Hey guys under heavy acceleration my 2007 z wont go from second to 3rd gear. This is my first manual transmission car so am not sure what to do about it. From my search I read that this usually happens to earlier 350z that doesn't have the updated trans. Oh and another thing is that it doesnt always do this. I hope its just a slipping clutch and not my trans going bad. Just bought the car a month ago

 

Are you sure you're aiming for 3rd, and not 5th? Can't think of any other reason. Even so, you'd likely be able to go from 2nd to 5th fairly easily, even though there would be a much bigger drop in engine revs. Sorry, but this sounds like driver error, take your time until you get the 6MT mastered, and make sure the clutch pedal is fully depressed between gears.

 

lol man I surely do hope that its a driver error. I pushed it straight up don't see hope that would be 5th. Really have no plans of changing clutch or doing gears yet. Thanks for your input.

 

Well, it's more than fair to say the 350Z clutch/gearbox isn't always the easiest to work with. When upshifting you need to let the engine revs drop between gears, and downshifting requires an increase in engine revs, at least if you want to make smooth gear changes (true with any car). So, take your time and practice, and when you get it right, it's almost as if the shifter will be pulled into the proper gear with almost no resistance.

Since the car is new to you, I'd also advise at least checking the oil level in the gearbox, and really, an oil change would be the best. Redline MT85 works great, as well as the OEM oil from Nissan.

As an aside, the RJM clutch pedal pivot kit is an awesome and inexpensive upgrade to consider, too. It requires less pressure on the clutch pedal and widens the engagement point, making the Z much easier to live with.

 

Thanks for that very informative response. I have a service/oil change and stuff scheduled for Thursday. In the future I will be doing gears and new clutch so I will look into that RJM clutch pedal. One question though, What do you mean by drop between gears? Hold down on the clutch longer or?

 

When you shift up a gear the engine revs drop because the gearbox is now in a lower (numerical) ratio. Just like on a bicycle, you shift up a gear and find yourself pedaling slower. When you shift down a gear the engine revs have to increase, because you're now in a higher ratio, and on a bike you'd pedal faster.

Bottom line is, take your foot off the gas pedal momentarily between gears during an upshift, and conversely, give the gas pedal a little poke between gears during a downshift. This will make shifting much smoother, cause less clutch and synchro wear, and just make your driving more enjoyable. Maybe drive on the interstate next to an 18-wheeler and listen to the driver shift going up and down hills.

 

lol thanks much clearer now. Yea I do the poke thing during down shifts. lol am in Florida there's no hills or anything but I get what you mean

 

Forgot you're in FL, and so am I. Can't really learn from watching racing on TV anymore, as all the cars have paddle shifters and the gear changes are virtually instantaneous. I used to go to F1 and CanAm races in the 70's and 80's, and those drivers had to do all the work themselves. Watching a guy like Jackie Stewart or Niki Lauda toss around an F1 car in the rain at Watkins Glen was a thing of beauty. See if you can find the movies "Le Mans" or "Grand Prix" online and use them as tutorials.