Just wondering if anyone else gets this? I start the car, go into reverse to back out of my driveway, put it in first, go about 10 feet to a stop sign, push in the clutch, and i get *clunkCLUNK *clunkCLUNK...

Imagine you're towing a trailer and you hit gas, then hit the break. It's similar to that sound, only I hear it twice, and it's not real loud. It's noticeable, but you have to listen a little.

 

Yeah, I have noticed this too. I also notice that once the engine is warm it goes away. I wonder if this could be the sign of problems beginning or just that the transmission needs time to warm up like the engine??? Hmmm.

 

Check for some other threads on transmission clunking. The car goes through a check when you start up and some clunks are normal. Don't know about what you are talking about though.

WayneTN

 

I experience the exact same thing every day. Once I expressed this to the guy who services all the Z's at the dealership where I bought my car. He told me that it was normal...that the transmission needs to warm up. I have to believe that he was being honest with me and not just saying that to get me off the subject and to keep him from having to investigate further.

But between now and the time the warranty runs out, I will not hesitate to harass the dealership endlessly until they diagnose and fix any problem I might have.

 

happens to me every day, I was wondering what it was too

 

well thanks for the replies guys. I'm just happy to know it's not me. Remember, if any of you find something out, PLEASE post it here. I will definitely do the same if this clunking causes future problems which force me to bring it into the dealership.

 

i have the same problem, usually only happens first thing in the morning. i took it to my dealer...of course it didn't do it for him because it was already warmed up, but he ran the gammut with my car and said everything was fine. if other people are having this problem then it must be normal?!?

 

Yup, got the clunking too..... Hopefully it ain't a big deal...

 

Yep, I have it also. It annoys me so much. I hear it every morning when I leave work when I pull up to the gate in 1st gear and push the clutch it *clunk*. It goes away after a minute. I've gotten to the point where I try and push the clutch in, then slowly ease off the gas to bring the revs down, it doesn't do it if you do this. I hate hearing that sound!

 

Got an automatic Touring with ~8000 mi. that started the transmission clunking from day 1. Taken to dealer on several occasions, (who wanted to replace my tranny, UM NO!). Local Nissan guys sluffing me off to the national corp guys, who didn't return my calls until now. Have a TX Lemon law hearing at the end of this week, will keep fellow Z-Lovers up to date w/ what comes of it. The problems happen when hot or cold, and any time the car goes to OR from a FWD/Reverse direction. Anyone else having this/similar problems with the automatic transmission models?
BTW, Bose bass problem fixed w/ new amp but window grease persistant

 

No clunking here. Do you guys let the car warm up for abit before splitting? I start the car and then fiddle-fart around with the seat belt, stero (such that it is!), temp *****, sunglasses, etc before putting into gear.

 

you sound like my dealer, "you sure it's not your driving style, you may need to go to a racing school".
yes, i'm extra special care of the car, and the clunking happens regardless of the atmospheric conditions, and regardless of how long the car has been running (hot or cold engine temps).

 

yup i get that clunking sound you're hearing. I do let my car warm up sufficiently.. but still get it. I even get it sometimes on my way home. Happens when coasting on low speeds and when i push the clutch in... *CLuNk* my friend said one time... "WTF was that!?!?" I asked the dealer about it.. they said it was "normal". Doesn't it seem like that's their answer for everything?? i could be wrong tho.. it might be normal.. this is my first MT car

 

I have it too and I personally doubt that it is the transmission. I suspect that it is a cold exhaust system, specifically the Y pipe, moving around. I don't have and theories or proof, just hunch.

 

Probably just a little slack in the drivetrain. No big deal I would say. You want a little play or it would break.

 

I hope that there is no slack in the drivetrain but if there is, I don't know where it would be. The drive shaft is splined onto the output shaft of the transmission, the drive shaft is connected to the rear differential via the universal joint (no play if the U joint is OK) and the ring and pinion gears have very close tolerances. I still think that it is the flexable portion of the Y pipe..

 

There has to be some slack for it to function properly. There is some slack and sometimes it makes noise under the conditions described. The new Cobras do it, my Ranger does it, every car I think I have ever had with a manual have done it. You are probably noticing it in the Z because of how attentive we become to detail when we have a car like this that we love, etc.

 

(Silver Track, purchased 11/2002, 5000 miles as of 6/2/03)

I have the same noise, only happens in following sequence for me:

1. Reverse
2. 1st Gear
3. then Clutch in all the way -> CLUNK!

Lets all contact Nissan North America and get this problem documented.

 

I don't get that noise at all, I have the 6spd, one thing I do, is always make sure the rpm is where it should be before downshifting, thus heel toe shift or just pop rev. also wait for rpm to come down to proper speed then dropping into gear when upshifting. This is the very very common problem with Zs because the tranny and clutch are very precise thus not forggiving at all. there should be zero grab to the clutch and zero lurch (whell lock). Assuming everyone is shifting propperly, the service manual states in the tranny trouble shooting section, that if you have grabbing or clunking, that the engine mounts are loos or missaligned. You wouldn't feel any slack in the drivetrain, but it would sound or feel like you do. There shouldn't be any cluncks. That said, it is normal to hear a clack noise when pressing the clutch pedal in, especially fast. This should not be confused with clutch rattle which a tottally different situation. The clack noise at low speeds is just the slack in the gears and is a good sign.

 

My car brand new has this noise, I doubt its any type of driver malfunction with shifting patterns, the clunk is obvious and painful when someone is standing close to the car and you have to depress the clutch in first CLUNK.. ugh! Hopefully they find fix soon