I am now the proud owner of the only Nissan 350Z 5MT in the world. I have five forward gears. 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th. Where did 3rd gear go? That's what I want to know!!!

I was running at the big road course at Willow Springs Raceway today, and my Tilton clutch was giving me problems. Sometimes the pedal would hit the floor an not engage, then later it would be fine. This is not the first time this has happened. The first time it was supposed to be fixed by replacing the slave cylinder, which was leaking. That work was done less than a week ago.

So I am out on the track, struggling with the clutch and gearbox. I manage to get it into 3rd gear in a turn, go thru the next turn, and then I hear BANG BANG BANG BUMP BUMP BUMP coming from the rear. I shift into 4th and head down the straight. I get to the next turn, clutch, and put the shift lever in 3rd. THERE IS NO GEAR THERE. You move the lever into the 3rd gear gate and it is just like you are in neutral. WEIRD. I have been driving stick shift sports cars for 30 years, but have never experienced anything like this.

Nissan can buy me another 6MT on warranty. It will be my third (counting the one the car came with).

 

Good luck getting a new tranny... I suspect the dealer will blame the problem on the tilton setup...

 

The dealer installed the Tilton set-up. I don't expect any problems.

 

Got the trans in stock and ready to go! When do you want to bring it in.

 

Jeff -

You are the MAN. I will be there first thing Monday morning (Aug. 9). We gotta sort out this problem with the Tilton clutch pedal. Since the slave cylinder was replaced, maybe it's the master cylinder. I thought maybe it's an air bubble in the clutch line, but if that was the case, it wouldn't come and go as a far as the clutch working. It would just fade. Pumping the pedal was no help, it has a mind of its own.

The clutch pedal problem seemed to happen more when I was going uphill on the track, but that might be my imagination. It has virtually never happened on the street (only once on my way home from Willow Springs).

Thanks. You guys at Performance Nissan are the best.

 

I'm still thinking the pedal stop isn't set right. My guys are having a hard time in their heads to get this right. They set yours up so your clutch pedal neural safety switch still works.... they need to go a bit further than that. Catch me Monday when you get in. I'll call Tilton as well. No matter what, I will replace the Pressure Plate as well while I have your car apart for the trans. Let's get this thing fixed once and for all!!!!

 

Nice service!!!

 

Jeff -

I agree the pedal stop is too low toward the floor. Actually, it will start with the clutch pedal out (the saftey switch is deactivated). But there is still a lot of travel. Since you only use about 1/3 of the travel at the top with the Tilton set-up, the pedal stop should be further up to shorten the travel more.

But I don't see how that could be the problem I am experiencing with loss of clutch function.

See you Monday morning.

 

Anyone having a problem grinding 3rd gear only in normal driving? I have had my Z for 10,500 miles and have recently noticed that 3rd gear grinds and the clutch seems a little bit "light".

 

Nissan has had lots of problems with the 6MT in the 350Z. You are entitled to a new gearbox on warranty. Demand it from your local Nissan dealer. Don't take no for an answer.

 

But it seems that the new tranny doesent really fix the problem. My tranny seems to be worse in the winter.