Combination Meter. Wiring points on the connector M26
(Pic 3) Custom Detachable wiring harness (3-Piece)
(Pic 4) Salvaged steering column Switch bracket w/Paddle Shifter brace from a '13 Altima 3.5L.
(Pic 5) Cleaned and installed. No modifications needed its a one to one fit. No difference in fitment.
(Pic 6) Paddle harness installed (its a 3 piece quick connect harness done by me) * I bought the shifters and new paddle shifter steering column bought directly from Nissan
(Pic 7) wiring installed into the Main Body harness connector M26 which connects to the gauge cluster i.e. Combination Meter
(Pic 8) Nearly finished. Shifters work (of course)!!! More cleaning then install new column cover and new steering wheel!

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1 - 20 of 46 Posts

ooiman92

· #2 · Nov 24, 2021

Hello, I was browsing around and happened to find this page. I'm interested in seeing if this is something I can do myself like how to actually toggle on the manual mode and where the wires are hooked up. I have a 2015 Altima and it looks like this would work for me as well. Thanks in advance!

Reactions: 1

rjones6362

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 24, 2021

Hey bud, this is EXACTLY why I posted this online. I want to share this to other L33 owners as well as other car enthusiasts who may be slightly interested. I was SUUUPER STOKED once I did some extensive research (service manuals and owner's manual) and discovered that my 2.5 S model HAS MANUAL mode. Thereafter, I put my wiring skills to the test which turned out to be a great success as you see above! I'm going to do so much more clean mods; function, power, and looks with very MINIMAL RICE!!! I probably should do a video someday. I recently swap the stock steering wheel for a REVESOL sport steering wheel. I have to take pictures pictures. Everything you need to know is in this post. Here's a post to a Nissan discord. We could probably voice chat (in English) Join the Nissan Discord Server!
You're welcome and thank you for finding my post and replying!!! Your 2015 may have it too I'm not certain but we can find out together.

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ooiman92

· #4 · Nov 24, 2021

Aewsome, I've done a few mods to the car, but yeah, would definitely love to see more functionality and power mods for this specific car. I'll browse through the discord and see if I can find what I need.

VStar650CL

· #5 · Nov 24, 2021

ooiman92 said:
Hello, I was browsing around and happened to find this page. I'm interested in seeing if this is something I can do myself like how to actually toggle on the manual mode and where the wires are hooked up. I have a 2015 Altima and it looks like this would work for me as well. Thanks in advance!

The '15 SM shows the same wires in the same positions at the Combination Meter, so the mod should work identically to the OP's.

Reactions: 2

rjones6362

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 26, 2021

Yeah, I think all L33s have Manual Mode for sure. It's very interesting. I think L33 2.5s didn't get the "Manual Shift" aka paddle shifters option until the 2016 SR trims. 8 years later after having my 1st gen L33 (2013) I discovered that it had Manual Mode like it's 3.5L counterpart. Apparently both 2.5 and 3.5 share the same CVT which explains it all. Therefore if I make power mods other than my cold air intake, my cvt can handle up to 275 (don't know it's made at the wheel or just the crank which would probably push somewhere near 250 to the wheels).

VStar650CL

· #7 · Nov 26, 2021

rjones6362 said:
Yeah, I think all L33s have Manual Mode for sure. It's very interesting. I think L33 2.5s didn't get the "Manual Shift" aka paddle shifters option until the 2016 SR trims. 8 years later after having my 1st gen L33 (2013) I discovered that it had Manual Mode like it's 3.5L counterpart. Apparently both 2.5 and 3.5 share the same CVT which explains it all. Therefore if I make power mods other than my cold air intake, my cvt can handle up to 275 (don't know it's made at the wheel or just the crank which would probably push somewhere near 250 to the wheels).

No, the CVT's in the QR and VQ are completely different. The VQ has a much heftier chain and will handle way more power. But the QR and VQ Alties do share the same cluster (which is where the paddle shift is processed and controlled) and the TCM is the same as several other models, some of which have paddles. So the TCM firmware in the QR has paddle-ability as a vestigial function.

rjones6362

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 26, 2021 (Edited)

Hmmm, makes sense.

I wonder why altimas never got the nismo treatment 🤔

rjones6362

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 26, 2021 (Edited)

VStar650CL said:
No, the CVT's in the QR and VQ are completely different. The VQ has a much heftier chain and will handle way more power. But the QR and VQ Alties do share the same cluster (which is where the paddle shift is processed and controlled) and the TCM is the same as several other models, some of which have paddles. So the TCM firmware in the QR has paddle-ability as a vestigial function.

How much power can the 2.5 cvt handle. I've seen 178h and 188h for "L33s" (I think that's at the crank not wheel tho)

VStar650CL

· #10 · Nov 26, 2021

Stock is 182 for a '13~15 QR. The CVT's will handle 250 with no problem, you're probably on the edge at 270~275. That assumes frequent fluid changes and a good cooler. I know a guy who pushed 300 on a turbo gen4, but it broke even with the best of care.

