Hello, I have an 06 350z with approx. 19k miles. about 3 or 4 days ago my clutch starting feeling really strange. It feels to me that it lets up really really high for some reason. It catches at the very top, and i was wondering if you think my clutch is bad or not. I find myself rolling the clutch every time i take off because it feels so weird. It also feels extra soft, slightly spongy. It does NOT get stuck or droop to the floor though. When i am driving i can just lightly flick the car into neutral without engaging the clutch, and there is basically no resistance. I do NOT smell clutch at all when driving, or exiting the car, but I am just nervous as to the situation. Car has never been abused throughout its life. but like i said this just started happening and it really isnt a long term thing. I called the dealer and they said they would have to open up the trans, to tell if it was bad or not, and at that point if it was not warrantied, i would be out of over $1k. I did a clutch test like cruise in 5th gear at 30-35 and floor it, and the tach, and speedo both rise simultaneously, so i think it passed that. Can this clutch be adjusted, or will that make it worse? Do you guys think my clutch is bad?

 

sounds like a bad clutch. Do you have to rev at all at a standstill for the car to take off? Rev to 1 rpm at a stand still, and let out the clutch, does it slip?

 

i dont have to rev really high to get the car moving, i can get it to go with very little throttle, but it just feels strange. the pedal will disengage higher then before ive noticed. Im just asking a ton of questions to find out if this is all in my head before i go to try and get it repaired. what do you mean by slip?

 

I really am not too sure without driving it myself...

but I also often feel like my clutch isn't grabbing the way it should, or the way it used to. I try not to let it bother me. As long as my clutch is not slipping and not burning, I think it is fine.

My best guess is just to tell you not to worry about it for now. If you have a serious problem, it will definitely get worse. If not, it will probably feel about the same.

Another good way to diagnose the problem may be to drive a few other Z's, whether they be friends' Z's or test-drive. Sometimes after you drive a car for thousands of miles, you become so sensitive to every little feeling and sound that the most basic things like clutch or braking start to feel different or "wrong" in your own mind.

 

thanks for the advice wired 24/7. any other suggestions/comments? thanks to all btw

 

the stock z clutch always catched up high in the first place. As the clutch gets worse, it goes higher. Your clutch is probably getting worse. Until it slips, you really don't have to worry about it.

 

can someone please define slipping? is it when I must rev it very high to get moving? keep the advice coming!! thanks

 

you have the car in gear, you press the gas, revs go up but your car doesnt accelerate accordingly.

 

clutch slip occurs most when trying to accelerating from a standstill. Let's say if you reved to 1rpm, let teh clutch out and the car starts vibrating and feel like it it will cut off. Very rough. If you rev to 2rpm and take off, and it's smoother , then that means your clutch is going.

If you are in any gear and try to go fast and your car hesitates to accelerate (usually up in the higher rpms) and you seem like you aren't going anywhere, then your clutch is slipping.

 

what about the fact that when driving in any gear, i can just flick the shifter into neutral without any resistance basically. i usually have to press the clutch for it to go to neutral.

 

^^

 

can i adjust my clutch pedal as stated in other threads, or will that be more bad then good?

 

 

can i bleed my clutch? maybe its a master cylinder issue?? more advice needed!!!

 

ok forgive me of my ranting, but i took the car to the dealer this morning. I had a service advisor test drive the car, to try and diagnose a problem. He beat the heck out of my car, and slammed the clutch down numerous times, while throwing it into gear, stalling it, etc. He was able to get the car to move continuously in 1st gear without applying the gas. He said the clutch seems fine. no slipping and no clutch smell he told me. He made me an appointment next week for an actual tech to look at it though. He said if i thought something felt wierd it could possibly be syncros, or slave cylinder etc. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

it shouldn't be the syncros. The slave cylinder i can't see going bad with an 06 wiht 20k miles.

yeah you can bleed the clutch. You will need a friend to help. Lift the car up. Locate the slave cylinder near the tranny under the car. let your friend pump the clutch couple of times and hold all the way down. Unscrew the bleeder screw on the slave cylinder and let it leak out and retighten. Do this about 2-3 times and you will be good.

 

Yeah try bleeding it. good luck

 

is it bad that i can just let the clutch out from a dead stop in 1st gear and get moving at a steady rate, without appyling any gas?

ps. i havent bled the clutch yet.

thanks

 

i hope ur not paying out of pocket to have the mechanic look at the clutch....because the labor on that is going to be alot of money, and while hes in there you might as well just throw a aftermarket clutch in for a couple hundred more

 

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