Sticky: (Official) 370Z Clutch Pressure (CSC) Failures

sarmyth · 05-07-2011, 01:56 AM

So this just happened to me on the track of all places. Z Roadster 10k miles 2010. Seemed to be heat related, as it only started happening after multiple laps in 100+ degree weather. Clutch pedal stuck on floor, could be popped up by hitting it with the side of my foot for awhile, but eventually I'd pushed the car to the point where the pedal remained on the ground, couldn't be kicked up and wouldn't disengage the clutch....decided to pit at that point...after about 30 mins of cool down it was back to normal. I thought i had boiled the fluid the get this level of hydraulic failure until I found this thread.

sarmyth · 05-21-2011, 12:29 AM

Dealership tells me that Nissan recommends changing out the clutch master and slave cylinders. Apparently this was a problem on the 350z but I'm the first one he's seen with the issue on a 370. Nissan says the CSC can leak, is part of the tranny and requires the tranny to be dropped for replacement. The new part is not an up'reved version, but apparently the problem goes away once things are switched out.

Sounds like a quality issue to me.

I still think I boiled the fluid though, had 260 on the oil temp w/34 row cooler up front with >100 degrees outside on the track. Will be insulating the line and switching to good DOT 4 after the swap.

Fastfatdude · 05-31-2011, 08:07 AM

Mine failed at 140miles on the odometer.
When i collected the car only had 10miles on the car.

Dealer fell over each other getting my car back on the road.
Replaced the csc, and a new clutch and housing.

Gave me a murano as a loaner for a day, gave my car a free polish and extended free servicing till 20k .

They must be real concerned about their reputation...

Keeping my fingers crossed...

EVOnomore · 06-17-2011, 01:10 PM

Any issues on 2011"s??My Clutch feels weird.Noisy when the pedal is not engaged?

esfourteen · 06-17-2011, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EVOnomore

Any issues on 2011"s??My Clutch feels weird.Noisy when the pedal is not engaged?

noisy transmission when clutch is pedal is not depressed is normal

Glokwork · 06-20-2011, 05:39 PM

After seeing this thread I want to check the fluid level on my z. I just went under the hood for a minute because its raining but I didnt see it. Where is it located?

esfourteen · 06-20-2011, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glokwork

After seeing this thread I want to check the fluid level on my z. I just went under the hood for a minute because its raining but I didnt see it. Where is it located?

driver side towards the rear of the engine bay under the plastic cover

6MT · 06-20-2011, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

Let's sticky a thread that lists owners who experience loss of clutch pressure with the pedal sticking to the floor. Please include the last 6 digits of the VIN, since Nissan support requested this number when calling for support. Hopefully we can gather some failure stats.

VIN: 406164
Purchase Date: 04/17/2009
Occurrence Date: 09/14/2010
Occurrence Mileage: 16,158
Clutch Type: OEM

Summary:
Getting ready to leave work, warmed up the car, pulled around the corner of the parking lot, and the pedal sunk to the floor when attempting to engage 3rd. The morning commute was normal, and there has been no real complications other than random shudder when going into 1st. The more I press it, the further it sunk without returning. A twitch of the foot would kill the engine. Clutch is stock. I never dumped it, burned out, etc. Only a few spirited driving once in awhile.

Conclusion:
[09/15] CONFIRMED CSC FAILURE, and a new part will be overnighted. The failed part must be returned to Nissan, but I asked the service advisor if I could examine the CSC and take some photos to benefit the community in regards to what's causing the failure.

[09/16] Car is still at the shop. The tech spent the entire day removing the transmission. Hopefully it'll be ready tomorrow afternoon. On a side note, I requested them to check out the brake switch and re-align it to resolve part of my throttle delay issues.

[09/17] Got the car back. The tech said something about fluid leaking out of the CSC. From looking at it first hand, it looks like it is leaking from the inside indicating o-ring failure. He said the last car he worked on had the same symptoms, but it was the master cylinder that failed. He was surprised about the condition of my clutch (clean) because he wonder if I ever drive the car hard. The car seems to drive a bit better, softer engagement, less play, and so far no signs of judder.

Part Number: 306A1-JK40D

[EDIT] Found a term for the random "shudder." It's called clutch judder:
WikiAnswers - What makes a clutch judder

Yeah.... so? Sounds like just bad luck. Could have happened to anyone.

fuct · 07-25-2011, 09:21 AM

hi my name is nick and i also have a stick clutch pedal....

haha, but yea 50% of the pedals play has lost pressure. i checked the fluid level and it was at the MIN level. topped it off and it felt about the same. i tried to pull out the old fluid and replace with some new dot 3/4 fluid. im not sure if i have all the air outa the system. it feels the same with the pedal only feeling normal during 50% of its stroke.

does anyone have the proceddure for proper clutch fluid bleeding on our cars? thx in advance

oh im at about 23k miles and baby the car.

quicksilver08 · 07-31-2011, 12:31 PM

Lost it in my Infiniti around 25-30k miles. Worked fine and then I went to stop and it sunk to the floor. At 41k now and if the car sits overnight the pedal sinks almost all the way to the floor and it takes about 25 miles of stop and go to bring it back up.

DIGItonium · 07-31-2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quicksilver08

Lost it in my Infiniti around 25-30k miles. Worked fine and then I went to stop and it sunk to the floor. At 41k now and if the car sits overnight the pedal sinks almost all the way to the floor and it takes about 25 miles of stop and go to bring it back up.

Did you get the master cylinder checked?

quicksilver08 · 07-31-2011, 01:16 PM

They replaced the master cylinder, slave cylinder, and clutch pedal assembly. Said the clutch looked brand new and asked if I ever drove it.

