I have been having this transmission problem, or at least i think its a problem. My transmission when shifting from 2nd to 3rd and sometimes 1st to 2nd feels really weird. Lemme see if I can explain it; it feels as if the shifter is rubbing against another metal obeject and making it a little more difficult and less smooth to go into gear. Okay...so i took my car to the dealer last week, and had them check out my tranny problem that I was having, and the service guy says, "i can't seem to replicate the problem...i don't think anything is wrong with the transmission." Then, he tells me about a known issue about synchro's that some 350Z's are having in their tranny's. So, i got in and drove it around with him...and the problem seemed to have went away. But, these past two days, its been doing it again... What the hell is going on with my car? It was never like this at first! I only have 5k miles on the freaken thing! Please help!

 

I have the exact same problem as you. I have 05 model, and 1st to second feels like crap, never smooth. It feels as though I have to squeeze it into the gate, passing through some rough object, and there is a strong tension too. Sometimes a clunk can be heard. Even when the clutch is fully press it happens. Happens when car is off too. This occurs from 2-3, 3-4 too but not quite as often as 1-2. I would say i have this problem on daily basis. It sucks, I dont know what to do either. I just want to know if this is just the way the tranny is and everyone has this problem, or I just have a whacked tranny.

 

Visionboy...thats exactly what happens to me. My question to u is, do you here any grinding that everyone else is talking about? I don't...but I too want to know if this is normal on this car or not...because it really takes the fun out of shifting with this car.

 

I used to have a manual in the past, with like 80+K miles and after abusing the tranny from racing all the time, I would hear grinding from 2-3..I mean the grinding was obvious....

With the 350z, I woudn't call it grinding. Maybe rubbing against some metal, and can feel roughness, and sometimes hear as though two metal ojects rubbing against each other...But i don't think I would say its the typical grind I would hear from an old tranny.

It's just I read that other 350z people say their shifting is like butter, but then you get other who say its rough, esp 1-2... hmmm

 

Same problem but stopped wheni changed out the fluid!!! Royal purple 75w90

 

I have always driven manuals, and I must say, this car is the most difficult one I have had in terms of shifting. Experiencing exactly the symptoms described here which makes it really hard to shift fast. I always feel like I have to guide the gears in.

 

I posted my problems with Grinding in the "Post here only if you have had your TRANNY replaced." thread (pp. 25-27).

I was having the typical 2 --> 3 grind noise. They replaced my tranny and clutch and now I am having this problem described in this thread. I might try what bio911 has suggested.

--meth

 

I also had the grinding on the 2>3 shift and the dealer replaced the tranny. And like methylal, the new tranny is VERY notchy going into first, almost like I have to force it in. It also feels like I have to pass a "click" in order to get it in gear.

For those that never experienced or heard the grinding. You will definately know when your gears are grinding. You hear this awful sound like when you stick something into a moving fan to try and stop or slow it down.

 

Hearing that you guys got your tranny replace and it is till doing this, is very discouraging

 

mannnnn....there are three things I never want to replace in my Z and they are as follows: Engine, Tranny, and Rear Diff. Other than that, the dealership can replace what ever they want to. So, you guys think that this is normal on this type of car? Well, i'll keep on it for a bit longer and see if anything happens. I mean, i don't hear grinding or anything, nor do I smell any clutch burning. Although, i did one time and one time only, grind the gears going into 5th going like 65mph or so...could this have damaged anything?...i was shifting fast!