ResIpsa, I'm very sorry to hear of the failure of your CSC that caused a potential catastrophy at the track. I am happy to hear you were not injured along with anyone else. Cars can always be repaired by flesh and bones is a different story.

I would think this is a major safety issue that Nissan North America would want to know about, considering this could have caused life threatening injuries in the worst of situations. Anyhow, glad you are safe and insurance will cover the damage.

I dunno, Jon - the clutch safety switch is pretty much universal across cars. The only way for the computer to figure out if it should start the car, is if the clutch pedal is physically to the floor. Otherwise, maybe they'd have to install a sensor into the transmission that detects when the clutch is actually disengaged? But I don't think a single manual transmission car has that. Nissan would just argue back that their safety device worked perfectly: it sensed the clutch was to the floor, and it started the car.

Honestly, as much tough love as it is to think about it, it really was user error, but it's one that almost any one of us might do, forgetting about that switch.

I tend to agree. That switch is there to prevent exactly what happened to me. The fact that it is now universal shows that this must have been a real problem in the past.

The real problem with our cars is that they have too much torque. If Nissan had only installed a weaker motor my car would have quickly stalled without me depressing the gas pedal! :rolleyes:

Yeah, the ORIGINAL problem was people starting their cars without depressing the clutch - so you could argue that the problem was already fixed lol.

Lol to the second part :bowrofl:

Bobo, have you had any problems with your clutch master or slave cylinder?

Sorry to hear that! I agree with everyone saying that its good that you nor anyone else were hurt! Sorry that the problems have sidelined your track effort for now, but I have a wife and understand your situation. Good luck with the sale. Do the wheels fit over the sport brakes?

Negative, not yet. That said, I haven't been out nearly as much as you, I'm guessing? I've done about 14 track days so far...

I see your point. It does seem to me that there have been several people on this forum who have had failures of the CSC but nothing in terms of the dangerous situation that ResIpsa encountered. If anything, its a good reminder to anyone of what could happen in a similar situation.

Yes. They fit over the sport brakes.

sunburn, check

For Asians, sunburn is just a sun tan screaming to get out!:bowrofl:

I'm guessing despite all your troubles that you made it home alright?

It was nice meeting you by the way, thanks for all the extra fuel that I ended up needing. I had a blast out there this weekend. I think I did well in HPDE1, the intructor said I could do group 2 next time (at the same track) or ride solo. Can't wait to go again. I may do VIR next month.

My clutch master cylinder failed on me at the track last year. I have become rather good at driving without a clutch. I drove home 50 miles without a sweat.

And if you decide to keep doing track days in your 370Z I suggest that you do a little internet research and at least understand the concept of driving without a clutch. It may save you one day.

The basics are as follows:

1. While ignition is off. Place your car in first gear and depress the clutch pedal.

2. Now press the ignition button. The starter motor will fire and begin moving your car forward. Next the ignition will fire (have you ever pushed started a manual vehicle) and you will be traveling in first gear.

3. Apply throttle and wait until you are around 3000 RPM. Now pull the gear lever out of 1st and apply pressure towards 2nd gear. The gear lever will then drop into 2nd gear.

4. The same concept will work for all other forward gears and downshifting. The syncro-rev feature only makes it easier to do in our cars.