A&Q about 350Z
Q:
hey radico:
Can you give me more info on your problem.
I just recently took my car in with clutch problems (4200 miles). I have had the clutch chattering and also one night on my way home the clutch completely stuck to the floor. I had to pump it to get it to releaase. It hasn't done it since but after 3 days at Nissan service they told me nothing was wrong. All that they did was test drive it for 8 miles, and that took them 3 days!!
'05 350z AE 6spd Silverstone
A:
Osceola, get a second opinion from another Nissan dealer. While your car still have less than 12k on your ODO, don't stop until you're satisfied. It's worth the effort in the long run. Call Nissan 1800-NISSAN1 persistently, if the dealer cannot resolve your issue.
A:
I'm still debating with them about the transmission problem and the clutch is a "recommended replacement" since it's grinding going into 5th gear when hard on the gas. I brought up the chattering clutch back when I first bought the car and was told that is was normal. Since this wasn't written up and just a conversation I made be screwed.
I certainly don't plan on giving Nissan any money much less $2K for a clutch. They can fixc/replace the tranny and I'll decide if the clutch needs replacing.
I just want to limp to next Dec when the lease is over and never buy anything from them again!
A:
I was told that the chattering clutch was normal also. Every time I was there for something else I would complain about it. I eventually just bought an aftermarket clutch and flywheel and its worse then ever. I also just got a new transmission after I started to get some grinding in 3rd gear which is another known problem. The new transmission didnt help the chatter. So with a new tranny and new clutch, I still have chattering.
'03 350Z Redline
JWT Pop Charger
JWT clutch
JWT lightened flywheel - 14lbs
Kinetix Racing plenum
Grounding kit
A:
clutch chattering isn't normal.. it means something is wrong. but its also a result of abuse in most circumstances. The clutch will only chatter if its worn out and in need of replacement, or scorched from bad driving habits (ie slipping the clutch when shifting, using the clutch to slow the car, improper downshifts, etc)
If the clutch has less than 20k miles on it and its already chattering, its almost definitely the driver's fault. A clutch can easily last 100,000 miles, even if you tend to drive hard, so for most 350Z owners you should have well more than half of the clutch life left.
If chattering is caused by hotspots, depending on how bad they are, good driving habits can actually recondition the friction material and chattering will go away with time.
Another thing to note is that clutch chatter has nothing to do with the transmission whatsoever, so the trannys condition will have no impact on the problem. The only parts possibly causing clutch chatter are the flywheel, the clutch disc, and the pressureplate.
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1985 300ZX n/a
A:
yeah i feel your pain radico... they Bull S'd me the same way... i came in there and told them about it and they said that they compared it to the same car with similar milage and found it to be normal, i have the paperwork still...
you know what here is the scanned image of it... the rough idling is what i described it as but i completely expained that it was the clutch...
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Chrome Silver '03 Touring -MT-
C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
Kicker Solo Baric L7 1200w
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A:
ok, this is an easy one:
Chatter is essentially the result of a damaged friction material on the clutch disc. Basically, chatter feels like the clutch keeps grabbing and slipping. So you get a "thump thump thump thump thump" as you engage the clutch.
Basically what happening is as the friction material becomes worn out, gets scorched by heat, or wears unevenly, parts of it have more grip than other parts. So as you engage the clutch, it will grab for a second but then torque will rip it loose again.
Sometimes a good clutch will chatter, usually if you are taking off on a hill or incline and you release the clutch extra slow for smoothness. When it starts chattering on a regular basis, chatter will usually occur when you're engaging the clutch slow and not giving the engine much throttle. Typically, chatter can be avoided by changing your driving habits a bit: give the car more throttle and release the clutch faster during initial take offs. You don't wanna burn out or squeal the tires, I mean just a little more throttle. When chatter starts happening on a regular basis and no adjustment in driving helps, its time for a new clutch.
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1985 300ZX n/a
A:
soif clutch chattering is what is described as what phx just stated... then what is the knocking noise that i have when idling and i'm not on the clutch pedal...
truthfully it sounds as if i have a bad throw-out bearing... which i've also went to Nissan for this too and they say it's "normal" but a noisy tranny isn't normal...
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Chrome Silver '03 Touring -MT-
C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
Kicker Solo Baric L7 1200w
I don't think, I know...
Well, I don't think you know either
A:
Ok, so you're standing still, and your car makes a knocking noise? and then you push in the clutch and it goes away?
If you're as described above, then it seems most likely like a bad transmission bearing. It sounds like an imput shaft bearing. Does the knocking increase with the RPMs?
A bad throwout bearing is the opposite. You are totally fine but you get a squealing or squacking when you push on the clutch pedal.
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1985 300ZX n/a
A:
yeah standing still... tranny has a knocking noise... push in the clutch and it goes away... the noise isn't audible at higher RPMs... if i rev while standing still i can't hear the noise... but when i return to idle speed it comes back...
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Chrome Silver '03 Touring -MT-
C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
Kicker Solo Baric L7 1200w
I don't think, I know...
Well, I don't think you know either
A:
Sounds like a bad input shaft or counter shaft bearing... or maybe its not bad but just noisy.
Heres what I'd do:
If the car has a factory drivetrain warranty still, have Nissan replace or repair the tranny. I would probably take the car to a tranny shop that specializes in manual trannies first. That way you have an expert opinion before you go to the dealership. The Nissan dealership wont listen to you because to them, you know absolutely nothing about a car. Having an expert back you up is definitely going to make your life with the dealership easier. Usually an inspection at a tranny shop is totally free..
If you don't have a factory warranty anymore, then I would simply turn the radio up and ignore it for now. The cost of rebuilding a tranny for a noisy bearing that is causing no trouble is way too high. Maybe try putting some Lucas Stabilizer in the tranny to see if that helps, but I'd say drive it until it starts actually causing a problem (it may never cause a problem)
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1985 300ZX n/a
A:
sounds good... on my next day of availability... I'm gonna have to go to a shop that i've been using for a while now and have them check it out... i know exactly what you're talking about with the dealership... when i explain something in detail to them they look at me as if i'm completely stupid... yet i probably have more wrench time than most of their techs...
i've been around internal combustion engines since i was like 3... helping my dad with repairs and stuff he recieved a formal education in this area... and i do all of my own maintenance work... but anyways...
i still like getting other people to do the jobs i need for my car so that if they screw something up it's on their dime not mine...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Chrome Silver '03 Touring -MT-
C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
Kicker Solo Baric L7 1200w
I don't think, I know...
Well, I don't think you know either