Sticky: (Official) 370Z Clutch Pressure (CSC) Failures

DIGItonium · 08-26-2013, 12:40 PM

If you're reusing the clutch assembly, make sure the surfaces are cleaned real well to prevent other engagement issues.

Techracer · 08-26-2013, 09:24 PM

On my way home yesterday I was starting out from a light and was surprised when my car lunged forward like I didn't know how to work a clutch. Then I noticed the pedal had not returned to the normal position and the clutch was engaging right off the floor. within a mile I had to clutch pedal at all. I nursed her home using manual rev matching to shift and luckily it was all freeway except the last few miles and only one light that I was able to coast through a right turn.
Today the dealer said the repair was to replace the fluid with Dot 4 GTR and this seemed to have fixed the issue. I asked him what his gut feeling was and he said he expected he would see me back at some point.
The car is a 2013 Nismo 370z with 2100 miles on it, only had it for three months and while I have done a few fast launches I am generally very easy on the car. Haven't had trouble with a clutch for 30 years, so this is disturbing.

L33T Z34 · 08-26-2013, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techracer

On my way home yesterday I was starting out from a light and was surprised when my car lunged forward like I didn't know how to work a clutch. Then I noticed the pedal had not returned to the normal position and the clutch was engaging right off the floor. within a mile I had to clutch pedal at all. I nursed her home using manual rev matching to shift and luckily it was all freeway except the last few miles and only one light that I was able to coast through a right turn.
Today the dealer said the repair was to replace the fluid with Dot 4 GTR and this seemed to have fixed the issue. I asked him what his gut feeling was and he said he expected he would see me back at some point.
The car is a 2013 Nismo 370z with 2100 miles on it, only had it for three months and while I have done a few fast launches I am generally very easy on the car. Haven't had trouble with a clutch for 30 years, so this is disturbing.

PLAS-TEKE CSC...it craX...NeeSan cost-cutt'N....U say u'r clutch hi-dralic fluid is contaminated?

Replace w/metal Z speed CSC and DOT 4 hi-dralic fluid...Fixt!

Techracer · 08-27-2013, 01:33 PM

Dealer replaced the clutch fluid and all is back to normal (for now). I am not going to invest in an aftermarket clutch at 2000 miles, if that's the resolution then Nissan can have this car back. Also asked the service tech to check for the spring spacers and sure enough he handed them to me when I picked the car up. Can't wait to track her again without these!

tlr3715 · 08-29-2013, 10:41 PM

This has not happened to me yet, but from reading the posts on this thread this seems to be some kind of heat issue more than anything else. I've noticed a lot of failures have been happening after long road trips on the highway, so it does not make sense that a clutch component is failing after periods of non use.

I'm not too familiar how the hydraulic system works for the clutch pedal, so my hypothesis is based on some assumptions. I wonder if driving without engaging the clutch pedal for long periods of time is causing clutch fluid to boil in certain sections since the fluid is stagnant. Perhaps shifting back and forth between 5th and 6th every few miles would alleviate this problem. Or if the fluid does circulate all the time, maybe there is some design flaw where heat is generated and not dissipated properly when cruising for long periods. I've never heard of other transmissions requiring DOT4 clutch fluid for light street use.

I think replacing the master and slave cylinders is just putting a bandaid on the problem. The real problem is what is causing the fluid to get so hot on the highway. Once we figure that out we can find a real solution. I read in other articles that it was easy to boil the brake fluid as well which is why they switched to DOT 4 in the Nismos. This may simply not be enough venting going on in these cars.

axmea? · 08-30-2013, 02:03 AM

^^^You may have a point, the CSC is made of plastic components and known to fail early. zSpeed has aluminum replacements.

Fountainhead · 08-30-2013, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axmea?

^^^You may have a point, the CSC is made of plastic components and known to fail early. zSpeed has aluminum replacements.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the OEM and ZSpeed both have a plastic bellows that travels up and down, and don't they both have O-Ring seals that travel the length of the CSC body/sleeve? So if only the base of the OEM CSC is plastic, and that doesn't fail, but the O-Rings in the sleeve go out, maybe there is something different about the ZSpeed other than not having a plastic base?
I'm not doubting the superiority of the ZSpeed CSC but is there reasonable evidence of the OEM unit failing solely because of the plastic base? All of the failed CSC's I've read about here are due to O-Ring failure and leakage. The photos I've seen of the OEM CSC show metal components (bearing, sleeve, etc.), not plastic.

LukasC · 09-07-2013, 07:08 PM

Sorry if I missed this but every now and then my clutch is almost empty feeling for the first few inches with zero engagement until it's closer to the floor board but after driving it ANC pumping it a bunch it stiffens up again. Been happening more frequently. I have a 2011 with 35k miles. Think this could have something to do with the master cylinder or the CSC?

Also it normally happens after the car has been sitting for a couple hours. But doesn't do it every time.

Baer383 · 09-07-2013, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LukasC

Sorry if I missed this but every now and then my clutch is almost empty feeling for the first few inches with zero engagement until it's closer to the floor board but after driving it ANC pumping it a bunch it stiffens up again. Been happening more frequently. I have a 2011 with 35k miles. Think this could have something to do with the master cylinder or the CSC?

Also it normally happens after the car has been sitting for a couple hours. But doesn't do it every time.

You need to replace the fluid and bleed the clutch b/c you have some air in it.

LukasC · 09-07-2013, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baer383

You need to replace the fluid and bleed the clutch b/c you have some air in it.

