Nominee

This only happens when I first start-up the car and begin 'take-off' from idle. The vibration/rattle can be heard around 1500rpm. I believe it's coming from the transmission.

Does anybody else experience this?

King Tut

iTrader: (1)

Normal.

chrism1

Mine does that as well. Dont worry its covered under warranty anyway.

Nominee

Do you know what is causing this?

Nominee

But warranty is only 3 yrs bumper - bumper.

I just find it odd, that it only does it on initial start-up. And I wonder why it doesn't occur if I've been driving for a while. What is it that requires warming up!?!

DragonGcoupe

Happens to me too.. They said it was "normal".

Nominee

Doesn't it bother you? It bugs the sh*t out of me, I keep thinking something is loose, and will break!

King Tut

iTrader: (1)

Have you ever driven a RWD sports car before with a driveshaft going back to the differential? That is what causes it.

jedi Z(1)

Unless you are just really bad at easing the clutch in and are almost stalling the car, there should not be any rattle. I have owned nothing but Z's since I was 16 (I've had 2 z31's and a drive a z32tt, and looking to get a new 350 in a month) and they never had a rattle in the transmission. It sounds like a typical dealer brush off.

Nominee

Is that what it is? I thought it was the dual mass flywheels. The sound is eminating from the transmission, not from the diff.

Nominee

The car is already in gear (the clutch is fully disengaged by 1000rpm), it occurs while driving, around 1500 rpm. And only on the first time I drive away. It occurs once, and won't happen again until the car is cold again.

Sr. Panza

iTrader: (3)

I have the exact same thing happen to me. I have an appointment tomorrow to take care of the clicking axle problem and they are supposed to check out this vibration as well. It's almost as if something is 'starting up' when I hear/feel it. I'll keep you guys posted on what they dealer says or recommends.

Nominee

Yah....sounds like the same thing...I'm dying to know what it is.

Keep us informed!

King Tut

iTrader: (1)

I think you guys are just hearing some driveline slop and are way too worried.

Sr. Panza

iTrader: (3)

Can you expand on the 'driveline slop' bit if you don't mind? I really do hope I am just worrying way too much. Thanks.

jedi Z(1)

It seems like nissan forgot how to build cars when Renault took over. I've heard the transmission is crap, the engine can't tolerate anything over 400hp, and that the bearings are extremely loose (compared to the build specs of previous nissans). Is the 350z is just not built as well as prior Z's ?

Fact is, a transmission should never vibrate, if it does, something is wrong. I can't believe dealers tell people its a sports car, it's supposed to do that? It's like when I got a alignment once, and the car had a shimmy in the wheel afterwards, the store tells me it's because I have low profile tires, yeah right low profile tires cause a steering wheel to oscillate at 30 MPH. A sports car might be louder, tighter, a little rougher than a luxury car, but not a rattletrap with a bum tranny.

King Tut

iTrader: (1)

You are ignorant young jedi. Do you want the car to vibrate or do you want the motor, transmission, and driveline to vibrate? If they didn't put the motor and tranny mounts in that allowed the motor and tranny to vibrate then the entire car would vibrate and shake the drivers fillings loose.

push

iTrader: (3)

Some driveline noise is normal when launching. Test drive any corvette c5 with the tremec t56 tranny, or an 03-04 cobra (they have same tranny). It's because of the driveline geometry that you get that noise. The Z is FAR better on the noise on take off compared to the corvette and cobra, in those it sounds like there are marbles in the transmission when you launch.

King Tut

iTrader: (1)

Thanks push. Exactly what I was saying. Unless you have driven another RWD Sports Car you wouldn't think it is normal.

jedi Z(1)

Ignorant huh? If the car already has rubber mounts at those key points, they should absorb most of the vibration (but not rattles) I didn't say I wanted solid bushings to mount the driveline and engine, what I was trying to get across is that this car is not a racecar, it is supposed to be streetable, not be one step above a purpose built tube frame race car. I feel that dealer uses the "it's a sports car" excuse why too much. I can understand a little more noise than a sedan, but come on.