Transmission noise (sound like bearing failure)
 

I had my car now for 2 years. I drive about 100 miles round trip a day to and from work. The car now has 44000 miles on it. Mainly all highway. Approximately 20000 miles ago I experienced a noise coming from the underside of the car when i release the clutch and the car is in neutral. I could really hear the noise when going through a drive through as the noise bounces off the wall. I took it to a dealer and they told me the input drive bearing sounds bad. Being under warranty the dealer put in a new transmission instead of rebuilding the old one (cheaper for Nissan). Now I'm experiencing the noise again and it seems as if its getting louder. When i take off in 1st gear very slow it sounds really bad as if a bearing is grinding. All in all though the car drives and shifts fine and the clutch doesn't slip. Also, when i depress the clutch the noise goes away. The car is still under warranty so i am going back to the dealer about this, but before i do i would like to get other peoples input. Thanks :-)

I have a similar noise coming from mine as well, maybe not as loud though. I really hear it when I'm at a stand still in N or 1st and I'm slowly letting out the clutch. Almost like a "chatter" sound. I had the same sound on my old 350z so I just figured these trannys are noisy like that. Still shifts nice and smooth. No problems what so ever.

The noise you hear in neutral is normal. It's a little bit of a knocking/clanking sound.

The clutch chatter is also normal when pulling away from a stop. It's more likely to happen if you give too much throttle while feathering the clutch.

When a bearing is going out on the Input gear (main drive gear) The noise will change or even go away while in that range (normally 4th or 5th gear) and be more pronounced in the lower range. If the Trans makes noise in all ranges it would more likely be the Input gear or counter drive gear due to fatigue and an exchange will be your best option. fatigue is normally diagnosed as lack of lubricant.

The one thing that worries me is when they put a "new" transmission in my car the noise was not noticeable at all. The car sounded fantastic. Then the more and more i drove it, the noise came back and i can even feel a little tapping in the clutch pedal when depressed.

Sounds like a throwout bearing to me. Did they replace it when they did the transmission?

I know this is probably not what you want to hear, but what you're experiencing is normal. I'm not exactly sure to what extent, but the "tapping in the clutch pedal when depressed" and chatter or clanking when in nuetral is quite normal on the Z. Nissan just can't get it right when it comes to the transmission. Although its rough, noisy, and sometimes embarassing it functions well IMO.

I don't believe they replaced the throw out bearing. They said when the clutch is pressed in That's when the throw out bearing is engaged and That's not when the noise is happening. This is what the dealer told me. I kinda figure it may be normal. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the car. It runs great! Just maybe a little embarrassing when at a light and your sitting in a fancy new looking sports car and its chattering away. Lol. Ill invest in a loud exhaust.

^factory nissan oil rids of the chattering.

The clutch chatter is simply the material and friction. I get the dreadful bearing whine too. Is it a throwout and pilot bearing or is it my main shaft? It's really annoying too.

Throwout bearing & Pilot bearing issues - noise will change when you engage and disengage the clutch.

I get a slight howle in 4th gear, sounds like a quiet turbo, but I don't have a turbo. Haven't heard anyone else talk about this so I'm hoping it's OK

Im taking my car to the dealer tomorrow. Will see what they have to say after bringing the car in for the second for the same reason.

B&W, you may have a score in 4th gear if its the only one that you are hearing it in. If the pitch is changing with rev's than its just that gear that has a slight score. Is that a popular driven gear for you (maybe you drive side streats a lot?)

I'm pretty all over the map on the gears. I think 2nd & 3rd are my favorites for the corners I get to open it up in. I use 4th on streets between lights and for some rushour stuff but not too much. Most miles are highway miles and I'm in 6th whenever it's flowing. Need to pay a little more attention, think I heard it in 3rd today.

Pending on where you are consistently driving the car is where you will have the most wear at. I had that problem in my stang where 5th gear at 70mph I started getting a whine. When I broke my z in, I kept changing gears to eliminate the possibility of scoring the gear during break in.

Yeah, did the same thing on mine. Highway I made sure to change speed and gears. I do hear it on other gears. 1st- too much other noise to here it. Second has it, third has it 4th is the loudest, 5th barely noticable, and in 6th there's too much other noise to here it. Worst at 3k RPM. Loudest when there's barely any load on the tranny. Goes away when I put my foot into it.

