2019 Manual Transmission Grinding Sound

aero-head · 11-16-2019, 12:04 AM

I bought a new 2019 370Z with a manual transmission last year, and a few weeks later started noticing a loud grinding sound when changing gears around 5,000RPM. After some troubleshooting, I determined that it doesn’t matter if I’m changing gears, leaving it in a gear without touching the shifter, or even leaving it in neutral while revving the engine - the noise continues as long as the engine is above 4,500 with the clutch pedal pushed in. Interestingly, this does not happen after a cold start – the car has to be driven for 10-15 minutes before the grinding sound happens.

The symptoms seem to point to a defective throw-out bearing / concentric slave cylinder, which the dealership replaced twice but there was no improvement. They also reproduced the issue in two other new cars on the lot, suggesting that this is a design defect rather than a one-off issue. Nissan’s regional Dealership Technical Specialist indicated that a new clutch was designed for the 2018 model year (I previously owned a 2010 that never had this issue in 7+ years of daily driving), and the engineering team he’s been in contact with at headquarters has not been able to come up with a fix or even definitively identify the cause.

Has anyone else here experienced this issue? I did my best to capture the sound in the link below, but it’s much worse in person. I’m meeting with the Technical Specialist again next week and I’m going to try to get them to cover an aftermarket CSC replacement under the warranty since they can’t fix it with OEM parts, but I’m curious if anyone else has any ideas on this.

https://youtu.be/chDMb76_1c8

BettyZ · 11-16-2019, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aero-head

I bought a new 2019 370Z with a manual transmission last year, and a few weeks later started noticing a loud grinding sound when changing gears around 5,000RPM. After some troubleshooting, I determined that it doesn’t matter if I’m changing gears, leaving it in a gear without touching the shifter, or even leaving it in neutral while revving the engine - the noise continues as long as the engine is above 4,500 with the clutch pedal pushed in. Interestingly, this does not happen after a cold start – the car has to be driven for 10-15 minutes before the grinding sound happens.

The symptoms seem to point to a defective throw-out bearing / concentric slave cylinder, which the dealership replaced twice but there was no improvement. They also reproduced the issue in two other new cars on the lot, suggesting that this is a design defect rather than a one-off issue. Nissan’s regional Dealership Technical Specialist indicated that a new clutch was designed for the 2018 model year (I previously owned a 2010 that never had this issue in 7+ years of daily driving), and the engineering team he’s been in contact with at headquarters has not been able to come up with a fix or even definitively identify the cause.

Has anyone else here experienced this issue? I did my best to capture the sound in the link below, but it’s much worse in person. I’m meeting with the Technical Specialist again next week and I’m going to try to get them to cover an aftermarket CSC replacement under the warranty since they can’t fix it with OEM parts, but I’m curious if anyone else has any ideas on this.

https://youtu.be/chDMb76_1c8

Please keep us updated on whether Nissan will pony up for a ZSpeed CMAK!

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Spooler · 11-16-2019, 12:36 AM

I don't hear a thing. That is not a CSC issue or Throw out bearing. Maybe a pilot bushing. I just don't hear a thing in the video. Our transmissions are naturally noisy.

SouthArk370Z · 11-16-2019, 01:51 AM

Probably the normal sound made by the pressure plate/clutch/flywheel arrangement of the Z - many others have reported the same "problem." As per Spooler, it could be a pilot bushing but that would be low on my list for a low-mileage Z.

aero-head · 11-18-2019, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

many others have reported the same "problem."

Reported on this forum? I've seen several threads about rattling at idle, clunking during 1st-to-2nd shifts, etc. but haven't been able to find any posts here or elsewhere about grinding at 5,000 RPM. As I said, this wasn't happening at all in my old 2010, so it seems to be a more recent problem related to the new clutch Nissan started using in the past couple years.

Rusty · 11-18-2019, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spooler

I don't hear a thing. That is not a CSC issue or Throw out bearing. Maybe a pilot bushing. I just don't hear a thing in the video. Our transmissions are naturally noisy.

You need hearing aids.

I don't hear anything either with head phones on.

Quicksilvers · 11-19-2019, 06:46 AM

Yes honestly I don’t hear anything in this vid.

nis350 · 11-27-2019, 12:59 AM

I think Nissan just used a different clutch for the newer model. The transmission and the clutch hydraulic (cmc & csc) haven't changed.

you can always replace it with the older version of the clutch and that noise should be eliminated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aero-head

They also reproduced the issue in two other new cars on the lot, suggesting that this is a design defect rather than a one-off issue. Nissan’s regional Dealership Technical Specialist indicated that a new clutch was designed for the 2018 model year (I previously owned a 2010 that never had this issue in 7+ years of daily driving), and the engineering team he’s been in contact with at headquarters has not been able to come up with a fix or even definitively identify the cause.

