370z making a little extra noise in first gear.
 

Not sure what it is but my Z seems to make random slight crunching noises in first gear. If I go to 2nd there are no noises through the RPM range. Anyone else have this? I only have about 200 miles on it. Oh - it's a 6spd.

Is this happening while in gear and moving? Or just when shifting out or into it?

Seems like during and after the clutch engages - while moving. I have to do some real reproductive testing tomorrow...

Ah yeh! And then are you going to see whats up with the car?

Yes, mine makes all kinds of noises from 1st to 2nd. I like to call it the cement mixer sound. It also has a very distinctive clunk when slowing in first gear and pushing the clutch in. I took it to the dealer and they claim this is normal, saying that the 350's also had the cement mixer sound, rattle and clunk. Really takes the enjoyment out of the car, I'm almost embarrassed to let a valet park my car.
So many other things I love about the 370z, so I guess I'll have to live with it.

Yeah I get the rattle and clunk as well when engaging the clutch in and out when moving slowly. I don't think it's a big deal at the moment just one of those characteristics of the car.

First gear tends to be 'rough cut' in manuals, at least the ones I've driven. Like if I take my foot off the gas, the car behaves like I just hit the brakes. The low ratio is bound to bring out the worst sounds in your engine/trani. I assume you're not 'lugging' or 'chugging' your engine by letting it dip below the 500 rpm mark? One of my auto-only friends use to freak when i goofed and did that, he thought the engine was going to blow.

Thanks buddy, that's what I was looking for.

I have a simple solution to that and it works out great for me. What i do is before i start driving the car i just turn my music loud enough for me to not hear the clutch at all. i hope this helps you guys too :driving:

It sounds like anyone with the clunking sounds needs to work on their smoothness, both with the throttle while driving in 1st gear and with the clutch when shifting into 2nd. The transmission does have more of a 'torquey whine' to it while moving in 1st. This is the nature of the gearing...put a LandRover into 'low range' and you'll hear that sound in every gear.

As for the 1st to 2nd shift, I've found that I've become much smoother after driving the car for the past week. Initially my wife complained about how 'herky jerky' the car was and I'd yell at her to shut up or get out :mad:. Now that I'm acclimated to the clutch, the shifts are buttery and the car just zips along smoothly. It just took some time to get the feel.

The clunky noise is there even if you are perfectly smooth. Everything feels smooth but you can hear a small clunk as you push the clutch in. You have to be going pretty slow and quiet (radio off) to hear it.

The 1st to 2nd shift is only an issue for the power shift, i.e. what you would be doing at the drag strip. Under all other conditions it is perfectly smooth. I had the previously model transmission in my G35 and it would do the same thing on occasion.

I've noticed that if I push in the clutch too fast right after giving it some gas in 1st or 2nd then there is a clunking noise. Might be the heavy flywheel not meeting enough resistance when you disengage the clutch pack? I don't know, just throwing it out there.

I have the same problem with my automatic. Whenever I move in first gear or reverse, I hear a clunck. Seems that there might be some play in the driveshaft or something like that.

[QUOTE=spearfish25;53121] Initially my wife complained about how 'herky jerky' the car was and I'd yell at her to shut up or get out :mad:. QUOTE]

Keep that up and it will be you who's doing the walking if she has any smarts about her.

:rofl2:

First gear is particularly noisy. My Mustang was the same way. It's pretty normal.

The "pop" sound that you hear when you clutch in while in 1st is mostly due to the amount of load in the drivetrain... particularly when you're engine braking. I generally try not to do much in the way of any decel in 1st. If I'm coming to a stop I'll just coast out of gear.

Also... you pretty much eliminate clunking between gears if you shift slowly. You don't need to be shifting quickly under normal conditions... just ease it out and ease it into gear. Let the RPMs drop to match up the next gear and it should be nice and smooth.