Jsn350Z

Hmmm, is this normal??

When I shift fast at all, it will not go smoothly into secon gear. Infact, all gears are kinda like this, only second being the worse. I have never grinding the gears, It makes no sound (I can hear tranny noise often, is that normal?)

So, no noise, never grinded, never gone pass 4k rpm yet, never launched the car. And it is pretty damned tough or notchy getiing into second gear. If I wanted to shift fast if I was racing or something I would have to force it into second really hard.

So, normal? Have it looked at? I have a feeling Nissan will tell me nothing is wrong.

Or is there some kind of trick I need to know with this car?

BTW, yes, clutch is all the way in before the quick shift.

Maybe I can have someone in my area drive my car and see how it compares?

Thanks,

Jason

Dissolved

Hmm, didnt think the 04s would have tranny issues. Regardless:
I had heard Nissan designed this tranny to have a "notchy" feel. Yes, some transmission noise is normal. Grinding and *excessive* rattling is not. Do you get the rattling at idle that is faint? I know that's normal. Just for note, my 2nd gear feels the notchiest out of all of them. But after putting 1000 miles on her, it got smoother. Give it time and don't let the "repair forum" make you paranoid

Jsn350Z

No, no noise at idle. Just a really damned notchy second gear when shifting fast. Almost makes it impossible to do any kind of quick shift into second.

I mean...I have two options if it stays the way it is now.

Got WOT in first, redline, depress clutch, nice slow shift, loose all kinds of time, let clutch out, got WOT again.

Or... Go WOT, redline, shift really really hard which would make me feel bad for the car and force it in.

Thanks for your imput. I really hope it gets smoother...

Could I change some fluids or something, might that help?

Jsn350Z

Again,for anyoe who misses it. There were never any grind, never any launches, and never have gone over 4k rpms. Car has 430 miles on it right now.

Dissolved

Definitely do not switch fluids. This may void warranty for tranny replacement for your current situation.

Give it a few more thousand miles. Then when everything is ok and shifts are smoother, send daddy Tremble a message of praise

Jsn350Z

Yeah, someone else is just saying it needs to be broken in some more.

GUess I'll do that and get a new heavy **** as well.

yobri

iTrader: (2)

I think that second is notoriously notchy for everyone (with a MT). Mine is VERY much like this in the morning (or when I haven't driven the car in awhile), but after warming up, the 'notchiness' happens to be a lot less... albeit still present.

scottycoyote

mine was very smooth for the first 1000 miles then it got notchy in 2nd all of a sudden......i rode it to the 1200 mark for break in.......sometimes its notchy and sometimes it isnt....hoping it will wear in

Blue Liquid

Mine is exactly as Yobri and scottycoyote mentioned. I have an 04 enthusiast, so either they haven't fixed something or this is completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about.

ezchief

Guys, try this when shifting. Put your four fingers with your thumb on top of the shift ****. Like your playing a video game at an arcade. Shift it by flicking your wrist back towards the console. A member taught me this and it has cut the notchyness down to 1% and that's when I get lazy and put my palm on top of the shifter. Do the same for 2-3 shift except rotate your thumb to the left side of ****. Really works well.

shil01

Mine is def notchy to say the least, and in the mornings i hear a little grind when going into 2nd. I thought the notchyness would go away after break in but it hasnt and now i get a little grind. (thank god for warranty)
I have about 2400 Mi. on the Z.

jleighZ

My car has over 5k miles on it and 2nd gear is still notchy. I take it to the dealer tomorrow for another problem, so hopefully they will check this out too.

yobri

iTrader: (2)

edit: whoa, posted this response in the wrong thread.... Monday morning...

Jsn350Z

It seems mine is getting smoother now.

350zluvr

I do this all the time, and this seems to work very well for me too! However, as soon as I grab the shifter so that my fingers are vertical (grab on the side), the notchiness seems to come back along with an ear piercing grinding noise.

Jsn350Z

GRRR! It is so notchy compared to other cars I have drivin. You really have to force it in HARD on a fast shift to second. And even the other gears are nothchy, just not as bad as the 1-2 shift. Kinda pissing me off...

But again, no grinds, and the clutch pedal is well down to the floor.

ssk0771

iTrader: (5)

What the hell is wrong the Trannies on the Z.

Jsn350Z

There better be some kind of recall, so that when warrantys up there is no problem. And PLEASE...MAKE A SMOOTHER SHIFTING TRANNY!!

scottycoyote

ok i tried the whole "fingers on top of the gear shift "thing and it does make 2nd shift alot smoother.......weird

devildoc

iTrader: (10)

Another vote for the 1-2 gear shift issue. It never wants to jsut slide into 2nd. I don't want to say that it gets stuck, but it definitely doesn't just ease into gear?