So I bought my 2005 350z back in July, and I've had a couple minor issues with it thus far, but one thing that I cannot figure out is why my trans acts up when I shift from 1-2. It is an intermittant thing, mostly when the car is colder, but sometimes it 'thunks' into gear. Sometimes, it's even worse and it won't even go into 2nd. When this happens, there feels like there's some sort of resistance and I can feel the shifter almost bounce back. My apologies for the vague description but I cannot figure out how else to describe how it feels.

Stock subframe diff bushing was beat, so I replaced stock bushings with polyurthanes. Car drives much smoother now and it fixed a few other issues, but play in the shift **** and the symptoms above still continue. I will be replacing the trans fluid to see if it helps. Any other suggestions? Really trying to rule out a gear grind. Thanks guys!

Miss Bo

 

This is common for the z.

Your synchro is going.

 

How many miles on the clock?

 

I think your synchro are fine. I live in Canada and this is my first winter. My gears are very stiff when transmission is cold. I can't even get into first unless I am completely stopped or force it in.
The transmission takes a bit of driving to warm up. I wondered if leaving it idle in neutral warms transmission since pilot still spins on transmission but not sure about this.

This is normal. As long as it shift fine when it's warm do not worry about it.

 

Sounds normal

 

I dont have this problem. But if i were you, before you tear open the tranny I would bleed and adjust the clutch pedal.

 

Your in California tho. Your fluids never actually get cold. not sure exactly where op is but if it gets anywhere near freezing like where I am this may be the cause.

+1 on bleeding system before spending any real time or money on transmission examination.

 

my 06 does the exact same thing when the temp drops below 40*(ish). Once i go about 4 blocks the car is warm enough and it wont do it again.

 

Smooth and easy when the trans is cold, smooth and easy but faster when up to temp.

 

Hi Olivia,

The problem you describe is probably not a synchromesh issue, but is more likely caused by either your transmission fluid, or the alignment of a plate over the top of the gearbox.

--Spike

 

Really?! …Can’t shift easily into second gear"‘sounds normal’?!
--Spike

 

You have to double clutch on a lot of Z's for 2nd. I have the EXACT same issue and I just double pump it real quick and it slides in soooooo smooth, promise!

 

Normal as in the z33 synchros going bad frequently or hard to go in gear when it's cold. At least that's what I see frequently as the cause on this forum. Normal.

--Jah

 

+1 id be surprised to hear anyone driving the Z long enough and never having these issues. Much more common on 03-04 as IIRC they revised the transmission in 05. Not sure if you can see it from under the car but there is stamp on the side on the trans with the model number (CD007-CD008-CD009). The CD009 is the latest iteration, something to do with better sychros I think.

Do yourself a favor, buy a new OEM replacement when youre ready to replace. If you buy used youre bobbing for apples. Vendor dealers on the forum advertise competitive prices, check the classifieds.

By all means, change the fluid (OEM!), see if its a shifter alignment issue, off chance a fluid/master/slave issue but if the hydraulic system was compromised youd probably be noticing in all gears not just 1-2.

 

Changing the gearbox lube to Redline MT85 usually works wonders with balky shifts.

 

I have A 2003 Performance model, and my transmission was replaced in 2006 with the CD009 version. The transmission was replaced because I was experiencing “grinding” when shifting from 5th to 6th gear. I did not notice any problem with “stiff” shifting in cold weather (I’m in Minnesota where it gets very cold).

The new transmission does not “grind” and shifts more smoothly. I don’t notice any difference whether it’s warm or cold with the new transmission, but I didn’t notice any difference with the original transmission.

--Spike

 

I sparingly had this issue. not a lot but it did happen. after I did a drain and fill it happens A lot less almost non existent. so try that. also wat spike said shifting slowing will drastically help in those gears

 

My car got 18k miles and granny shifted since day one. I ran into this problem on two occasion when it was 30 degrees.

I drain and filled with OEM fluid, doesn't seems to do anything.

 

if you can double clutch 1-2 and feel no problems but feel grinding on normal shifting 1-2, it seems like it would be a synchro problem, not sure if this problem was ever solved

 

Had this same issue on my 06 z. But it happened no matter how cold or warm the fluids. Would only slip into second if the revs were under 4 grand. I did everything that had been mentioned, but nothing changed. I bought a new CD009, only have about 2000 miles on it. But there almost all drifting, and I've had no problems for far. I've heard that the synchros go out pretty easy on these. Even the CD009 version. I'll be rebuilding the old one this winter and will find out what actually happened. But my assumptions is the synchro's. The old trans I removed is also a CD009. I think when I rebuild this one, I'll get them wpc treated. May help them hold up a lot better.