5th gear unseen obstruction.
 

I have an 2011 370z. It's a sports with 40,000 miles. The dealership just put in a new engine, flywheel, etc. I now have an issue where I can push my shift knob all the way right then up to fifth. When I try it's like there is some kind of tab there. I can get it into fifth if I move it to the left a bit. This happens even if I'm sitting still or even if the cars not running. Any idea what's going on?

There is a guide plate under the shift boot. They didn't put it on right so it's letting the shifter go too far over. Bring it back to them and have them follow the procedure described in the FSM for installing and setting the shifter

I took it back in and they told me there is no guide. They tell me it's just a big open circle under the boot

Check the FSM (link in my sig). I think you will find that lj909 is correct.

As mentioned, there is absolutely an adjustment procedure in the FSM, it's much wordy than it needs to be. If you look in this picture below you can see the plate that needs adjusted:

http://www.cdmfabrication.com/bbpics...wmshifter3.jpg

There is a pin on the shifter that touches that silver plate:

http://www.cdmfabrication.com/bbpics...wmshifter1.jpg

If you get the plate too far over it will not be able to go into 5th or 6th. If you leave the plate too far over the other way you'll be searching for 5th and 6th. You want the pin to just barely touch the plate essentially. There is a section in the manual on this.

so the sole purpose of the pin on the shifter is to align it properly? Is this the only thing to do?

No the pin also makes the the reverse lock-out work. When you press down and go over to engage reverse, that pin goes under the the plate.

If the guild plate is the issue wouldn't I have an issue with 6th too?

The guide plate can be adjusted at an angle, so either gear can be an issue. You have to check both 5th and 6th gear after tightening the bolts because of this. You can block out 6th gear or 5th gear if you put that plate in at an angle.

You definitely want to check it multiple times after tightening everything down, to make sure it's right. It's simple, but if you don't get it right, you'll either be searching for gears, or not be able to access them at all.

Thanks for all the help guys. The dealer is looking into it.

very informative...:tiphat:

The dealer's ignorance of this amazes me!:shakes head:

Everyone here got it right. The good news is that it is very easy to adjust yourself if you decide to.

With the shift knob and trim removed, you just loosen the (3) 10mm screws. Slide the plate to the right. Put the shifter into 5th gear. It will take some searching since the guide plate wont locate it for you. Once in 5th gear, slide the plate over to bump into the tab on the shifter that is meant to contact the guide plate. Then tighten the screws. This should take care of it. Check it for 6th gear as well, as someone mentioned above, in case you have the plate angled.

ooooo helpful thread. i always jiggled my way into 5th (or entered pulled to the right more) other then that it would always catch onto something and not go in.

This is perfect timing. I've been having sort of similar issues and I thought it was due to the clutch. I bled it three times and am still having problems.
In the last two days, I made the discovery that if I couldn't get into gear, I could move the shift all the way to one side and then it would slide into gear.
I think mine is loose instead of out of position. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

Question though. Do you have to pull out the whole console or can it be done with the console in place?


Thanks for posting this.