I just bough a 2004 350Z w/ 39,500 miles. It's a 6-speed manual siliverstone color enthusiast model.

These are the only 3 things noticed that might be issues or maybe it's normal for these cars.

-The Tachometer (rpm gauge) when driving over bumps or hitting the gas or shifting the needle bounces up and down. Like 250-500 rpms then goes to normal.

-From shifting from first gear to second. It makes a noise. Not very loud just enough to hear it. Only does it here and there. Not grinding just like sounds like something is going in gear (no other gear does it). Hard to describe. Don't sound bad though.

-When i'm in 4th gear (Only 4th no other gear). Between 30-40 mph if i let off the gas and just let the car slow down you hear some kind of whining noise I think. Best I can describe. It's not very loud again just enough to hear it. Radio or if I had an exhaust would /will cover it up.

But's that's about it. I just fixed few cosmetic things like quarter panel need repainted, shocks needed replaced that holds the rear hatch, floor matts, wipers. Stuff like that.

Whoever has these similar things mentioned above or it's normal would greatly appericate it!

 

Put a helmet on, and brace yourself.

 

The tachometer thing is normal, when you shift it dips and rises then sets at the specific RPM

The whining noise I believe sounds like an airplane coming to a stop or something is normal too, usually if I am going downhill I just shift into neutral so it doesn't make that sound

I believe the Z's come with 6 yr/60k warranty or 5 yr something like that so you could take it in if you really think there is a problem. Congratulations by the way!

 

th whining down sound is normal, you'll also hear it when/ if you warm your car and say you rev it a little. Thats when I tend to notice that sound the most

 

Welcome and congratulations. Lots of great in information here addressing your concerns. Read and enjoy.

 

video of tach issue... from your description this does not sound normal. But if it is just the RPM's from your being too fast or too slow on letting the clutch pedal out then yes thats normal. But if your not even touching the clutch and the tach needle is bouncing when going over bumps, this is not normal.

Rest of it sounds pretty normal...

BTW welcome and good catch on a <40K miles 04 Z... not many left.

 

Thanks for your replies.

The tachometer issue I read several people experienced it before. It will bounce hardly over ruff bumps, or when shifting little more, and same when just hittting the gas. I don't know. I know it's not that big of a deal. Just curious.

First to second gear is probably no big deal it shifts perfectly into gear. Does not pop out or grind. Just very small sound hear and there.

The whine thing is very small sound like i said it's just between 30-40 mph in 4th gear slowing down with clutch out. Don't make any noise in neutral. It's probably normal. Simple aftermarket exhaust wouldn't even hear it.

As far as those few things. Everything seems perfect.

 

 

Actually I heard it a lil more once I installed my TDE, especially at warm up stage.

 

I hear the whirring noise all the time when the outside temp is low. 2nd is very clunky for me as well. As the tach bouncing when going over bumps...no idea. Is the clutch slipping at all?

 

So continue owning this car and reading around here.

Seems like the following are common and kinda normal;

-When in neutral idle hear slight metal noise every once in awhile (throw out bearing are noisy on our cars).

-Shifting gears especially 1-2, 2-3 gear are little noisy. Shifts smooth and doesn't go out of gear though.

-Tachometer rpm needle bounces then goes to normal either by ruff road, shifting sloppy or hard, or giving it good amount of throttle at once.

THESE ARE THINGS CURIOUS ABOUT AND CAN'T FIND ANSWERS.

-When drive to work every morning (60 degrees) I hear whining noise, almost sounds like wind is swirling around or something. You hear it barely with windows up and down it's noticeable. It sounds like it's coming from the passenger door/fender area. It goes away within 5 minutes or so, couple miles down the road. Anyone know what this is? Common?

-The other thing is ONLY in 4th gear letting off the gas between 30 to about 40 mph you hear whining noise or something but when you apply say 25% or less throttle it goes away. Does not occur in any other gear. Anyone know what this is? Normal?

 

why are you in 4th gear at 30mph???

 

-At idle hear slight metal noise or whatever here and there when clutch out, when press clutch in noise goes away.Reading around these cars have noisy throw out bearing, chatter, normal.

-Shifting 1-3 gears are little noisy. Reading around normal.

-Tachometer rpm needle bounces then goes to normal either by ruff road, shifting sloppy or hard, or giving it good amount of throttle at once. Reading around normal or small defect. Either way not big deal and don't care that much

-When drive to work every morning around 60 degrees I hear high pitch whine noise, almost sounds like wind is swirling around or something. You hear it barely with windows up and down it's noticeable. It sounds like it's coming from the passenger door/fender area. It goes away within 5 minutes or so, couple miles down the road. Reading around seems very common and normal.

-One thing can't find info. In 1st thru 3rd get little whine either under load or let off gas. 4th gear is the most notieable. When letting off the gas between 30-35 mph you hear whining noise or something but when you apply throttle it goes away. Anyone know what this is? Normal?

I read alot on here and sounds like the Z's gears, tranny, rear diff, engine, etc. are just really noisy and normal.