Touchy Clutch

mspeasl · 09-28-2009, 10:31 PM

Gang,

As I have stated in other OP's about a Touchy Clutch, mine sucks. I have driven Manual Trans since 1959 and have never had this chatter/jerky problem in the past. Many of you have also stated that the 370 has the touchiest clutch pedal you have experienced. I have been to my dealer several times about this and they too have expressed concerns about the way this clutch is. They have tried to adjust it with hardly any change and the results remain the same. Now after almost 5700 miles I have had it...! Today the car went back to the dealer again. Would you believe that the dealer called me back this afternoon and told me that Nissan North America told him that they didn't have complaints on the Clutch. Now you and I know that probably is untrue. So what happened next is hard to believe. They told my dealer to replace the complete 'clutch/slave etc' assembly and to satisfy the customer. Something has changed since the front end and tire problem with my 03 350.

I'll keep everyone posted as to the out come.

fuct · 09-29-2009, 10:30 AM

wow!

ZeeRay · 09-29-2009, 11:58 AM

Well that makes me feel better about spending 2K on the extended warranty!

CBRich · 09-29-2009, 01:45 PM

I too find this to be the touchiest clutch I have owned. It's nice that they are trying hard to please you but I highly doubt it will help. Keep us posted anyway.

Lloydy · 09-29-2009, 02:56 PM

Interesting! I thought we just had to put up with this.
It has to be the worst clutch I have ever had on a manual gearbox car, and I've been driving them since 1986 (first Nissan tho).

iceman21_23 · 09-29-2009, 04:01 PM

lol this makes me feel really good, this is the first manual car i've ever driven and ever time i drive it the clutch feels different

Island_370 · 09-29-2009, 07:45 PM

Wow. Did I get really lucky, or have I only driven really touchy clutches? The 370Z clutch is not that bad to me. Seems about middle of road (excluding the racing clutches). I have driven several racing clutches, those are touchy!!

B1nks · 09-29-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Island_370

Wow. Did I get really lucky, or have I only driven really touchy clutches? The 370Z clutch is not that bad to me. Seems about middle of road (excluding the racing clutches). I have driven several racing clutches, those are touchy!!

Yeah I'm with you, mine doesn't feel that bad. It just took me a little while to figure out how the car likes to be driven and where the clutch engages/disengages at. At first though everything was rough from takeoff to 4th gear the car would jerk at gear change. Now it's like butter (other than second gear sometimes not going into gear smoothly) but that has been an issue with the Z for a number of year apparently.

iceman21_23 · 09-29-2009, 10:27 PM

i can switch gears smoothly after i get rolling its just that dang 1st gear i swear it engages at different points every time lol

black09Z · 09-30-2009, 09:49 AM

idk how you guys drive but the clutch feels fine to me. it was alot different than what i was used to at first since my last car had a clutchmasters stage 3, but it only took me about 2 weeks to get used to it, and now i drive it every day just fine. maybe its just cause while im driving it i dont forget that i bought the car for exactly the same they made it. performance and looks. just remember, you bought a sports car. and its better in every aspect than every other car in its class. you can keep complaining but just think about if you had bought one of the other cars that STILL dont get as good ratings.

37Z · 09-30-2009, 07:01 PM

I hear you...Seems that the throw-out bearing is not the best (smoothest) is the clutch link. Mine was the same from the get go. Post your experience with the new clutch assembly.

Denny McLain · 10-01-2009, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman21_23

i can switch gears smoothly after i get rolling its just that dang 1st gear i swear it engages at different points every time lol

Had the same problem at first with the engagement too high and at an awkward position. For some reason after 7k miles. don't seem to notice it as much. Either me or the clutch has mellowed some.

Red370 · 10-01-2009, 07:54 AM

Agreed, the clutch seems to almost "break in" after a few thousand miles. To me, this is the hardest car i've owned to shift smoothly, but it seems to get better every day.

370er · 10-01-2009, 08:11 AM

I'm learning manual for the first time after driving auto for 7 years. I'm finding the clutch really hard to be smooth with, particularly going into 1st gear. It feels like it's fighting against my foot

When going into 1st gear what should I have the revs at? Is it easier to just start in 2nd gear?

Nick911sc · 10-01-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370er

I'm learning manual for the first time after driving auto for 7 years. I'm finding the clutch really hard to be smooth with, particularly going into 1st gear. It feels like it's fighting against my foot

When going into 1st gear what should I have the revs at? Is it easier to just start in 2nd gear?

Don't just start in second...

Honestly, this is the first car I've owned that's manual as well. You just need to play around with it until you get it right. At this point I don't even look at the rpm when I'm starting from a dead stop. Just go by feeling/hearing when you get more comfortable.