Maybe it's the VVEL making some sort of whistling noise?

Normal!?
 

I had a '95 TT Supra that made chattering transmission noises when starting off from a stop. Mechanics told me it was normal. Then I had a 2002 corvette (bought new) that made the same noises. Dealer said it was normal. Drove it for 9 years with no issues. Now, I have an '11 Nismo that makes the same noises. I've convinced myself that it's all normal.:icon23:

I consider it normal. My 03 G35 Coupe 6MT had the noise also after the first few months and I never had any issues with the transmission. I also have it with my Z and I don't think anything of it.

What did the dealer say?

Just got my 2012 5days ago and that howle or whine I also only hear in 4th I'm going to the dealer thursday to fun out what they tell me Im all over the place with my gears to as I just got the car and first time stick so I haven't favored one gear over any others sure is embarisjng tho

FYI...

Mine has not gotten worse. Maybe even improved a little bit. Last thing I want is some idiot at the dealer (or any repaair shop) f-ing my car up while he's fixing it. It always seams like a big risk every time you let someone touch anything. The only people who really know how to put these things together right are the people who built it the first time. Everyone else is just guessing. Don't take it appart unless you really need to. (at about 7.7k miles now)

I know this thread is older, but it sounds like my transmission is making more noises than normal lately and thought it might be related to this. I can't for the life of me, remember how much noise is suppose to be normal and how much noise should be looked at. I'm having the same symptoms as the OP. A lot of noise (cement mixer, metalic grind) when I lift my foot off the clutch in neutral. With the normal cacophony of noises in first year it's really hard to diagnose the other gears just by listening.

Also, I think it might be normal, but I'm getting a slightly louder "clunk!" with each shift when the clutch engages. I'm letting off the pedal pretty smoothly, so I'm not sure what it could be.

I'm at 35k miles on the odometer. (I also have extended warranty)

I'll try and post a video later.

It's a bit louder in person.

how about a period or two in that babble of words?

[QUOTE=Cmike2780;1926096]I know this thread is older, but it sounds like my transmission is making more noises than normal lately and thought it might be related to this. I can't for the life of me, remember how much noise is suppose to be normal and how much noise should be looked at. I'm having the same symptoms as the OP. A lot of noise (cement mixer, metalic grind) when I lift my foot off the clutch in neutral. With the normal cacophony of noises in first year it's really hard to diagnose the other gears just by listening.

Also, I think it might be normal, but I'm getting a slightly louder "clunk!" with each shift when the clutch engages. I'm letting off the pedal pretty smoothly, so I'm not sure what it could be.

First, check your oil level(filler plug) Check for metal and/or take a sample (use a hose) of oil. The drain plug may have a Magnet, but have fluid for replacement. If it is that loud, there should be an indication of it in the fluid!

cmike did you ever figure out what the deal was Im at 34xxx miles and Ive taken the nismo to the stealership three times they always say its normal... It seems like its louder now im going tomorrow to see what I can find out.

Arent these noises normal. Mine makes them to. When you shift its like something releases or some ****.

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They were normal in my 03 G35 and they are normal in my 09 Z. It is loud and always has been in both cars.

I actually had my transmission replaced due to a grind in 5th gear. It would grind in this sequence....1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th.....and would grind if I downshifted to 5th. I managed to record it and finally convinced the tech to be on my side and the dealer replaced the tranny. The noise in the new trans is faint and not nearly as loud as my old transmission. I think it's a worn CSC that's causing the noise, but I honestly don't know enough about transmissions to give an accurate answer.

are you saying you would intentionally skip 5th? i think i read either in the manual or elsewhere its bad to skip gears because it messes up the syncros....

just throwing that out there.

Yeah. I don't see how it would really cause damage though or if any of that has actually been proven. It's not anywhere in the manual and something that important would be clearly noted if it's an issue. I'm also not shifting to the point where it bogs down the engine. If anything, I'm matching the speed. I don't do it at all with the new transmission though. Just to be on the safe side. Maybe just on the downshifts every once in a while, but it can't be helped sometimes.

i skip gears on down shifts yea, but i swore i read its bad on the up shifts. kinda like coasting to red lights is bad on the tranny in neutral.