I put 80k on my fa5 with no issues besides a slight notchiness going into third--no worse than the z has in 3rd or 5th.

/\ the best you're going to info you're going to get durability wise, is folks with around 30-40K miles reporting no issues, like a couple of the posts above. Just not enough time has passed and these cars tend to not get driven more than 10K per year on average. Afaik, the csc is identical thru all model years of the Z.

/\ we will have to agree to disagree on this one Red. But then again, I had big problems with the FA5 trans and you didn't, and I have no problems with the Z trans, and you did...

2012 370z Manual Grind
 

Hi Folks,
I'll cut to the chase. My 370z started grinding going into 6th at about 6,000 miles. I have been to the dealer and I am beginning discussions with Nissan.

About me: I have had many manual transmissions in my life (4, 5, 6 speed) virtually every American manufacturer, some foreign. I have never rebuilt one regardless of miles. I have only replaced two (2) clutches in my life on real old cars with unknown miles. I do DRIVE my cars and do not remember gear grinds except on missed shifts.

I have read other posts regarding gear grinding in 2009 350zs. What's the deal?

Sincerely,
Legone370z

You didn't mention the 2013 in the poll, maybe because too new and people wouldn't have enough miles on it yet?

Well to be fair the thread was started in Dec 2011 :)

I have a 2010 and just this year I am starting to have issues when shifting into 5th under mild or hard acceleration. I try and clutch correctly and it still grinds. Shifting under normal driving it is okay. When I had my 15,000 mile service, had the dealer put in synthetic gear oil. This doesn't seem to help. It does shift better once it gets warm, put 5th gear is a pain when pushing it.

LOL
http://forums.watchuseek.com/attachm...bie_thread.jpg

Your Manual Transmission Driving Habits
 

Hi Folks,
I'm trying to figure this car out. I'm interested in your driving habits.

1) Do you treat the Nissan 3*0z manual gearbox any different than any other car you have owned (could include motorcycles)?

2) Do you skip gears shifting up or down?

3) If you skip gears how often?

4) If you skip gears which one(s) most often?

5) Does your gearbox ever grind (assuming you clutched)?

Thanks,
Legone370z

2013 Missed?
 

Hi Leuz,
I would be offended that they left you out of the poll. Do you have a manual transmission? Does your 2013 grind in any gear.

Sincerely,
Legone370z

I have had it grind from 1st to 2nd about once or twice a month. When it does it is when im not getting on it at all, the complete opposite. I would take it in but im not certain it is a specific problem with the z since it only does it every once in a while.

My transmission seems to work well. As far as the motor.. thats another story.

Manual Transmission Grinding
 

Hi Masterbeatty,

How many miles do you have on your car? How would you classify the majority of your driving? Lots of shifting in the lower gears?

I spend ~90% of my driving in 6th gear.

Sincerely,
Legone370z

^ legone370Z- I have 14k, I drive mostly in 4th. But i do the occasional auto x and drag race. But it has done this as far back as aug 2012 when i got my first oil change. I've only had my 2011 brand new since may of 2012. I dont skip gears but only go to 6th on the freeway not around town.

Hey, I haven't noticed any kind of grinding really, besides clunking when shifting 1st to 2nd at low speed, but I don't think this thread is about that... :)

I grind every so often. Definitely not a common occurrence. I think most of the time I have some lazy shifts or super fast shifts and don't push the clutch fast enough or don't press it far enough. Gotta love the 1st to 2nd clunk!

Off Topic Clunk
 

Hi Elan,
So I have seen the 1st to 2nd gear clunk mentioned in the 370z forum many times. Since I don't have this condition (yet), I'm not focused on it.

Has the cause of the clunk been pinned down (i.e. transmission lay shaft play?

Sincerely,
Legone370z

1st to 2nd Gear Grind - Normal Driving
 

With under 400 miles on my '13 with an MT, I'm having a grind about 25% of the times when shifting from 1st to 2nd. This is regardless engine temperature, grade of road and RPM. I have 20 years of manual experience.

Hoping the problem goes away as the synchros & the car get "broken-in".

