Hey guys i've had my 2003 enthusiast since march of this year and no problems until a few months back I started to notice that sometimes it was hard to get into 2nd gear. I always made sure I fully depressed the clutch and this never happened with any other gears that I shifted into. Then yesterday I was going out for a little run and went from first to 2nd I felt even more resistence to get into 2nd and I felt the gears grinding a bit. In a panic I went into 3rd and avoided shifting into 2nd the whole way home in fear that I might cause any damage. Am I overreacting or is this normal???? It doesn't happen that often, sometimes if it's a bit chilly outside it's hard to get into 2nd and with a bit of driving around it feels smooth like butter getting into 2nd when it's fully warmed up. Can anyone help me out to why this is happening? I haven't been sleeping well because of this problem.

 

03s are notorious for transmission problems. I nicked my 3rd gear sychro and had it replaced (under warranty). It would make a grinind sound when i shifted too quickly into 3rd. Even after i replaced it, it happened again and now i just drive with it.
I've found that if your having a little trouble getting a gear in, blip the throttle.

 

So I would eventually have to replace the syncros, or I can just live with it? There isn't any long term repercussions like my second gear going missing from being worn out over time if i just leave it?

 

Most just upgrade to cd009 trans to not have to worry about it again. As lightbrick said the older ones are notorious for problems

 

I have a 08 and it clunks going into 2nd if I shift too fast... or too slow. I tried adjusting the shifter plate but that didnt do anything. It seems if I put a certain amount of pressure it won't clunk. I've read this is normal as long as you dont hear grinding...

If I race it, smooth as butter.

 

Yeah I forgot to mention that part. When I really rev it out and start driving fast it's smooth, but when I drive normally i feel getting into 2nd gear is hard. Design flaw? Or is nissan trying to tell me that I should drive fast all the time?

 

You can live with it, definitely not worth the trouble of replacing a sychro. I did it and it happened again.

Save up and swap to CD009: thats common practice in these parts and theyre not as expensive as you'd think. ($600 seems to be what i find, im sure other people have found many others)

Just learn where it doesnt grind and shift there. You'll be fine. The car will be fine.

 

Hi... You are describing a problem that many 2003 owners experienced; to the point that Nissan began replacing the transmissions in 2003 350z’s.

I had my transmission replaced, and the new transmission was SO much better. It was like driving a different car.

--Spike

 

Yeah, it's just how it is. Since I have the new style trans there is no point in doing a swap until it actually start grinding all the time. I've only have mine grind twice, its cluncked a billion times though. I dont think damage is necessarily happing when it cluncks it's just how the trans is designed... but that's a total guess.