09-28-2009, 10:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
mspeasl Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Decatur, IL Posts: 367 Drives: Red M6 Sport/Touring Rep Power: 268	Touchy Clutch Gang, As I have stated in other OP's about a Touchy Clutch, mine sucks. I have driven Manual Trans since 1959 and have never had this chatter/jerky problem in the past. Many of you have also stated that the 370 has the touchiest clutch pedal you have experienced. I have been to my dealer several times about this and they too have expressed concerns about the way this clutch is. They have tried to adjust it with hardly any change and the results remain the same. Now after almost 5700 miles I have had it...! Today the car went back to the dealer again. Would you believe that the dealer called me back this afternoon and told me that Nissan North America told him that they didn't have complaints on the Clutch. Now you and I know that probably is untrue. So what happened next is hard to believe. They told my dealer to replace the complete 'clutch/slave etc' assembly and to satisfy the customer. Something has changed since the front end and tire problem with my 03 350. I'll keep everyone posted as to the out come. __________________ Mspeasl - Central Illinois 2009 - Solid Red, M6 '370' Sport/Touring (Delivered 7 April 09)

09-29-2009, 07:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
Island_370 Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 228 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z SR M6 Rep Power: 15	Wow. Did I get really lucky, or have I only driven really touchy clutches? The 370Z clutch is not that bad to me. Seems about middle of road (excluding the racing clutches). I have driven several racing clutches, those are touchy!! __________________ Autobahn Country Club (North and South Tracks), Blackhawk Farms, Grattan, Gingerman, Mid-Ohio, Putnam Park, Road America, Sears Point, Thunderhill, VIR and "The Ring"

09-30-2009, 07:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
37Z Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 476 Drives: 370Z MB 6M -sold Rep Power: 262	Clutch Issues I hear you...Seems that the throw-out bearing is not the best (smoothest) is the clutch link. Mine was the same from the get go. Post your experience with the new clutch assembly.

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09-29-2009, 10:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
fuct A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sugar Land Posts: 3,692 Drives: 97' Ranger :) Rep Power: 23	wow!

09-29-2009, 11:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
ZeeRay Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Lawton, Ok Posts: 51 Drives: 370Z and a Corvette Rep Power: 15	Well that makes me feel better about spending 2K on the extended warranty!

09-29-2009, 01:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 544	I too find this to be the touchiest clutch I have owned. It's nice that they are trying hard to please you but I highly doubt it will help. Keep us posted anyway.

09-29-2009, 02:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lloydy Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 150 Drives: 09 370z PG 6mt T/S Rep Power: 16	Interesting! I thought we just had to put up with this. It has to be the worst clutch I have ever had on a manual gearbox car, and I've been driving them since 1986 (first Nissan tho).

09-29-2009, 04:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
iceman21_23 Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: league city, tx Posts: 757 Drives: 09' Solid Red 370z Rep Power: 17	lol this makes me feel really good, this is the first manual car i've ever driven and ever time i drive it the clutch feels different

09-29-2009, 10:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
iceman21_23 Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: league city, tx Posts: 757 Drives: 09' Solid Red 370z Rep Power: 17	i can switch gears smoothly after i get rolling its just that dang 1st gear i swear it engages at different points every time lol

09-30-2009, 09:49 AM	#10 (permalink)
black09Z Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: killeen tx Posts: 202 Drives: black 09 370Z 6spd Rep Power: 16	idk how you guys drive but the clutch feels fine to me. it was alot different than what i was used to at first since my last car had a clutchmasters stage 3, but it only took me about 2 weeks to get used to it, and now i drive it every day just fine. maybe its just cause while im driving it i dont forget that i bought the car for exactly the same they made it. performance and looks. just remember, you bought a sports car. and its better in every aspect than every other car in its class. you can keep complaining but just think about if you had bought one of the other cars that STILL dont get as good ratings.

10-01-2009, 07:54 AM	#13 (permalink)
Red370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany Posts: 4,391 Drives: your mom to church Rep Power: 295	Agreed, the clutch seems to almost "break in" after a few thousand miles. To me, this is the hardest car i've owned to shift smoothly, but it seems to get better every day.

10-01-2009, 08:11 AM	#14 (permalink)
370er Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Australia, VIC Posts: 231 Drives: Yellow 370Z Rep Power: 16	I'm learning manual for the first time after driving auto for 7 years. I'm finding the clutch really hard to be smooth with, particularly going into 1st gear. It feels like it's fighting against my foot When going into 1st gear what should I have the revs at? Is it easier to just start in 2nd gear?