2003 350Z Issues:

- 3rd & 5th gear transmission grind: Check
- Throw-out bearing neutral "noise": Check
- Window lift motor failing: Check (passenger side)
- Original TSB issues (gas filler tube, axel noise, alignment, etc.) : Probably Check
- Ridiculous amounts of fun (esp. in the twisties): Major check

Okay: so I'm into a month and a week of owning a 2003 350Z Enthusiast. Only now posting because of the above problems. Don't get me wrong: I don't have sour grapes. I've just since learned that these are base-model issues but they almost seem trivial compared to the amount of fun I've *already* had. On top of learning to drive stick (unfortunately on the car I bought!) which was fun and a half itself!

So: why am I posting? Well... lots of issues that need advice and I thought I'd appeal to the 350Z community. I recently took the car into a shop (not a Nissan dealership - but a "domestic-slanted* boutique performance shop) for a new purchase "safety check" and I learned some depressing things. Mostly because of convenience: the shop is walking distance from my home.

1) The tranny. To rebuild the tranny (put in updated synchros [grinding]; new throw-out bearing [idle neutral noise]: seals, fluid, bearings, etc.; clutch kit (Sachs); pressure-plate, resurface dual-mass flywheel, labor for all) I've been quoted about US$3600.00. When I was visually taken aback by the amount the shop wanted the tech/owner suggested the car had been driven hard in it's day. While I don't know the technical signs of such a diagnosis the car (interior, exterior, engine bay) seemed very well taken care of: extremely clean (esp. interior), drove very well on test drives (still does, really), I find it a little odd that the car need such service. Don't get me wrong: I didn't know the grind/synchro problems when I bought it but now that I'm schooledI I planned to get a new/rebuilt tranny at some point in its life anyway.

1a) Insistance of the severity of the throw-out bearing being bad. The mechanic seemed very woried that if the throw-out bearing went bad that there'd be 3x the cost (exagerating, of course: I can't imagine a junker [or even new replacement] tranny being $10800!). Please help if you can in this diagnosis: if the the neutral noise/TOB is "bad enough" (I know some people think this is normal for Z33) can it really cause total tranny annihilation?

2) Tires are bald and are wrong size. I was surprised they quoted me Bridgestone Potenza RE960's: apparently some nice tires (for a "domestic" shop). Unfortunately >= $235 a pop!. About $1K for tires! Not including labor for mounting, balancing, alignment, etc (in all about $200 labor). I assume this is just sticker shock for the maintanance of owning a sports car, but wow!

3) Serpentine AND alt/fan/p.s. belts. Pretty cheap relatively but parts & labor totaling about $215.

Then I have all the issues the shop doesn't know about:

1) Ping/knock at around 1K to 3K in gear/on "normal" load in (all) gears that I can tell [with 91 octane]
2) A single loud click when hard acceleration is done (or really jerky 1st gear start). Not so loud to cause alarm but more a "that's weird" kind of thing. Smooth starts don't seem to stimulate it. A motor mount was replace before the car was sold to me which (confirmed fixed) a very loud/heavy "clunk" on similar issues - but this is a much softer "click" or "clank". I assume I'm just abusing the car with my novice stick shifting but wanted to check the pulse here.
3) The seller advised that once the "shift linkage" just died on him: his clutch went to the floor. All that was needed was a bolt replaced on the shifter **** and all was well again. This sounds more like the TOB issues but hard to tell.
4) CD stuck in the head-unit! No biggie - getting something with an AUX in anyway.

In closing: I think I overpaid given the above problems. Shame on me for not getting a pre-buy inspection! However now that I'm stuck with it I'm just looking to get some life (and FUN!) out of this beautiful beast.

I really, really, appreciate your time and expertise if you're willing to help with advise here. Thanks!

- Jesse

 

Mileage?

 

65K

 

First thing I think you should do is get a second and third opinion on all the issues you have mentioned (including prices from a Nissan dealership).

As far as tires go, here is your second opinion: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...=49890&tab=All

I don't really have much to add until all these issues are verified by a second and preferably third a opinion.

Edit: Since you don't sound like much of a "do-it-yourselfer" I'd also look into the possibility of slapping on one of those warranties from one of those aftermarket warranty companies (one that pays the repair shops directly). It might be cheaper and might save you in the future. I don't have any experience with any of them, but they seem to be becoming more and more popular and it might be an option for you.

 

Firstly: thanks so much for your time. Because in this life in this time my enemy is time! I will try hard to get second and third opinions (and from a dealership). I do have dealership fear: that their sole purpose in life is to part one from one's money and not return any value whatsoever. Having said that I see the value in what you're suggesting: insofar as a quote (even for a nominal fee) would be quite valuable to my cause in diverse opinions. I have a couple shops in mind, actually. If you (or anybody!) knows some good shops in the Seattle, WA area please sent: I was thinking Tony's Auto Body (who do mech. stuff, too), as well as Nissan/Eastside (or Nissan/Volks/Lynnwood). Any others?

Secondly: believe me when I say I have the interest and desire to be a "do-it-yourselfer": I quite enjoyed doing most of my 1979 Chevy Nova bucket-o'-bolts work: including a tranny swap, springs/shocks, steering/alignment parts, electrics, etc. But I just don't have the time these days! Ideally I'd find a mechanic I can trust and just pay that person the due amounts to treat the car (and my pocketbook) with love and discretion.

Thanks again,
- Jesse

 

Welcome to the forum Jesse. Hopefully you haven't purchased the bundle of tricks that the initial mechanic is telling you. Definitely do as Kwame recommends and get another quote or two. Also get along to a meet/check out your regional subforum on here, you'll very quickly find out who the worthwhile dealers/tuners are in your area.

 

Welcome to the forums. Hope you get everything worked out and deffinatly shop around on that tranny issue. I just bought my Z a month ago and I couldn't explain to you how much fun I have in it. But for tires just get them online at TireRack.com or WheelsNext.com they will be alot cheeper then buying at a shop. Ive ordered from both of these websites and shipping is fast and free.

 

Throw-out bearing noise is normal.

 

You say the tyres are the wrong size, give us a bit more detail so we can help you. What wheels (are they still stock), do you know what spec your Z is?