Nissan 370Z Forum - Possible Nissan OEM clutch system issue

Nissan 370Z Forum (http://www.the370z.com/)

- Engine & Drivetrain (http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivetrain/)

- - Possible Nissan OEM clutch system issue - Everyone Read (http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivetrain/42076-possible-nissan-oem-clutch-system-issue-everyone-read.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium (Post 1301085)

After getting the DXD Stage 4 and ZSpeed CSC, all of my gears are notchy and take more effort to get into gear. Sometimes it's smooth like stock. There are times I couldn't get out of 1st gear after parking the car. Is it true that realigning the shift gates can alleviate this issue?

Very interesting. Mine did too, but have since gotten smoother after i switched clutches. What is this about realigning the shift gates??

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeeyaBud86 (Post 1301370)

Ever since I bought my Z I've had a whine when accelerating in all gears. In fact, when my car was stock, on the freeway it was so audible cruising at higher rpm that I had to put my music up high. I don't have the "lurch" into first, but it definitely does not like going into first gear on a downshift (15mph and below).

I also have noticed that my car has a problem with shifting into second from first gear when redlining. NewYorkJon34 lives near me in Naples, and he has the same problem too. We have concluded that we have to give the car a second to settle itself, with the clutch engaged, to get it to shift into second. I have also noticed that trying to shift too fast makes the gear grind, it's not that I am shifting improperly but sometimes I have to almost granny shift it. This problem seems to get better, not fixed, with SyncroRev off. At first, I thought maybe I was just bad at shifting in general, but my father recently bought a Z06 which I can shift perfectly at redline in all gears (don't tell him that =p). So the only thing it must be is the tranny in our car.

Hey man, I have the same exact whine in all gears, only while accelerating. Have you pinpointed where it is coming from?? You are still stockish right? Take it to the dealer and see what they tell you, it may be a simple fix. Also, out of curiosity, are your rear axles clicking?

My car rarely lurches anymore since I changed my clutch and things have become way way more livable. I know what you're saying about the shifting too fast too...its like it doesnt want to let you get into gear until the engine speed has been reduced a bit. You can muscle it in there, but it feels like you're forcing something...

We all have the same stupid problem and I have a feeling the whining we are hearing might be a side effect of the shifting issues. Maybe the great SRM system isn't so great after all and is actually causing issues in the long run...I'm going to swing by the dealer and ask a tech about it. God forbid someone who works on these cars all day everyday might know something about the issue...

I too am very very tired of this transmission, it literally ruined the car for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ (Post 1301627)

Very interesting. Mine did too, but have since gotten smoother after i switched clutches. What is this about realigning the shift gates??

Hey man, I have the same exact whine in all gears, only while accelerating. Have you pinpointed where it is coming from?? You are still stockish right? Take it to the dealer and see what they tell you, it may be a simple fix. Also, out of curiosity, are your rear axles clicking?

My car rarely lurches anymore since I changed my clutch and things have become way way more livable. I know what you're saying about the shifting too fast too...its like it doesnt want to let you get into gear until the engine speed has been reduced a bit. You can muscle it in there, but it feels like you're forcing something...

We all have the same stupid problem and I have a feeling the whining we are hearing might be a side effect of the shifting issues. Maybe the great SRM system isn't so great after all and is actually causing issues in the long run...I'm going to swing by the dealer and ask a tech about it. God forbid someone who works on these cars all day everyday might know something about the issue...

I too am very very tired of this transmission, it literally ruined the car for me.

Yes I am still stockish. Just HFC's and exhaust. I want to get a TT kit but I've been having a dilemma. I may have heard a clicking from the rear axle before but I cannot remember. It's not really an issue with mine, but the whole shifting issue is really making me want something else. I think the SyncroRev is going to eventually cause problems in the future for these cars, because you can do it whenever I find myself downshifting ALOT. I do downshift regular manual cars too, but I do it more often in the Z. Let us know what the tech says. I love the Z so much and sometimes I dread driving the car because it feels like I am hurting it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ (Post 1301627)

Very interesting. Mine did too, but have since gotten smoother after i switched clutches. What is this about realigning the shift gates??

