I was at work today, lunchtime rolled around and I went to Chipotle. Everything was fine and I got some badass chicken soft tacos but when I left to head back to work it happened!

I heard this odd clunk as I shifted out of first, then I couldnt get into any other gear (including first). I pulled over to survey the damage(?) and sure enough, my clutch wouldnt engage at all. Some ricer in a Subaru 2.5 RS was zipping around and stopped to check out the Z. We couldnt figure it out though.

Its a brand new JWT clutch and flywheel installed in the past year (close enough to brand new for me). It also sounds like squirrels are fighting under my engine cover now.

200.00 to get it towed to Function: Tuned
75.00 cab ride back to Woodbridge at midnight
What could it possibly be? It feels like the clutch just kinda came unscrewed inside the transmission of the car. The squirrels stop fighting when I have the clutch pedal fully depressed.

When the car is on, you cannot physically move the shifter into a gear, it stops you as if the clutch werent pushed in at all. When the car is off, you can freely move the shifter into the gear of your choice though. I have the 3.9 final drive installed, I dont think that has anything to do with anything, but I guess anything is possible at this point.

TLDR Version:
New Clutch and 3.9 Final drive
Trans stopped working
Squirrel fight

 

Best case scenario..throwout bearing failure or lack of fluid.
Worst case scenario..trans bit the dust.

My guess somewhere in b/w......perhaps pressure plate failure....not going to know to you pull the trans.

 

lets hope its what mike said... pressure plate failure thats what it sounds like to me

 

tranny is fine... clutch is not...

 

betting on clutch, flywheel and bearing, not transmission.

thats how my camaro was acting when i shattered the clutch. and that also was on a clutch that only had about 25k on it. i down shiftted into second and the clutch blew into pieces.

you would really have to be ragging on that car or have a alot of miles, to blow the trans.

 

I had the same problem in my Z, turned out I just needed to bleed the slave cylinder, btw I have a brand new Agency Power SS clutch line (Which gives you a lot nicer pedal feel) you can have since I owe you a couple favors.

 

Sounds like the clutch to me as well.

 

OK, so just heard back from the shop. It seems that whoever installed this JWT clutch fails. Not only did they only install the JWT Flywheel and left the stock clutch in, but they did not install the locking plates(?) over the screws. One of the screws came loose inside the transmission and owned my ****. Im just glad that Function:Tuned is willing to put in extra work and get to the root of the problem right away. I havent even been to sleep yet because I have been stressing about it!

 

Wow....

 

Who installed the the clutch originally?

 

The shop isn't in business anymore..... I keed I keed!

OP point some fingers!

 

I just got this Z in November, I hear that the previous owner paid for the Craigslist Special... some random to install the clutch and flywheel for him. Im disgusted, this could have all been avoided.

 

Being the previous owner, I will let you know that:
I had Brown's Nissan in Sterling install the JWT clutch and JWT flywheel.
I NEVER got a "Craigslist Special" done on my car. The only place I took it was Brown's Nissan Sterling and Function Tuned. Just wanted to clarify that to you.

 

Thats even better, I may have to get in contact with them. Function pulled out the STOCK clutch and the JWT flywheel that had the locking bolts all loose. I was told that I was lucky that only one of the flywheel bolts came out while I was driving as it could have been much much worse. Sounds like Browns Nissan kept your JWT clutch and stuck the stock one back in there. The brake pads were also installed backwards. I personally didnt feel any real problem with the car until when this happened, but the work was done poorly and it could have cost me my life.

 

Im so glad to hear this man, I knew you took great care of it and all, it seemed really uncharacteristic of you to spare an expense when it came to a professional install. Theres no way you could have known that they didnt do a good job anyway, it felt so solid! Im just glad everything is good now. I got an ACT clutch and Fidanza Flywheel installed since the stock clutch and JWT flywheel were destroyed.

 

Please explain how this could be. I can't imagine how that could be done.

 

****ed up on both counts, don't think i've ever heard of a dealer screwing up that badly and/or trying to steal aftermarket parts

 

I dont know too much about brakes personally, but it sounds like the pads that should have been on the inside of the rotor were on the outside or the fronts were on the rears or something.

 

When Function Tuned installed my ACT clutch & flywheel, Dave found the dealership had overtorqued the bolts when they replaced the transmission (I bought the Z used), and he had to re-tap stuff to install the new clutch & flywheel. I made the mistake of letting the dealership install a replacement window motor while the car was still under warranty.

They stripped the nuts in the door, or something, so I can't get the door panel off. They also left out at least 1 washer & screw, the result being that it goes "klunk" when I roll the window up or down. I detest Browns Nissan (Fairfax, but sounds like Sterling sucks too).

 

Im seeing a trend here...
btw, Id rather have them super tight than so loose that the bolts are falling off in my tranny, lol.

Regardless, it seems like Browns Nissan is failing pretty hard here. Im trying to think of my next course of action hmmmm...