After scanning Google and this Forum I think that I may have the grinding in third gear. I am almost relieved as I thought that I was going crazy. Does anyone know if there is a Service Bulletin related to this. I am planning on calling some Nissan dealers tomorrow for their response. I have a 2003 Enthusiast with 24,000 miles. I think that the local Nissan dealer said that the drive train was still under warranty last time I was there. Does that seem right? I am circling my wagons for a potentail fight with the dealership. Does anyone know the standard warranty on this car as I am the second owner. It seems like the transmission should be covered under the drive train warranty. It also seems like people have had varied success getting this fixed depending on the Dealership and how much they are willing to fight. I know this is probably addressed somewhere else in this forum. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

I bought my car with a 5th gear grinding syncro (at 6k+ rpms mainly) so we all know what that guy did - CRUNCH!!!!!

Powertrain is 5yr/60k miles

 

I took mine in just to get a recall list for my car (2003 Touring edition). Only thing that came up on the computers was a fuel line. I know the dealers around here and I refuse to bring it to them because of chitty work and service. I actually asked about the transmission (mine grinds rarely but bites from time to time more than anything) and they told me there was nothing about it in the computers and nothing they'd do about it.

Try to find the most honest stealership you can and just argue with them if they claim there is nothing in the computers about it.

 

You need a new transmission. It's fully covered (a known problem and you are still under the 5 year drivetrain warranty). You should have no problem having an authorized dealer replacing your defective transmission. You will really like the new tranny. It's much better than the original (much less "notchy," smoother shift points, and doesn't grind at all.)

--Spike

 

I just bought an 03 Z about a month ago and soon after a i bought it I started having the grinding problem... However mine will only grind above 4k RPMs. I have found a way to get around it to by pressing the clutch in until its about to pop into gear and holding it there for a second before I pop it in. If I do this then it normally doesn't grind. It only happens when speed shifting in higher rpms. Regardless, this SHOULD NOT be happening at all. Its got 33k miles on it. The good thing is I have a 3rd party warranty that covers everything until 90k miles or 5 years from Jan... So as soon as my warranty transfer paperwork has gone through I will be taking it into the dealer. I do think I still have the factory warranty on the power train too but I am not sure. The seller never mentioned it. Do you guys know if the warranty transfers automatically or not? And has anybody just lived with this problem for a long time with the car still functioning? My friend has a '03 G35 with the same problem but he just shifts it like I do and is not worrying about it.

 

You can bring the car in to Nissan and as long as you haven't voided the warranty through engine mods they will service it under warranty for you. It's under 60k miles and it's under 5 years old. Get your tranny changed out. Good luck.

 

I really appreciate all of the replies. I spoke with Nissan today and I am dropping it off for a tech to test drive tomorrow. I will let you know how that turns out.

 

I am having this issue with my 05 Track. I don't understand... I drive the car really carefully, no stupid/quick shiftings or speeds above 90 (Illegal over here)
I am starting to have hard times in shiftings, especially in 2nd gear. The grinds are going on all the way till 4th gear... Well I dunno if I can call them grinds... since on gear change, I feel something is preventing the handle to go into position, and when it does, I hear a loud "TOK" and the gear is on...

Am I having the same case as you guys?? I am going to the dealership on saturday, I need to confront them with something...

 

Just had my tranny replaced. They wont change the syncro anymore. It cost less for them to do the whole tranny all new.

Chris

 

I'm haveing the same problom with my 03 Z with 45,000 miles and nissan says its not under warrenty. WHAT do I do?

 

I am giving everyone an update on my 3rd gear shift problem. They looked at the car the next day and ordered a new Clutch plate and Transmission. The parts came in Tuesday and they replaced the defective parts the next day. As Spike mentioned the new Tranny is much smoother and easier to shift. Hopefully there will be no reoccurances of the problem.
I also need to compliment the Service Dept at Prime Nissan in Saco Maine.
I have seen plenty of complaints on various forums about Nissan service but that has not been my experience. The person that I dealt with (Jeff) bent over backwards to resolve my problem in a prompt manner. He kept me updated at every step of the repair process. I was never questioned me about my driving habits and they fixed the problem quickly even though there are no Service Bulletins about this particular issue.
Again I would like to thank everyone who responded on this forum to my Tranny problem.

 

What's the difference between grinding and notchiness? I can hear my trans when I engage into gear... but what does a grind sound like?

 

notchines is something you feel in the shifter . like an uneasy shift when it does not go in smooth... its had to explain. grinding is something you can hear but sometimes feel..its hard to explain you have to really experience it yourself