I would sh*t my pants if my transmission starting doing any of the issues described here.
Of course everybody laughs at me if I get above 4K on my tach when I shift. I have the rev warning light set a 4K.....I want this car to last forever and I have plenty of fun way below redline....Since I've hit 50 I just don't have the urge to "find my limits" in an automobile any more.

Haven't had any issues. The only time I've ground gears was when I was trying to be too quick, that happened twice in a day and now I've said **** it, and gone back to driving like a grandma. :icon17:

2013 - ~18,500mi

My 2nd 370Z with no grinding issues ever. I used to own an Evo 8 which would grind from 1st to 2nd under load all the time. I even took it to the dealer and showed them and the rep was baffled. The issue was the triple syncros, when under load, wouldn't align properly causing the shifter to get stuck and not slip in. It was mainly near redline, but still very frustrating. Haven't had any issues like that with the Z.

it's easy to grind from 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st downshifting if you do it hastily. I don't force the shifter in, instead i kinda gently push it to see if i feel any notchiness,shifter will give me a slight mechanical "gear knuckling" feel and i know right away that i'm second away from grinding, so ease off and wait til synchros work then shift it in (all simultaneously)
also i found that rev myself, or revving a little bit more than necessary will prevent gear grinding when downshifting

Bingo.

I employ the exact same technique, especially when the car is cold before you put it in second your sort of ease it in and start feeling, at first there will be this knuckling sensation, then when it's gone you just let it drop in, and it only happens on a cold transmission for me. Any other gear on cold fluid goes in just fine, and after about 5 min of driving with the fluid heating up, I no longer have to even "feel" for the alignment of the syncros in 2nd gear, it's just buttery smooth.

Honestly this transmission is a rugged unit (I mean supra owners buy our trannys and retrofit em)
Also after I put in some boutique transmission fluid the feeling became even better.

i noticed i will grind 5th downshifting from 6th occasionally

i use to get second grind but it fixed itself

New Transmission
 

Hi Folks,
Just an update on my 2012 370z MT6. It has been ~4,000 miles since NISSAN put a new transmission in my car. The car has ~11,000 miles on it now, it is shifting beautifully with no grinding ever.

I do experience stiff shifts from first to second when the car is cold (this is relative to outside temperature). One dealer tried to scare me saying "you will void your warranty if you use anything other than Genuine NISSAN Manual Transmission Fluid (MTF)". I have extended warranty so did not want to jeopardize my coverage changing to something else (Full Synthetic). Note: I would change to a Full Synthetic in a heart beat because shifting is always the same whether it is cold or hot (not temperature dependent).

Since transmission replacement, I have been shifting the transmission as NISSAN recommended. That is when shifting up through the gears I use ever single one all the time.

I have had too many manual transmission vehicles to mention them all. Some of the vehicles were old(er) some were new. There were 3, 4, 5, 6 and seven speed manuals. Transmissions and shifting in all those vehicles could best be described as:

* Like a sewing machine (Mazda Miata (4), MGB (2))
* Notchy
* Deliberate (BMW 3 series)
* Stiff
* Clicky (Honda 750 F1)
* Sticky
* Long throws (a truck)
* Loose (worn out linkage)

What was not present in any of my past vehicles was GRINDING.

Sincerely,
Legone370z

09. New Tranny @20k

I was concerned about the 1-2 shift clunk as well. Took it to the dealer (7000 miles ) and their specialist drove it, and then drove a 2014. His opinion was that it's normal as it was the same on both cars. Does anybody make an aftermarket tranny for these? I'm thinking about FI and really don't want a tranny that isn't up to snuff even if I upgrade the clutch

my '13 grinds into 2nd quite often. i always warm my baby up for about 5 mins. and then drive a "slow" warm up lap of about a mile before hitting the road...my 1st couple of very slow-speed, easy shifting to 2nd usually results in me feeling the gear in the tranny...i axed my mech. about it and he drove it with about 1,000 miles and he said it was acceptable (same with slight clutch rattle in idle).

i put redline in the tranny at 5k and it feels a bit smoother...

btw, i always try and drive at least 6 miles before stopping the car, even if my beer store is only 1 1/2 miles away...methinks that helps prevent sludge build up...