I just had a shop do that though they replaced the fluid in the diff and the trani. U think they messed it up?

Baer383 · 09-07-2013, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LukasC

I just had a shop do that though they replaced the fluid in the diff and the trani. U think they messed it up?

No it sounds like there is a little air left in it,or a bad MCS

Joe@ZSpeed · 09-09-2013, 06:14 AM

Most likely a bad master cylinder, becoming pretty common

LukasC · 09-09-2013, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe@ZSpeed

Most likely a bad master cylinder, becoming petty common

Is that what u think is wrong with mine joe?

Joe@ZSpeed · 09-10-2013, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LukasC

Is that what u think is wrong with mine joe?

Yes

elperuano · 09-10-2013, 01:36 PM

This is a common problem.... a very OLD common problem.

08-26-2013, 12:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 44	If you're reusing the clutch assembly, make sure the surfaces are cleaned real well to prevent other engagement issues. __________________

08-29-2013, 10:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
tlr3715 Base Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 35 Drives: 2013 370Z Nismo Rep Power: 13	This has not happened to me yet, but from reading the posts on this thread this seems to be some kind of heat issue more than anything else. I've noticed a lot of failures have been happening after long road trips on the highway, so it does not make sense that a clutch component is failing after periods of non use. I'm not too familiar how the hydraulic system works for the clutch pedal, so my hypothesis is based on some assumptions. I wonder if driving without engaging the clutch pedal for long periods of time is causing clutch fluid to boil in certain sections since the fluid is stagnant. Perhaps shifting back and forth between 5th and 6th every few miles would alleviate this problem. Or if the fluid does circulate all the time, maybe there is some design flaw where heat is generated and not dissipated properly when cruising for long periods. I've never heard of other transmissions requiring DOT4 clutch fluid for light street use. I think replacing the master and slave cylinders is just putting a bandaid on the problem. The real problem is what is causing the fluid to get so hot on the highway. Once we figure that out we can find a real solution. I read in other articles that it was easy to boil the brake fluid as well which is why they switched to DOT 4 in the Nismos. This may simply not be enough venting going on in these cars. Last edited by tlr3715; 08-29-2013 at 10:43 PM.

08-30-2013, 02:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
axmea? A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,243 Drives: WELL ZED PW 6MT Rep Power: 53243	^^^You may have a point, the CSC is made of plastic components and known to fail early. zSpeed has aluminum replacements. __________________ >MyZ's Album< NISMO Convert/ECUTEK/Takeda CAI/F.I. HFC NR CB Carbon/F.I. 34 Row Oil Cooler/4.08 Final Drive /Powertrix+Swifts/Hotchkis/SPL/Whiteline/TWM/Zoom Engineering/EVO-R/AeroJacket Vented CF Fenders + CF Spoiler/Avant Garde-WORK/NST/Morimoto Halo/STi Clear Lenses/Carbon Signal Automotive/RJM Performance/ZSpeed Clutch Flywheel CSC delete

09-07-2013, 07:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
LukasC Track Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 664 Drives: 11 Stillen SC Bl M6 Rep Power: 19	Sticky: 370Z Clutch Pressure (CSC) Failures Sorry if I missed this but every now and then my clutch is almost empty feeling for the first few inches with zero engagement until it's closer to the floor board but after driving it ANC pumping it a bunch it stiffens up again. Been happening more frequently. I have a 2011 with 35k miles. Think this could have something to do with the master cylinder or the CSC? Also it normally happens after the car has been sitting for a couple hours. But doesn't do it every time. Last edited by LukasC; 09-07-2013 at 07:10 PM.

09-09-2013, 06:14 AM	#12 (permalink)
Joe@ZSpeed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,304 Drives: Nissan Rep Power: 343001	Most likely a bad master cylinder, becoming pretty common __________________ http://photos.zspeedperformance.com/...ardsize=468x60 Phone *937-506-7224* E-Mail Sales@Zspeed.com www.ZSPEED.com Last edited by Joe@ZSpeed; 09-11-2013 at 08:41 AM.

08-26-2013, 09:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Techracer Base Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Seattle Posts: 2 Drives: 2013 370z Nismo Rep Power: 13	On my way home yesterday I was starting out from a light and was surprised when my car lunged forward like I didn't know how to work a clutch. Then I noticed the pedal had not returned to the normal position and the clutch was engaging right off the floor. within a mile I had to clutch pedal at all. I nursed her home using manual rev matching to shift and luckily it was all freeway except the last few miles and only one light that I was able to coast through a right turn. Today the dealer said the repair was to replace the fluid with Dot 4 GTR and this seemed to have fixed the issue. I asked him what his gut feeling was and he said he expected he would see me back at some point. The car is a 2013 Nismo 370z with 2100 miles on it, only had it for three months and while I have done a few fast launches I am generally very easy on the car. Haven't had trouble with a clutch for 30 years, so this is disturbing.

08-27-2013, 01:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Techracer Base Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Seattle Posts: 2 Drives: 2013 370z Nismo Rep Power: 13	Dealer replaced the clutch fluid and all is back to normal (for now). I am not going to invest in an aftermarket clutch at 2000 miles, if that's the resolution then Nissan can have this car back. Also asked the service tech to check for the spring spacers and sure enough he handed them to me when I picked the car up. Can't wait to track her again without these!

09-10-2013, 01:36 PM	#15 (permalink)
elperuano A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southwest FL Posts: 1,374 Drives: G37S Rep Power: 30	This is a common problem.... a very OLD common problem.

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