DIGItonium · 07-31-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quicksilver08

They replaced the master cylinder, slave cylinder, and clutch pedal assembly. Said the clutch looked brand new and asked if I ever drove it.

Haha same here. At least we didn't suffer the burnt clutch issue like some owners of '07+ 350Zs had. I hate the "free play" feeling of the clutch engagement, so I can't wait to see how well an aftermarket CSC will perform.

quicksilver08 · 07-31-2011, 02:58 PM

Ditto. Mines to the point that it drops till its about an inch off the floor and then it disengages the clutch.

Boost'dVQ · 03-25-2012, 06:16 AM

2011 My clutch just went out around 3 in the morning driving home, had to get it towed since every time i came to a red-light it would stall because the clutch was still engaged half way. 76xx miles

07-31-2011, 12:31 PM	#55 (permalink)
quicksilver08 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Buda, Tx Posts: 66 Drives: 08 Infiniti G37s 6mt Rep Power: 13	Lost it in my Infiniti around 25-30k miles. Worked fine and then I went to stop and it sunk to the floor. At 41k now and if the car sits overnight the pedal sinks almost all the way to the floor and it takes about 25 miles of stop and go to bring it back up. __________________ 2008 Infiniti G37s 6mt coupe Berk HFC, Magnaflow Catback, JWT Popchargers, H&R, Eibach, Stillen Sways, B&M short throw, 4.08 frontier gears, NST pulleys

07-31-2011, 01:16 PM	#57 (permalink)
quicksilver08 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Buda, Tx Posts: 66 Drives: 08 Infiniti G37s 6mt Rep Power: 13	They replaced the master cylinder, slave cylinder, and clutch pedal assembly. Said the clutch looked brand new and asked if I ever drove it. __________________ 2008 Infiniti G37s 6mt coupe Berk HFC, Magnaflow Catback, JWT Popchargers, H&R, Eibach, Stillen Sways, B&M short throw, 4.08 frontier gears, NST pulleys

07-31-2011, 02:58 PM	#59 (permalink)
quicksilver08 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Buda, Tx Posts: 66 Drives: 08 Infiniti G37s 6mt Rep Power: 13	Ditto. Mines to the point that it drops till its about an inch off the floor and then it disengages the clutch. __________________ 2008 Infiniti G37s 6mt coupe Berk HFC, Magnaflow Catback, JWT Popchargers, H&R, Eibach, Stillen Sways, B&M short throw, 4.08 frontier gears, NST pulleys

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05-07-2011, 01:56 AM	#46 (permalink)
sarmyth Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: CA Posts: 96 Drives: 370z Roadster Rep Power: 14	So this just happened to me on the track of all places. Z Roadster 10k miles 2010. Seemed to be heat related, as it only started happening after multiple laps in 100+ degree weather. Clutch pedal stuck on floor, could be popped up by hitting it with the side of my foot for awhile, but eventually I'd pushed the car to the point where the pedal remained on the ground, couldn't be kicked up and wouldn't disengage the clutch....decided to pit at that point...after about 30 mins of cool down it was back to normal. I thought i had boiled the fluid the get this level of hydraulic failure until I found this thread.

05-21-2011, 12:29 AM	#47 (permalink)
sarmyth Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: CA Posts: 96 Drives: 370z Roadster Rep Power: 14	Dealership tells me that Nissan recommends changing out the clutch master and slave cylinders. Apparently this was a problem on the 350z but I'm the first one he's seen with the issue on a 370. Nissan says the CSC can leak, is part of the tranny and requires the tranny to be dropped for replacement. The new part is not an up'reved version, but apparently the problem goes away once things are switched out. Sounds like a quality issue to me. I still think I boiled the fluid though, had 260 on the oil temp w/34 row cooler up front with >100 degrees outside on the track. Will be insulating the line and switching to good DOT 4 after the swap.

05-31-2011, 08:07 AM	#48 (permalink)
Fastfatdude Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Spore Posts: 155 Drives: Pearl White 370Z Rep Power: 13	Mine failed at 140miles on the odometer. When i collected the car only had 10miles on the car. Dealer fell over each other getting my car back on the road. Replaced the csc, and a new clutch and housing. Gave me a murano as a loaner for a day, gave my car a free polish and extended free servicing till 20k . They must be real concerned about their reputation... Keeping my fingers crossed...

06-17-2011, 01:10 PM	#49 (permalink)
EVOnomore Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: CT USA Posts: 288 Drives: 2011,370Z,Sport,M6 Rep Power: 13	Any issues on 2011"s??My Clutch feels weird.Noisy when the pedal is not engaged?

06-20-2011, 05:39 PM	#51 (permalink)
Glokwork A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 2,657 Drives: 11 370Z MB 6MT Rep Power: 21	After seeing this thread I want to check the fluid level on my z. I just went under the hood for a minute because its raining but I didnt see it. Where is it located?

07-25-2011, 09:21 AM	#54 (permalink)
fuct A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sugar Land Posts: 3,692 Drives: 97' Ranger :) Rep Power: 23	hi my name is nick and i also have a stick clutch pedal.... haha, but yea 50% of the pedals play has lost pressure. i checked the fluid level and it was at the MIN level. topped it off and it felt about the same. i tried to pull out the old fluid and replace with some new dot 3/4 fluid. im not sure if i have all the air outa the system. it feels the same with the pedal only feeling normal during 50% of its stroke. does anyone have the proceddure for proper clutch fluid bleeding on our cars? thx in advance oh im at about 23k miles and baby the car.

03-25-2012, 06:16 AM	#60 (permalink)
Boost'dVQ Base Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Austin Posts: 57 Drives: 11 Nissan 370z MB M6 Rep Power: 13	2011 My clutch just went out around 3 in the morning driving home, had to get it towed since every time i came to a red-light it would stall because the clutch was still engaged half way. 76xx miles