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...