Here's a post from the 350Z forum:
shifter re-alignment - MY350Z.COM Forums

I don't think I'm that handy with tools to do this job, so I may have my dealer do it for me on the next oil change.

Quote:

Originally Posted by esfourteen (Post 1301373)

I have the same clutch/csc and the same issues, 1st gear can sometimes be extremely difficult to get into, other times its like stock. Do you happen to know what transmission oil you are using?

Transmission oil is still factory. I'll get it changed once I pay off the turbo install stuff. BTW, are you experiencing clutch judder (shakes)? I had this problem when the car was new up until the CSC failed, and it went away after getting it replaced. With the ZSpeed CSC, it's coming back. Sometimes it doesn't judder, though. My only fear is with the modification required to seat the new CSC that it might not be 100% aligned.

What makes a clutch judder

Raul, about a week ago I had a 100% stock 370 in the shop, It had 1st gr "lurch" , but only if depress the clutch and immediately throw it into 1st gr. If you wait a second longer it won't lurch at all. I totally agree the trans in our car is a moody bitch, but some how the one in my car is perfect, no "lurch" or grinds and you know I beat the hell out of it ...steady power shifting!

also...fwiw, I mic'ed you dxd clutch disc and the clutchmasters and the clutchmasters was .5 mm thinner.

Also I spoke with Joe , who makes the metal csc and said has a different csc that a little bit more throw which might help everybody else as the problem feels like the clutch is slightly dragging for a split second making it "lurch" the car forward.

Sadly if my transmission comes apart again, its to get put back to stock. I'm not putting another cent into it. If Joe wants to let me test and you want to help with labor then I'll do it for the sake of helping the rest of the folks on the site out, otherwise people can wait until the next person that needs to switch clutch or wants to try and fix the issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ (Post 1301984)

I dont blame you bro...

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeeyaBud86 (Post 1301595)

Yea I've noticed that driving with Syncro and VDC off helps a little bit. In my opinion I think the problem is with Syncro. I think it makes the tranny "think" too much. I don't know how to explain it.

That is my opinion too. I usually turn Sync off when I drive. It just seems like the performance of the tranny is stifling under sync rev.

After the first week, I stopped using the S-mode. After about a month, I stopped using VDC unless I was in a downpour or snowy/icy driving surface. Those items are good ideas, but very intrusive and downright unrefined. Wonder if someone will offer tuning solutions for those systems as well. If not, I will simply leave S-mode off (most of the time) and see if I can have VDC off by default.

vdc off is easy disconnect the yaw sensor or put a momentary interrupt button in it's power wire that will totally kill both phases of the vdc. i'm used to the clutch lurch from my kawi's multiplate but my z shows no sign of lurch, although shifting is a pain sometimes. the synchro's are garbage maybe os giken could just come out with replacements for those bitches.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1slow370 (Post 1304741)

You mean quick shifting right? A slow methodical or even 3 step shift isn't nasty at all. When I get back to the car I will check it out again.

BTW, I don't want to permanantly disable VDC. I just want to be able to start the car and have it off by default, but turn it on if I let someone else drive or there is/are water, snow, ice, or marbles on the road...........

Quote:

Originally Posted by roplusbee (Post 1304865)

BTW, I don't want to permanantly disable VDC. I just want to be able to start the car and have it off by default, but turn it on if I let someone else drive or there is/are water, snow, ice, or marbles on the road...........

Is pressing the button really that hard? It is just one tap. It could be like the Chevy system where you have to hold the button in for 5 seconds.

If you really want it there is a device available that basically presses the button for you on start up and you can still toggle it back and forth. Search the forums and you should find it.

I think KP technologies makes a module for the vdc switch.

FWIW, I have another stock 370 in the shop today... it "lurches" forward also...

Yup... count me in. It can't be the shift gates. After a week of driving I wondered why the gearbox required more effort than usual to the point it was difficult getting out of gear from park and even shifting in all of the gears. I did the "lurch" test and confirmed it, but it's very minor.

When the car was in the shop with the new clutch and ZSpeed CSC, the master cylinder failed, too!

Also, the juddering issue is getting better. Guess it is still breaking in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnaut (Post 1305822)

FWIW, I have another stock 370 in the shop today... it "lurches" forward also...

Is it stock, and does it clunk when you get in 1st?