Reactions: 1

rogoman

· #11 · Nov 26, 2021

rjones6362 said:
Hmmm, makes sense.

I wonder why altimas never got the nismo treatment 🤔

The 2007 - 2012 Altima CVTs do have a manual mode on the center console. Not sure if it works exactly like the later model paddles.

VStar650CL

· #12 · Nov 26, 2021

rogoman said:
The 2007 - 2012 Altima CVTs do have a manual mode on the center console. Not sure if it works exactly like the later model paddles.

It's a similar setup but there's one extra wire and one extra switch involved. There's a "mode switch" in the shifter that gives the slap-shift contacts a place to ground once the lever is moved sideways, and also tells the cluster on a third wire that the slap-shift is engaged. Then the M+ and M- inputs work the same as the paddles.

Reactions: 1

ooiman92

· #13 · Nov 30, 2021

What connector are you using for the custom harness? Were they already in the cluster harness? Thanks!

VStar650CL

· #14 · Nov 30, 2021

On the gen5's the connector is already in the cluster, you just need to add pins. You're best off swiping the paddle connectors from the donor car along with the paddles.

ooiman92

· #15 · Nov 30, 2021

VStar650CL said:
On the gen5's the connector is already in the cluster, you just need to add pins. You're best off swiping the paddle connectors from the donor car along with the paddles.

Thanks, I unfortunately wasn't able to find a donor car locally, I ended up ordering the paddles online so I'll probably need to make a custom harness like rj. Do you know if it's a standard pin size? I haven't been able to find any clear photos of the pins themselves to compare against.

VStar650CL

· #16 · Nov 30, 2021

Depends on the paddles. If they're Nissan, post some clear pics of the cavities when they arrive and I can probably match up the type from our spares collection.

ooiman92

· #17 · Nov 30, 2021

Should be here in a few days, thanks.

rjones6362

Discussion Starter · #18 · Dec 2, 2021 (Edited)

VStar650CL said:
On the gen5's the connector is already in the cluster, you just need to add pins. You're best off swiping the paddle connectors from the donor car along with the paddles.

Correct, however if you check the (subpar) pics I shot myself that I posted above, the pins are already there. You just need to wire them up to the shifters as I did.

ooiman92 , I would probably buy an assortment of pin connectors to try out. Fortunately I had some spare wires pre crimped with the right size pin connectors so all I had to do is make the harness, disassemble the (white M26) connector/plug and add the two wires into the connector. Unfortunately Nissan doesn't sell individual wire harnesses for paddle shifters because it's part of the whole "main body" wire harness which costs 8 hundos!! If I (or you) ever come across a donor, definitely grab those shifter wire harnesses. You will have to remove the steering wheel to add the proper bracket as I did above. You'll need M6 machine screw and nuts to secure the bracket (pretty sure I'm correct from what I remember). Also You'll need a torque wrench that has from 20-100ish foot pounds or torque power (ft lbs torque) to remove and re-secure the steering wheel. Most steering wheel nuts need about 34ft pounds of torque to properly secure the steering wheel. You'll need to swap the steering wheel column cover with the 3.5L column cover which has the holes for the shifters.

* I just swapped the steering wheel to a aftermarket sport steering btw, pic coming soon.

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ooiman92

· #19 · Dec 5, 2021 (Edited)

@rjones6362 I received the paddle shifters I'm going to be using and from testing a different connectors I have lying around, 2.54mm dupont terminals appear to fit perfectly on the connector as for the connector to the back of the combination meter, did those look like the same connector?

My paddle shifters actually came with the upshift connector still attached. Part number is A04FW if anyone was curious. I was searching around a bit more and found that the Maxima and G37 also share the same connector (link to an active listing on eBay) if somone is familiar with these and can identify them. Probably not going to swap as the original listing I purchased from had the bracket and those seem pretty rare.

I'll probably just end up ordering a set of the dupont connectors and using those and replace them if I can find the rest. I'll be off from work the following week so I'll finally get the chance to poke around and see if I can rig something up with what I have.

Edit: I've measured the terminal ends and it looks like the dupont connector is about one mm short where the connector latches it into place. Physical measurements are 1.4x1.7x5.7mm. (vs 1.5x1.6x4.55mm for dupont connectors). Part number is J-48817-227 for the terminals, but they're also pricey whereever you can get them, but I'll give the dupont connectors a go first. I can provide images if needed. Thanks!

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rjones6362

Discussion Starter · #20 · Dec 12, 2021

Here's my new steering wheel...its a REVESOL from A1 Auto on ebay

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ooiman92

I don't have or know any measurements. I just tried what I had on hand and fortunately the dupont connectors I had, fit into the combo meter M26 wire 'harness' connector perfectly. I got fancy and sheathed the custom wiring too (as you see above). Thanks for providing links. Still want the actual connectors to the shifters for a more sturdier oem connection.

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