I have a third gear problem also. During high rpm shifting it doesn't go into third at all. It doesnt grind it just doesnt go in at all. This only happens sometimes. Anyone else have this problem?

 

I haven't notice this with the 3rd gear yet. However, I do have a similar problem with the six gear. While upshifting, I doesn't want to go in and it tends to wanna go to 4th instead. This only happens with the 2nd tranny as I didn't have this issue with the original one.

 

Well... my second gear seems to be getting a bit easier and it doesn't want to grind as easily as it used to when cold. Now it shifts a bit hard when cold but minutes later its buttery smooth. I don't get it. My service rep obviously couldn't replicate the problem, but he agreed to go on a test drive at the next oil change if I still felt it was a problem. My clutch still chatters like crazy, but they insist that its normal, considering every Z they have does it and there's no TSB out on it. In any case, I'm pretty happy still. We'll see what happens...

 

Yeah, I have the clutch chatter as well and I've been trying to ignore it for now. I don't think that it is normal though. Maybe they're confusing "normal" with "common".

 

Well, I've been following this thread for awhile, and unfortunately now have to join. I'm at 8400 and the upshift to 3rd is grinding pretty bad now. It only does it on the first flight of the day, particularly when the weather is cold (was 40 this morning). I've had clutch chatter since day 1, but was able to ignore that. I REALLY hope Nissan is willing to address this problem and get a fix. Even 1 grind a day on the tranny is enough to drive me nuts.

 

Count me in for "one of those who though that it was driver error". Damn it, one day, after like 50 or more grinds over the 4700 miles, I had my foot planted to the floor while the tranny went nuts for like a second or two. Called the dealer immediately & made an appointment, taking it in tomorrow.

2nd gear grind only. All other gears feel REALLY smooth and easy!

 

I think mine will be going in again soon as well... the first transmission problem was with the 3rd gear... now with the #2 tranny... its 4th gear...

IMHO the #2 transmission never felt as good as the #1 transmission when they were both working...

Anyone else having this 4th gear grind?

 

My dealer called me to tell me that my 2nd new trans is on back order and they will call me when it comes in. 3rd gear is so bad now that I usually skip it......

 

anyone wanna welcome me to the club??

i have about 2000 miles on the car ONLY, and i think i am following many problems similiar to yours. it only happens sometimes and has been for the past 2 days. i will drive normally and once i shift into 3rd it grinds for about a second. it doesnt seem to happen when i downshift from 4th to 3th which is why it might be driver error. i am not absolutely sure if it is driver error or if it is the tranny, but from reading some of these posts i am pretty sure that it is the tranny, since i have driven the car for a while and know my shifting. i am going to drive for a few more days to see if it is really the tranny. a buddy of mine that drives a black wrx said he also had the same problem and was told that they had to replace the synchros for the gear.

 

Welcome to the shitty trans club.... We should all get together and tell war stories. My car is at the dealer right now getting the 2nd new trans installed. I also opened up a file with NNA consumer affairs concerning the lemon law. I do believe that I have every known problem thats exists with the Z including 2 new trans. and I am trying to get a new car.... I'll keep you posted

 

I will be filing for lemon law as well.

Problems I've had under warranty -

1. Car stopped steering on the highway... SCARY. Needed rack and pinion and steering pump replaced under warranty. 2 weeks downtime.

2. After this repair, car started making banging sounds from suspension area. Dealer didn't tighten all the screws apparently... Another two days lost. Dealer refused to present service receipt, probably to cover their own asses in case of lemon law filing.

3. Tire feathering. Dealer REFUSED to acknowledge problem, claims curb rash on rim caused tire to start cupping.

4. Transmission grind. Had this problem since 2000 miles, but dealer refused to fix until it got completely unbearable. At 10k miles, transmission grinds all the time. Had to go to three different Nissan dealers to get warranty fix. Downtime - Unknown.

In my case, its not just the transmission. What do you think my chances are of getting a buyback or lemon law settlement?

What truly saddens me is the time and money I spent on this car... Even if I did get a settlement, my time and modifications would be lost...

