So the latest problem from my 03 is that when I shift (especially from 3rd to 4th), there is a clattering sound coming from the tranny while moving the stick, somewhere underneath the car beneath where the stick is. There is even some clattering when I accelerate gently after upshifting. Please tell me this is a cheap and easy fix and not my transmission needing to be replaced...

On a side note, I've owned three cars in my lifetime and the Z by far is the most unreliable. From the tire feathering, rear axle click, broken driver's side window motor, odometer blinking in and out, oil pressure gauge reading above 120 psi ALL THE TIME, crappy hatch shocks, to the shoddy paint job, all while the car only has 65K miles makes me disinclined to give Nissan my business again once it's time to buy a new sled.

 

I THINK I might have same problem (I have 07).
Can you describe the clattering more? I have a weird sound when I shift from 2nd to 3rd in 2k or less RPM.

 

I have the same noise and I have an automatic. When it is cold, and i shift into gear, particularly reverse, i here a clattering noise almost like loose change. The dealer looked at me like i was nuts and i even left i overnight for them and the next morning we started it and they just looked at me like i was an idiot...they gave me the following response..."that is normal, there are a thousand moving parts in an engine and that would be impossible to identify." WTF???? I am frustrated but not much else I can do. I have 59k on my 06 and was hoping to find the problem before the powertrain warranty was up but too late now. Oh..and i also have the tire feathering problem.

Thanks for letting me vent LOL

 

the clattering is most probably your throw out bearings is extremely common on 350z if so that if is not excessive amount the dealer considers it normal, brand new of the lot some z has the noise, i bought mines with 12k miles 2006 and already had it. 8 out of 10 z out there has the noise. just got to live with it and ignore it either with music or custom exhaust. other option is when u change your clutch u can replace it

 

Thanks for the reply. I have more info, the clattering sounds kind of like a diesel engine and it mostly occurs after I let off the gas or feather it after normal or heavy acceleration.

The clattering is getting louder and starting to drive me nuts. Is the fix/replacement of the bearings so complicated and expensive that I have to wait for a major repair such as clutch replacement?

 

I have the same sound from my Z, at least in the winter time. It got so loud one morning I was nervous to drive the Z, so I dropped it off at the dealers on the way to work and I drove with their head mechanic (who was the only one they let diagnose the car with this superficial problem) and there was barely a noise, I don't even hear it in the summer. But I do notice if I drive it hard on a long drive it does get very chattery at idle (I hear its normal). I'm waiting to hear it again since it finaly got cold here recently.