...No, I'm not a bad driver, I had several people drive my Z to test this, and this is what happens. When shifting from 1st to 2nd, or if you're running in 1st and you put the clutch in, it makes a loud "CLUNK" noise. Happens on normal shifting, you have to shift really, really slow and smooth so it won't happen. Is this normal, or is something screwed up on my Z?

Oh, and hi! New Z owner here.

 

what year is your z and how long have you had it? i had the same problem, when i took my z to nissan they told me it was cuz the previous owner race that sh!@$t like crazy. and when they said they saw black heat marks all over my clutch. now i need a new clutch.

 

need sound clips to be sure but welcome to our noisy tannies. enjoy.

 

It's a 2006. Previously owned by a young guy, might've done some damage racing, but it runs fine, other than that clunk. Would it be the clutch, or the transmission? I'm guessing the clutch... I have no problem if it is, I'll replace it with a nice, better quality clutch if it is. But it'd be awesome if you could give me some more info!

Thanks.

 

My 06 does the same thing. Must be the trani's.

 

There HAS to be something wrong there. That loud-*** CLUNK can't be good.

 

mine does the same thing when cold. You can really hear it engage from 1st to 2nd. A clunk is a good way to put. Probably a design flaw but doesn't affect anything. Just be easy on it untill it warms up fully. Mines an '03 and has been doing it since i got the car at 12k miles. (57k now) Most likely is common and fairly normal for our cars. Enjoy!

 

Ya, after I have been driving for a few miles it seems to get better. I had a 03 for about 2 years before I got my 06 and they both did it. I noticed it got worse after I installed my short shifter.

 

My 06 did this quite badly. My new 07 does this to a lesser extent. My wife's 06 rarely does this.

Not sure if I should go complain about the tranny to the dealership. I want a tranny like my wife's.

Nissan's tranny quality seems like a crapshoot. I could get one that's worse

 

swaping to new tranny does not solve the problem. changing tranny fluids doesnt either. when i bought my 05 used with only 23k miles, it was making the noise. so i took it into nissan and told them about my tranny. so they ordered and installed a brand new tranny and new fluids in for free. when i picked up my car they told me that i would need a clutch, the one i had on was all black heat marks from all the high revs that the previous owner had done (thats what they told me) too bad clutchs arent in the warrany tho..
anyways as i drove home from nissan, everything seemed to be driving smooth, i didnt get the clunk noise anymore when going into 1st, and from 1st to 2nd, and sometimes 2nd to 3rd. thought i had my problem fixed, but the very next day after i warmed up the car and took off for work, everything came back except the 2nd to 3rd. but i still have the clunk going into 1st and 2nd.
so..would a new tranny help? most likely not, BUT it isnt AS loud as before, but still loud enough to make the car owner worry and gets annoying.
is it worth going to nissan and having the tranny replaced anyways under warrany? FU@&$K yea why not its still in warranty, explain to them whats going on. you are bound to get a aftermarket clutch anyways, would be pretty nice to add that brand new aftermarket clutch into your brand new tranny.

 

I was able to get rid of the 1-2 "clunk" by pushing the clutch down faster (pretty much stomping it) and a bit farther than I do for all the other gears. Edit* Plus accelerating smoothly helps too especially since 1st gear is kinda slow it makes you want to step on the gas more than you do in the other gears. Hope that helps.

 

yeah this happens to me too...but only when I first start it up (and I cringe every time I do it too) definately doesn't sound healthy lol

 

my brand new 07 does it as well when its cold.

 

My 05 does it.. its normal I think.

 

08 does it.

 

My 03 had its tranny replaced and from the start the new tranny always had a slight crunch/grind when shifting from 1st to 2nd, but this is only when its cold and only the first few shifts.

What gets me is from what you're saying it's not a shifting issue, its a clutch issue. It shouldn't grind unless you shift gears. Pushing in the clutch and getting that sound tells me that clutch has issues.

 

My 07 does it too. I've been trying this technique I read somewhere awhile ago.. i forgot where. What I do is not shift into 2nd right away. When i shift from 1st to 2nd, i usually feel some resistance and if i force it in, the clunk sound happens. I try not to force it into 2nd, rather put enough force on the shifter so it doesn't overcome the resistance. Maybe fractions of a second later, the resistance decreases and the the shifter goes into 2nd smoothly. usually the clunk sound does not happen when i do that. hope this helps.

 

Anyone who has this issue, try shifting with out using the clutch, I bet it doesn't do it.

 

ya. thats real good advice.

NEVER shift wihtout using the clutch. Thats called powershifting and it will wear out your syncros and gears crazy fast.

 

I think it has something to do with being under load. Try accelerating, then right when you're ready to shift, let off the gas for a sec (which shifts the weight of the car back towards the front again,) THEN shift to second. Every time I do it this way....no noise what-so-ever. However, if I'm in a hurry, and accelerate, then immediately clutch-then-shift - Clunk!

I agree that you shouldn't have to baby the shifting for it to act right, but whatever.