Need help with a clutch problem!!
 

So here is my dilemma. I bought a 2011 370z nismo about 2 months ago. The car has 22k miles on it. I started to hear a knocking sound coming from under the car so I took it to the Nissan dealer to get looked at under warranty. They say they couldn't exactly pin point the problem but it sounds like the transmission. So they replace my transmission. While they're doing that I ordered a southbend stage 2 daily clutch, Zspeed CSC replacement, and SS clutch hose to be installed while tranny was out. I pick my car up this morning and notice that the clutch is sticking. It doesn't stick while engaged but as I'm depressing the clutch it sticks at the top and I have to pull it up with my foot. Idk if it will go away when it starts to get broke in or what. If anyone could give me some input it would be greatly appreciated. I searched the forum but couldn't really find an answer.

I would take it back, I think they may have screwed something up putting it in.

^also, when I start to take off, the car studders at around 1500 rpm like it wants to stall out. Don't know if that's normal with a new clutch/tranny

Nope, not normal at all. I had the same clutch installed and it felt just like stock even during the break in cycle. There could possibly be air in the system. Sometimes our clutch system can be tricky when bleeding. As for the dealership installing the clutch wrong.... well it only goes in one way so I have no idea how you could screw that up. I would say re-bleed the clutch line and go from there. It would have been a good idea to replace the master cylinder as well.

Yeah, I'm taking it back in the morning after work. After the install of the aftermarket parts it voids my warranty but if they messed up they better fix it for free

I had my dealer do a aftermarket clutch, had problems with the stock, but replace OE CSC and they took care of the labour...
As MJB mention the clutch is in right, it's most likely an adjustment/bleed that is needed. If the Master wasn't done at the same time I would also do it, after going through 3 of each, if you do one, do the other. the master is cheap.

As far as the dealer putting in the clutch, I just tried to kill 2 birds with one stone (and they didn't charge me labor to do it). But going to see if bleeding it helps. Mine definitely doesn't feel like stock. My clutch practically engaged when I pushed the pedal but now it doesn't engage till half way through the pedal. There is barely any engagement room.

Well like I mentioned, I'm gonna take it to them in the morning and tell them to bleed the system and if that doesn't work then tell them to re-adjust it. As far as the master cylinder, going to look in to that. Might as well go ahead and do it right the first time

Update: Nissan says that every thing was bled properly that the instructions for the Southbend clutch say to let it get broke in before you get the original clutch feel back. Is this true? I didn't see the instructions sheet

Perhaps you should bleed it yourself. The clutch not coming back to the top seems like a hydraulics issue, not a clutch disk issue. That, or they screwed up the install of the CSC.

I put a flywheel on a few weeks ago and completely emptied the clutch fluid, even squeezed it out of the CSC. After a proper bleeding, it works like it is supposed to.

Did you get your car back from the dealership? How's the clutch feel. Your car shouldn't shutter with the new clutch during the 500mile break in process. Like I said, I had the exact same clutch and it felt just like stock, no shuttering or pedal issues. I just recently installed a JWT clutch myself and same deal, no issues.

I haven't searched yet, but is there a DIY to bleed the clutch? And how exactly could they have screwed up the CSC install?

Well I didn't even drop it off. I went by this morning after work and talked to the technician and he's the one that told me that it just needs to be broke in and that it showed the clutch was properly bled. "aszyd" ^ says they could've messed up the CSC install. Could that be the case? He also told me that is was a PITA to get the clutch installed. They told me to drive it for a couple weeks/ couple hundred miles and see if it doesn't resolve itself.

I'm going to try and post a video when I get home to show how much play Is in the clutch and how it sticks sometimes

The car shouldn't shutter on take off just because its a new clutch. A brand new car doesn't do that, and its clutch needs break in time as well.

I don't see how they could mess up the CSC install. It only goes in one way. A clutch system is not complicated at all, anyone could do it with the right tools. Just tons of work to get to it. Hows the pedal feel? Spongy, soft, or is it firm?

IMO, the only difficult part about doing clutch work is putting the transmission back on the car. Working with the pressure plate / clutch / flywheel should be easy.

I don't have a Zspeed unit, so I am not sure how much assembly is required before mounting it on the trans, but perhaps one of the fittings is not properly secured to the unit and it is leaking.

Here is a link on how to bleed the clutch: http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...ml#post1768840

I was actually able to do it myself, by rotating between the master cylinder, to monitor fluid levels, the clutch pedal, to pump it several times, and the bleed valve to release the air, it probably took 30 minutes, not including the time to put the car on jack stands.

Well after you get past the little bit of "play" in the pedal it's a little firm. And to top it off, even after a new tranny, clutch and CSC, I'm still getting the noise I had to begin with lol

Clutch sticking after tranny/clutch install: Clutch sticking after tranny/clutch install - YouTube


Here is the video I took this morning. It shows how much "play" is in the pedal and how it kinda sticks after disengaging.