2011 Nismo#91 · 11-27-2019, 06:26 AM

The MT transmission internals changed a little in 2016+ I believe it was with the 5th/6th synchros. Try replacing the fluid, and report back imo.

aero-head · 12-06-2019, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nis350

I think Nissan just used a different clutch for the newer model. The transmission and the clutch hydraulic (cmc & csc) haven't changed.

you can always replace it with the older version of the clutch and that noise should be eliminated.

That's interesting. I was under the impression that the CSC was new as well, but it looks like you're right - the Nissan parts site lists the same master and slave cylinder part numbers for model years 2009-2020. Same goes for the pilot bushing (which they also replaced during both of the repair attempts) and the flywheel (which they replaced the last time). The pressure plate and friction disc are the only parts I can find in that area that have different part numbers starting in 2018.

As far as installing the older OEM clutch, Nissan previously told me it's not compatible with the newer car. No idea why that would be, but I can ask again. Otherwise I'll see if I can get them to pay for an aftermarket clutch rather than just replacing the CSC again...

Rusty · 12-06-2019, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aero-head

That's interesting. I was under the impression that the CSC was new as well, but it looks like you're right - the Nissan parts site lists the same master and slave cylinder part numbers for model years 2009-2020. Same goes for the pilot bushing (which they also replaced during both of the repair attempts) and the flywheel (which they replaced the last time). The pressure plate and friction disc are the only parts I can find in that area that have different part numbers starting in 2018.

As far as installing the older OEM clutch, Nissan previously told me it's not compatible with the newer car. No idea why that would be, but I can ask again. Otherwise I'll see if I can get them to pay for an aftermarket clutch rather than just replacing the CSC again...

What Nissan did was to change vendors and spec'ed a different pressure for the pressure plate and a different friction material for the disc. Everything else is the same.

11-16-2019, 12:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
aero-head Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 7 Drives: 2019 SprtTouring 6MT Rep Power: 13	2019 Manual Transmission Grinding Sound I bought a new 2019 370Z with a manual transmission last year, and a few weeks later started noticing a loud grinding sound when changing gears around 5,000RPM. After some troubleshooting, I determined that it doesn’t matter if I’m changing gears, leaving it in a gear without touching the shifter, or even leaving it in neutral while revving the engine - the noise continues as long as the engine is above 4,500 with the clutch pedal pushed in. Interestingly, this does not happen after a cold start – the car has to be driven for 10-15 minutes before the grinding sound happens. The symptoms seem to point to a defective throw-out bearing / concentric slave cylinder, which the dealership replaced twice but there was no improvement. They also reproduced the issue in two other new cars on the lot, suggesting that this is a design defect rather than a one-off issue. Nissan’s regional Dealership Technical Specialist indicated that a new clutch was designed for the 2018 model year (I previously owned a 2010 that never had this issue in 7+ years of daily driving), and the engineering team he’s been in contact with at headquarters has not been able to come up with a fix or even definitively identify the cause. Has anyone else here experienced this issue? I did my best to capture the sound in the link below, but it’s much worse in person. I’m meeting with the Technical Specialist again next week and I’m going to try to get them to cover an aftermarket CSC replacement under the warranty since they can’t fix it with OEM parts, but I’m curious if anyone else has any ideas on this. https://youtu.be/chDMb76_1c8 BettyZ likes this.

11-16-2019, 01:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324198	Probably the normal sound made by the pressure plate/clutch/flywheel arrangement of the Z - many others have reported the same "problem." As per Spooler, it could be a pilot bushing but that would be low on my list for a low-mileage Z. Optimiser likes this. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

11-19-2019, 06:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
Quicksilvers A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2017 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,039 Drives: 2017 370z Rep Power: 25463	Yes honestly I don’t hear anything in this vid. __________________ Mr. Clean

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11-16-2019, 12:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
Spooler A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Ga Posts: 13,830 Drives: 2013 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 2684392	I don't hear a thing. That is not a CSC issue or Throw out bearing. Maybe a pilot bushing. I just don't hear a thing in the video. Our transmissions are naturally noisy.

11-27-2019, 06:26 AM	#9 (permalink)
2011 Nismo#91 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 2,401 Drives: slowly Rep Power: 40569	The MT transmission internals changed a little in 2016+ I believe it was with the 5th/6th synchros. Try replacing the fluid, and report back imo.