Clutch Clunk for MT only.
 

HI,

For all MT drivers, do you get the clutch clunk when shifting form 1st to 2nd at very low rpms? If so how did you deal with this? I have seen multiple threads about this and all kinds or responses from people saying different things so I thought a poll might help.

Please only respond if you are experiencing this in a MT.

1. I get it and its normal
2. I dont get it
3. I get it and its not normal
4. I get it and dealer said its normal
5. I get it but have not taken to the dealer yet
6. I get it and dealer said they will fix

Thanks,
jay

push the clutch in a little slower instead of just slamming it to the floor when you are driving slowly.

Oh yea, I definitely get it. I haven't taken it to a dealer yet mostly because I hear it is normal. But, I will ask them about it when I take it for my free oil change next month. That and the clunky shifting noises(especially 2nd gear, probably because there isn't enough noise coming from the car to mask it), and annoying drivetrain sound when you release your clutch when you have your car in neutral. I'm pretty sure this thread will end up where all the other ones have: that the consesus is that the 370 has a very noisy transmission, much like its predecessor.

Jeff is right though about pressing/releasing the clutch down slowly though, it does mask it, not always feasible though.

It's normal.

i had it with the stock flywheel but it went away when i had my aftermarket one in.

Very aggresive shifting (5k+ RPM and quick shift) or granny shifting (low rpm + very slow clutch release, almost "riding the clutch") will all but eliminate the clunk.

I was teaching my fiance to drive stick shift in the Z last night (after some trial runs in my 72 beetle) and she actually thought she was doing something wrong when shifting into 2nd, haha.

It's a Nissan "feature"... my '02 Altima did the same thing.

It's normal, my old 350 did it so I'm used to it. Be happy we're not experiencing the ticking axle =)

It's not just a Nissan thing. My '03 BMW M3 also did it. Completely normal. Do you get the death rattle if you shut the car off in neutral with the clutch disengaged?

Press the clutch down slower or get some speed going before shifting. It only does it when you accelerate hard in 1st, let of the gas too much and shift to 2nd. Also, watch your revs, depress the clutch too fast under 3500rpm in 1st and its guaranteed to make a noise. Try adjusting your shift indicator light to help get some practice on when you should shift. I set mine to 4500rpm until I got use to it. It will start blinking at 3500.

It gets really tricky when you are in stop & go traffic. Especially when you think the traffic is about to go but then the car in front slows down <clunk!> and then you feel stupid. Don't leave it in 1st unless you like listening to cement mixers. All the sounds this car made when I 1st got it kept me up at night, but once you know where they come from, its not so bad and you learn to live with it. Be glad we still have true manuals instead of Doppelkupplungsgetriebe type transmissions as an only option.

ah yes, the awesome rattle when you release the clutch in neutral, my favorite scary noise, followed by the rattle when you turn it off.

Great thread...I've been experiencing the same thing too...Glad to hear that this thing is totally normal

I dont get this... but I will check again tonight.

when you release the clutch in neutral, you put the drivetrain in motion still, so you hear the noise of all the parts spinning when you let the clutch out, it happens on my friend's 370z as well, so I assume it's normal, but maybe it isn't.

I got home 2 days ago and put the car in neutral and let the clutch out and heard the whirring sound, BUT, sometimes I also get a rachety sound thats pretty irradic, comes and goes, when I took it to the dealer of corse it didnt make the noise. I have 900 miles on my car at the moment and this all happened after the 1st time i revved it over 5k rpm. Sometimes in 1st gear driving next to a wall I can hear that ratchety noise coming from the clutch/bellhousing area. I also can hear it alot in neutral when shutting off the car. I wish I stayed with my S2000 or my Lotus Elise. I wanted something with more room though. I took video of the noise. I'll repost after I've uploaded it to you tube.