After watching the video I think there is air still trapped in the system. Needs to be bled.

I'm just going to order some Motul 600 and bleed it my self. I to get out today and just drive so I can break everything in and after an hour and a half my clutch is going flat on the floor. I barely have any pressure at all and can barely put it into first gear.

Yep, either air in the system or your clutch master cylinder is going out. Luckily its not to hard of a fix for either.

*Keep an eye on your clutch fluid, make sure it isn't leaking.

Well the reservoir is full so I don't think leaking but I'm about an hour away from home and can't even drive. Will the clutch regain pressure if I let it sit for about 30-45 minutes or should I go ahead and call a rollback?

Edit: rollback is on the way. Still no clutch pressure. Nissan better have this fixed for free Monday or I'm gonna raise all kinds of hell lol and they better not and charge me a dime

My experience with Nissan dealerships is their service techs can't diagnose noises any better than a shade tree machanic. In many cases, I'd give the shade tree machanic the odds of figuring out the problem first. Thank God for this forum and others like it.

Don't know if I'd trust Nissan dealerships to work on my cars again.

Well you know the dealership is going to try to say its your aftermarket clutch that is causing the issue and isn't there fault. From everything you've said, I can almost guarantee its the master cylinder or there is a bunch of air still in the lines.

Well I'm heading up there now to talk to the stealership about it and see what say. I'll update after the verdict. They better reimburse me for the towing after they sat there and told me that the "play" in the clutch was normal and to just break it in. Also, is the master cylinder covered under warranty? And about how long should it take to replace?

Yeah, well when I had my G, the Infiniti dealership I took it to was awesome. They were the only dealership that I trusted to diagnose and do the work. Their techs we really good. But obviously Nissan is the complete opposite lol might just have to try a different Nissan stealership next time

Update: just got it back from Nissan and they re-bled the system and said that everything is good. We'll I get in the car and start to take off and there is still a little play in the clutch, it still shudders occasionally, and the clutch still sticks after disengaging just like before. I'm taking it to a different dealership this week and what they say

What a bunch of idiots, I'm SURE they charged Nissan full labor / parts for the "repair" to your car. Sorry to hear about your repeat failure. I would definitely take to another dealer. Might want to check this forum for your area of the country and ask those guys whose the best tech/Stealership in your area.

Yeah. I think I found a good stealership (at least a better one) to to take it to Monday. Hopefully they'll get this settled . I hate being with out my car...... Especially since I haven't even had it 2 months

Damn that sucks. Hope everything turns out OK!

Thanks for all the help guys. Ill update when everything gets figured out

OK time for another update. I take it to another dealer today. These guys were awesome and practically knew what was wrong within 10 minutes of being there. Turns out, the first stealership broke my zspeed slave cylinder!! The slave cylinder keeps pulling air Into the clutch. Well also the master cylinder is bad. So now I'm in a screwed up situation. Any suggestions on how I should handle this? I just want some second opinions before I blow up on the people at Nissan

Did they show you why it was broke? It is easy to blame the other guy. If they couldn't show you, I would be skeptical about this place also.

They didn't show me exactly how it was broke but I don't see any other explanation honestly. I checked it out when it arrived from zspeed (as I do every part I order for my vehicles) and everything looked perfectly fine. But there also could've been something I missed too. :confused:

How do they know if the Slave cylinder is broken? The transmission has to be removed to get to it. I don't know how the dealership could break a slave cylinder. You put it threw the output shaft and screw it in with 2 screws, its that simple. Hmmm... I bet its just your master cylinder that is going bad. Pretty easy fix. I replaced mine in about an hour.

Does the Z speed unit come fully built, with the braided lines attached and ready to go? I know the stock CSC has to be disconnected from the clutch line to remove it.

Assuming that it does not, then it's possible that the dealership put it together incorrectly. Maybe they cross threaded one of the lines?

Yes, it comes fully built and ready to install. All the lines are put together, just have to feed it threw the transmission hole to connect to the main clutch line (underneath the cat). I would think if a line was damaged it would be leaking. OP said his fluid level never changed. Unless the CSC came defective from the factory, but I doubt that.

The CMC should have been replaced at the same time as the CSC. If that didn't happen, then the CMC is where I'd put my money.

I'm in agreement that the second dealership probably isn't able to tell the condition of the CSC without physically inspecting it.

I would change the Master Cylinder anyway, you can do it yourself. I feel for you having gone thru so much at the hands of others. Find a friend that can help and save yourself some money. It's always recommended here on the forums to change Master Cylinder anytime the slave is changed, they both have the same amount of cycles on them, it stands to reason one is just as worn as the other.
Besides, bleeding is the worst part and if the slave is changed, gotta bleed anyway.

Well the tech told me that every time I'm letting out of the clutch it's sucking air back in which is why I can't get the "play" out of the clutch. Well then the tech at first dealership tells me the that the master cylinder would really have nothing to do with the clutch acting this way. So am just being told a bunch of crap? Lol