I just dropped my car off at the dealership for the first time since I've owned it. It was a year old this past March. The reason I have myself so worried is the fact that I've never had anyone besides myself or my father work on any of my cars, because we own our own service shop. This is my first new car, and the first warranty I've had on a car (the only reason I brought it to the dealership, free service). I brought it in for the clicking in the rear axles and the rattling noise from the throw out bearing.

I told the service manager exactly what was wrong, but he didn't seem to listen at all, didn't make any notes or anything on what i said. Just put "clicking noise" in his computer. I know that when they call me, they are going to tell me that they checked over all the suspension parts and retightened everything, completely disregarding what i told him that the problem is, and the clicking will still be there.

Another thing on my mind is my wheels, i just had my track wheels powdercoated, and I know that I'm going to get it back with them scratched to **** around the lugs.

I could've stayed and watched, but i think it would've drove me even more crazy watching someone else from a distance working on my car.

Ijust had to vent, Ill be sitting home all day waiting for them to call. Sucks i can't even be at work to keep my mind off it. I had an accident on my harley last week (someone cut me off! ). So now I'm home bound with a sprained foot and various cuts and scrapes worried about my car.

Sorry so long

 

Next time print out a list of whats wrong with the car. Give it to them. Needs be, do a search on "clicking axle" and print it out and hand it to them. If that doesnt do the trick, take the service manager for a ride and reproduce the sound. The fix is to remove, re-lube and retorque the axles. Nissan is aware of this problem.

The throwout bearing noise is normal by the way. Every manual tranny 350z I've seen has had it. Including me, even after the new tranny.

 

I did the whole print out thing, he ignored it. I showed him the print out, told him to retorque the axles, blah, blah, blah...Piont is exactly this, he already called me back and told me "ahh, we took the car for a ride and didn't hear any noise, your gonna have to come in and go for a ride with our tech" he told me that they drove it for a couple miles, when i told them that you didn't even need to leave the parking spot to hear it.

P.S. The throw out bearing noise isn't normal, I know alot of people are having the same problem, hearing the noise, and Nissan is replacing transmissions because of it. If there's a rattle, that means the bearing is shot. Why Nissan is replacing a whole transmission instead of just replacing the throw out bearing doesn't make any sense to me anyway, the throw out bearing is an external part on the tranny.

 

Yep, the throwout bearing is more a component of the clutch than tranny. I have NEVER heard of nissan replacing trannies due to the "throwout bearing noise." There was probably more to the story with each case (ie: grinding, extreme notchiness etc). I've seen a ton of '03 350z's, and a plethora of new '04s that had this noise. For the 350z, it IS normal. Actually, I havent seen one manual tranny that DIDNT have this noise when the clutch was out. And I've been to TONS of z meets since the 350 came out.

 

I'm sure your right about there being more to the stories about the tranny's that have been replaced. But I still won't accept it as a normal noise, I am a mechanic, my dad's been a mechanic for over 30 years and i just don't think it's normal. Just because all of the Z's have the noise doesn't make it right, more so i think it makes it very wrong that they all have that noise.

Anyway, I got my car back a little while ago, they wouldn't touch it because they couldn't find a TSB regarding the noise. Even though every tech in the shop heard the noise. doesn't surprise me, Nissan or any manufactuar for that case doesn't want the techs wasting time searching for problems, especially on warranty work. So until it's a major problem, i.e. something completely fails or a bulliten comes out on it they won't touch it.

Thanks anyway Dissolved for your input

 

I know it's frustrating, but this is how you have to approach things in regards to warranty work. Honestly I would not sweat it at this point.

You may want to ask guys who swapped out clutches and went with JWT or different brands. See if they are getting the noise. If they aren't, that should answer your question right there.

No problem. Just for note. I've heard some real bad "throwout bearing type noises" and some that were just moderate coming from various 350z's. Dont worry about it right now, or go with an aftermarket throwout bearing if that is truly the cause. I think the JWT one fits with the stock clutch.

 

Yeah, I'm not worried about the clicking in the axles leading to anything major, it's more of just an annoyance thing. Now that i know the dealership isn't going to do anything i will go over it myself at my shop, retorgue them and check it out. i just didn't want to touch it, and have the guys at the dealership be like "hey someone has takin this apart already"

Good piont about checking to see if others with aftermarket clutches are still getting the noise. I'm not too concerned about this getting much worse anytime soon either, just figured hey, if the dealership was willing to fix it, then fine.

Thanks again

 

Is there another dealer close to you that has a more responsive service dept? The way you were treated was the way I was treated at Concord Nissan. (I mention their name because I hope no one stumbles into their repair dept; unless they like being treated like a fool) Another dealer ten miles away has been great! Seem interested in my observations and thoughts.

I had the rear axle clicking and the tech didn't take any notes either. He knew about the fix. Evidently the TSB calls for lubing the splines on half-shaft, install new axel bolts and retorque (which you already know). Problem is completely gone.

I also have heard rumbling from the throw-out bearing on most manual transmissions which I have owned if I have the car in neutral with the clutch engaged. This noise isn't severe on my Z. Maybe my assumptions are wrong and I should get it on the to-do list at the dealer.

 

If i didn't have the resources at my disposal to do this simple fix on my own then i would definitly pursue the issue more. Through my purchase of my Z, the salesman were very nice and helpful at my dealership. Although I didn't get the same treatment in the service department, they did atleast the service manager treated me as if i didn't know what i was talking about, but he tech was very nice. Just was unwilling to fix the problem due to the fact that he couldn't find the TSB on the problem.

i will be back at the dealership if the Throw out bearing noise gets any worse though. Or to another dealership