Hello. This is my first time posting here so bare with me. I have a 2005 350Z enthusiast with an AEM cold air intake. That's the only mod on the vehicle.

I bought the vehicle last year with 17,000 miles on it. It now has 30,000 miles. I've noticed, since the first week I owned it, that when it is raining outside it seems as if the clutch slips and catches when going up hills or giving it an ever so slightly aggressive amount of throttle. The RPMs will spike slightly and rock me in the seat, violently at times.

Yesterday (whilst it was raining) the vehicle was sputtering/slipping rather badly so I hit the clutch and it stalled. It fired right back up, but I found it strange that it stalled. I've also considered the fact that it has the same stock tires (Bridgestones) it came with. Could the 9 year old tires with failing tread be a factor? Keep in mind that this sputtering/slipping was occurring back when the tires only had 17,000 miles on them, but I must say last night was the worst I've seen it considering that the engine stalled. The tires are now down to the wear indicators and front tires are cupped slightly. Could the tires be slipping and catching really quickly? I am getting new tires this week which I hope that helps. The car runs amazingly in dry weather, but I dread driving it in the rain. I've also read that it may be possible that water is getting onto the clutch due to a lose housing.

What are your thoughts? Thanks!

 

There's really no way for the clutch to get wet. Get the new tires, which you clearly need, in any case. Be sure to get an alignment, too.

 

Please post pics of the tread on your tires.

Oh, you already did.

 

Even if those tyres still had 100% tread, at 9 years old the rubber is off, get a new set of tyres and it will make a big difference. Are the sidewalls of the tyres cracked at all?

 

From what I can tell the tires don't look too cracked, but they are hard as hell. I left work one morning at -1 degree F and I thought I was rolling on bricks. I know you shouldn't have summer tires out that cold, but you gotta do what you gotta do.... Even now that it has warmed up they are a bit loud and seem stiff. I'll be glad be done with them. I guess I'll assume it is the old tires causing the slipping problems and see if new tires fix my rainy day woes. Even after a car wash I've felt this slipping/jerking sensation. Very strange indeed.. I hope the fix is as simple as new tires.

 

tires.

 

Tires

 

New tires = problem solved.

 

common theme here..... TIRES

 

I'm gonna chime in with my thoughts.

Tires.

Yer spinnin em.

 

You mentioned the clutch was slipping going up hills, but are you certain it was the clutch and not the tires? A slippery surface will cause the VLSD to slip slightly (particularly with worn tires. Your complaints about the clutch would have more credibility if there was the odor of a burning clutch, or other symptom to accompany this.

What model and size tire are you purchasing for the Z?

 

Those tires sucked new

 

It's pretty amazing the difference good tires can make.

 

If it was the clutch it wouldn't jerk him around like he says. That's the tires breaking and catching traction.

Also when it stalled I'm betting that happened due to TCS. Do you turn off TCS or leave it on?

 

Its generally considered that no matter how much tread there is on tires they have a maximum life of about 5 years before the rubber starts to deteriorate and cracking starts to appear in the sidewall and that they are past their best. To get 30k miles out of a set of tires on the 350 is very rare I would have thought, I'm lucky to get 8-10k out of my rears.

 

I don't know if you've heard. But tires are most likely the issue

 

My thoughts exactly. The best I've done was like 17k and they were completely smooth when I pulled them off.

 

Wow, thank you guys for all the feedback. I do leave traction control on, but I've never seen any the slip light come on (except that time I was driving in sleet and ended up doing a 180). Will the VLSD slip even without the slip light activating? And yeah, sorry to assume it is the clutch. What I mean is that while going up hills in the rain there is a slipping/jerking sensation. There is no odor of a burning clutch or any symptoms of a worn clutch in dry weather. As far as tires, I'm getting the Continental DW 225/50/17 and 235/50/17.

 

So you think the TCS killed the engine when I hit the clutch during a slip? That makes me feel a lot better. Sounds like new tires would prevent this from happening again as well...

 

Are you actively looking for the light during those situations though?

I'm 99% sure it's either TCS or just power transferring between wheels. Without being there can't say for sure though.

By the way it sounded you kicked the clutch as the TCS engaged to limit wheel spin and just by a weird chance everything pissed itself off at the same time and it stalled. I wouldn't worry about it.