 

I think for lemon law the same part has to be replaced 3 times. I am awaiting the call from consumer affairs about my pos. They told me at the least I will get an extended warranty and their is a possibility of me getting a new car. It is a shame that the dealers by you are giving you **** about the trans. You should come here to Jersey, Acme nissan went for a 2 min drive with me to hear the grind then ordered the trans(twice)... They called me when the parts came in and it took them only 1 day to replace it... If Nissan takes my car back I will put it back to all stock. Rip out the stereo, intake, radar, wheels, springs, etc.. and put that all on my new one... Just my time would be lost but I'll have a new Z with no miles instead of the 16k I have now.. I think I would get a Pikes peak if I have a choice..... Good Luck and I'll keep u updated...

 

Add one more 3rd gear grind to the list... Started feeling the "notch" at around 4500 miles, started grinded occasionaly since around 4800 miles, now at 5150 its doing it almost every other 3rd gear shift..

Oh, its 85+ degrees daily, so the "cold" thing doesn't apply. Taking it to the dealer Thurs. to have looked at. He said over the phone that this is the first complaint on the transmission he's had. I will let you guys know what the verdict is then.

Kind of disheartning; I love this car.

 

Add me to 'da club' 3rd gear grind happened a few times in the past and I thought I was just an idiot who couldn't drive a stick and didn't push in the clutch all the way or something. Yesterday, it was grinding basically everytime I put it in 3rd. Dropped it off at the dealer and sure enough, new tranny for me. Dealer was telling me it is costing Nissan $2900 for parts alone for every new tranny. Suppose to be here by Monday. In the mean time, I'll be doing J-Turns in the rental to entertain myself. I'm Vin #3980 in case anyone is interested.

 

I posted about this yesterday but it seems to be gone now.

I have been informed that I'll be getting a new transmission as well. Vin #12xxx.

 

Transmission #1 great to about 5000 miles. I started to get a slight grind in third at about 5600 miles and I eventually had to skip third gear completely. I could not believe this was happining to "such a great car". I had my whole transmission replaced and it feels like a new car now. The dealership assured me that the problem had been fixed. I do not know how much I trust their word but they did provide some great customer service. As they should with a new car having a tranny go bad at 5600 miles. I have now put about a thousand miles on my new tranny and it still feels great...no grinds yet.

 

and still nothing.........no grinding..but when I first start it cold, the clutch whines a bit for a few minutes.

...as far as shifting goes, I like the shift from 2nd to 3rd....but I am paying very close attention fo the shifting based on these posts....I will deff be in to see the dealer if it becomes even a small problem.

 

Me dealer ship is also replacining my tranny, at first they tried telling me they were going to replace the clevis pin because it was to short, but later found out it is to late to do that because the tranny already has been damanged. I have to say my dealer ship is really being helpful for my inconveniece they are swaping out my aem cia for an injen cia @ n/c & giving me a new barlo exhuast @ n/c. Do not let them try & make you fell stupid or at fault, because at first the tech tried telling me it was because of different shoes, floor mats & ect... so I got on this site & printed about twenty pages of other people w/ the same problem dropped it on the service desk in front of the tech. & said I geuss these people must have the same shoes as me huh?Another thing make sure you drive w/ the tech my promblem was also third gear.

 

WHAT this is gotta ba a joke right!!! I had no idea dealerships were giving away Borla (Barlo) exhaust and replacing intakes. That's a new one on me!!!! While you at it make sure you're getting the true dual

 

I have the same problem w/ 3rd gear grinding the 1st & 2nd times when the car is cold, called the dealership & explained the problem the service tech tried pinning the problem on driver error he tried suggesting different shoes were the problem, floor mat being bunched up & ect... So I went to this wonderful web site & printed about 20 pages of other people w/ the same problem went to my dealership dropped it on the counter in front of the service tech & asked him if he thinks these people have the same shoes as me.Any way I have to say the dealership is being very helpful now & is even going to switch out my AEM CIA for the Ingen Cia @ ther cost & giving me the Barlo exhaust @ no charge, new tranny should arrive Friday by the way the problem stated around 4k miles.Good luck & if they are noy willing to help you try the same approach I did it relly seamed to work.