Tranny update. They're replacing it
 

I posted a few weeks back about how my dealer was going to repair the tranny instead of replacing it. They said thats what Nissan said to do. Well I took it in today and the girl behind the desk (mmmmmm yummy :D ) told me that Nissan now says they want faulty trannies replaced. Not repaired.

Thought I would pass on this info

Also, big thanks to Jeff@performance nissan for all his efforts and trying to help me find out what they were replacing and why.

Dissolved, is Nissan going to do a wide area recall on the trannies that you know of? I get a little friction inbetween 2nd and 3rd. Thanks for the info...

They should but they probably won't. Nissan will not even put out a TSB on the manual transmission even though the problem appears to be almost as pervasive as the shoulder cupping issue. I suspect that they can't without triggering a mandatory recall. And, like the tire issue, Nissan appears to be struggling to correct this one as well. The latest transmission part number does not funtion much better than the previous versions. I still have the same 2nd and 3rd gear issues on the latest rev only now they have added a 5th gear problem as well. No Dealer has ever repaired a 350Z transmission by the way, at least not repaired one and got compensation from Nissan on a warranty claim. It's in the manual. The transmission is not considered a Dealer servicable item. If it malfunctions it is to be replaced as a unit.

this tranny problem is interesting to me.. I still havnt had any grinding yet (knock wood). Is the grinding ONLY when going from 2nd to 3rd ? or does it grind on other gears?

Get your terminology straight 101. The 350Z transmission does not grind. It experiences random anomalous synchromesh clutch engagement events resulting in unexpected premature termination of shift selection services caused by marginal consumer motor skill selection criteria during the pre-sales vehicular introduction interview process resulting in a temporary ownership change. Nissan has been very clear on this issue. It's all in the handbook. Now move on.

:icon9: :confused: :icon6: does it have something to do with a flux capacitor ?

Put away them boxing gloves 101. I was just joking, well sort of. I think Nissan may actually believe that the transmission problems are caused by operator error but for some reason these operators mostly have trouble with 2nd and 3rd.

Can someone help me out? I've read literally hundreds of posts regarding the grinds... but i'm still not sure if I've got this problem or not myself.

Does the grind actually feel like a shift attempted with no clutching?

My only odd shift is 5th, where it feels like it clunks in kinda. But doesn't happen every time and isn't heard.. it's felt on the shifter. 2nd gear definitely has a lump at lower rpms.

You'd know it if it was grinding. Mine recently started it when cold, and it feels like you let the clutch out a millisecond too soon when going from 2 to 3. You hear it and feel it in the shifter. It is pretty random on mine, but strangely seems to happen more at low RPMs than high RPMs.

Mine never had this until the last month. I'd probably only ground any gear about 3 times prior to this in all my driving of the car, and those 3 cases were all my fault. I've got 15K miles, btw.

Same problem here...... Took my Z (15,000mi) in on friday for an oil change and for them to check out the 3rd gear grinding problem. It grinds practically everytime w/ revs above 2500 rpms. The service tech. manager says the transmission will either be rebuilt or replaced after he does some calling and checks. I'll push for a new one, but does anyone know if the new transmission will have the same weak parts??

Sorry for the late response guys:

The grinding, which happens mostly when tranny is cold, is VERY noticeable. It does not feel like a clutchless shift. Because the shifter still goes into gear. Doesnt get forced back out

It just goes in vibrating. Don't know how else to describe it.


mode101: Some people are getting grinds from 2nd to 3rd and from 5th to 6th

THere are like 4 or more different trannies out. I wouldnt worry about it. If it grinds again just get a new one...again.

DEMAND a new one