Hey Everyone,

Early in 2007, I became a proud owner of a brand new 2007 350z. It was a great feeling when I was able to see the car drive off the big truck bed and I got to pull some of the plastic off the car. She was brand spank'n new!

However since then, I have had so many issues with my 2007 350z clutch. In fact, I have had the Manual Transmission pulled 3 times now! And now, I know I'm having the same issue where they will have to for a FOURTH time pull the manual transmission.

--- The Problem ---:

When driving the car, the clutch becomes VERY SOFT to the point where the car is not drivable. Simply put, when letting off the clutch, the clutch will not engage with the engine; not sure how to best describe it. But, when letting the clutch out and giving it SOME gas, the RPM's will spike but the clutch will not immediately engage: the clutch slips.

I have suffered with this ever since I have owned the car. In fact, I have had the manual transmission dropped 3 times under warranty ! The final time was due to a recall with something in the manual transmission. I forget what it was called at the moment. Over the weekend I will be pulling the car history up so I can reference it.

However, now my warranty has expired. And I know I am facing the SAME exact problem about 1 year later.

--- 4th Current Problem ---:

Right now when I shift with my manual transmission, the clutch does not immediately engage and my RPM tach will blip up for a split second before the clutch grabs.

Everyday, the problem is getting worse. After I let the clutch out fully, and give the car a little gas, the RPM tach will rev up and then it will engage. But, it keep slipping and slipping more.

In the past when this would happen, the clutch would literately not come off the floor board, and I would have to coast the car off onto the shoulder of the freeway until the car and manual transmission would cool down enough for the clutch to pop back out from the floor board. Can you imagine, there I am sitting in my BRAND NEW 2007 350z on the side of the freeway shoulder. Oh how upset I was!

In prior cars, I have NEVER had such a horrific issue as I have with the manual transmission on my 2007 350z. When driving my BMW, I could at any time let the clutch out, and that engine and clutch would immediately engage to where I could get the tires in the back spinning.

I swear, my manual transmission has been SO BAD on my 2007 350z that I have never had the car to the point where I could let the clutch out and burn out the tires. After one or two times, the clutch will become so soft to the point where it just will not engage with the engine.

--- Servicing The Car --- :

I know I need to take the car in now. But, I really need to better understand what may be causing this problem. I would really like to get my manual transmission FIXED to the point where the engine and clutch immediately engage.

1) Has anyone experience such problems with their car?
2) What causes the clutch to become so soft that it will not engage with the engine? I'm not sure why I continue to have the same issue even after getting the car serviced ?
3) When taking the car in, what are some things I should insist on getting replaced or fixed? Or what should I be sure to have them focus most on?
4) Knowing that the car has to go in the shop, and the manual transmission dropped (for the 4th time now), what should this roughly cost to get this issued resolved? I will now have to pay for this problem out of my pocket. And, I thought this issue was resolved on when I last had the car serviced due to a recall on the issue.

I live in the LA area of California. So fortunately, there are a lot of places to take my car. However, I'm not really sure what I should insists on the mechanics looking at? And I'm not sure yet where I would take the car in the LA area? If anyone who lives here has any suggestions, that would be great as well!

Over the weekend, I will pull my old car history and see what exactly I had replaced in the past. I can then give more detail at that time.

Feedback, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated.

Thanks to those in advance who respond!

Jason

 

Probably the best solution is to have a heavy duty CSC installed along with a new OEM clutch. At the time, have the master cylinder rebuilt or replaced.

I'm surprised Nissan hasn't been hit with a class action suit for all the problems with the POS CSC they put on these cars.

 

dang you need the new concentric slave cylinder not OEM one but aftermarket fully upgraded Metal slave cylinder. get it from zspeedperformance
here is the link http://www.zspeedperformance.com/Nis...ZSPHDSLAVE.htm
And the problem your having might be due to system not being bled rightway.
If you actually live in LA why don't you take your car to Performance Nissan of Duarte
1434 Buena Vista St, Duarte, CA 91010 they are Nissan dealership but they install after market items in 350Z too. they might know a better solution to your cars problem.

 

I doubt it's anything to do with bleeding the system. If there's air in the system, the air will compress when the pedal is depressed. That will keep the slave cylinder from moving as far as it should, and the clutch won't be fully disengaged when the pedal is on the floor. The result is difficulty shifting and grinding. That doesn't seem to be the OP's problem.

Now, I'm not saying there aren't problems with bleeding the system. The design and routing of lines virtually guarantees it will be a b***h to bleed. There are numerous horror story threads about this issue, too.

 

I found it pretty easy to bleed the clutch system. You just need a helper if you don't have a power bleeder. And it took like 30mins maybe.

I was having my clutch pedal stick after driving in hot weather or traffic and all I did was flush my clutch fluid with like 250ml of some new Motul fluid and it is perfect now. Was in traffic for 1hr yesterday it never stuck once.

EDIT: That all metal CSC from zspeed looks amazing! That is how it should have come in the first place.

 

Replace the:
Clutch Master
Clutch Slave cylinder with the HD version
Replace the clutch, You have probably compromised the clutch with that much slippage.
Also check flywheel while you are in there, The stock flywheel can wear out.

Once you do this you should have no more problems with the clutch.

The problem you describe sounds like the master cylinder failing, We have seen a rash of these going bad causing the pedal to stick or not return fully to the top. The main reason is, they are getting gunked up from the stock slave cylinders due to how fast they wear and chunks of plastic and seal material coming loose.

Another possibility is the stock clutch pressure plate sticking in the self adjusting unit, If this happens the fingers won't pop back up and in return won't push the pedal back up, The reason I don't recommend going back to the stock clutch. Self adjusting pressure plates are notorious for problems like this.

 

Agree. The title is misleading. You talk about dropping the transmission, but this sounds like a clutch problem. And I do not know if the clutch was ever replaced. Besides 2007 gives me little information. 10,000 or 50,000 miles?

Ask for a shop recommendation in the regional forum. A shop with 350Z clutch experience. Inspect the clutch.

 

Had the same thing happen where the clutch would get stuck to the floor on very hot days, to the point where it won't come back up.

Took it to Fontana Nissan and it was the slave cylinder. They replaced that (recall) and its been fine ever since.

I, as well as many, recommend Fontana Nissan. Call then and ask for frank and tell him you're from the forum. He'll take care of ya