Help with dealer repair dispute on Clutch shudder
 

I have been having a running dispute with my dealer on the clutch action on my 370Z roadster. I complained a few months ago and the dealer insisted it was normal. I am getting drivetrain shudder when I start off in 1st. I have to slip the clutch above 1500 rpm to hide it and sometimes that does not even help. Now the dealer is insisting that they cannot feel anything and don't want to do anythiing to the car. Over the weekend I test drove 3 other 370z's with 8-10k miles on them and they were all very smooth with no shudder and felt very different. I know all the Z manual transmissions make chattering noises but you should not feel any shaking in the drivetrain. The car is in the dealer now and I getting pretty frustrated with all of this. What does everyone else think?

Call Nissan HQ and complain.

The clutch shudder is VERY normal! There is really nothing you can do other than learn to live with it / work around it. It happens from time to time if you don't slip the clutch just right.

I currently have a case number with them (since early June) on this but I cannot get back in touch with them as none of the regional reps answer their phone they always let it go into voice mail. They also take several days to return calls so we have been playing telephone tag for nearly 2 weeks. The last response on this from Nissan was that they "Cannot Do anything if the dealer says there is not a problem" so I have been going around in circles. I don't know who to escalate it to at this point.

Honestly I feel like you're fighting a losing battle. This happens on all of the MT cars if you don't get the clutch action right. It's been brought up many times before on the boards and it's widely accepted as normal. I'm sure the dealership feels the same way so it's going to be tough to get any sort of warranty service for something that the service dept (and most likely NISSAN) does not think is a problem.

try another dealer and see what they say. And dont mention that you have been to another dealer before.

I would try another dealer first. But if it's a normal chatter, there isn't anything Nissan can do with out having a diagnosed problem documented by the dealer. Another dealer may be able to hear it or feel it, and document it, then nissan will step in to help.

Generally most people on the forum have told me that physical drivetrain shudder (chatter noise yes, shaking no) is not normal and that also is what I have experienced in driving the other used 370's last weekend. None had noticeable shudder.

I can make the clutch shudder AND shake pretty hard if I decide to slip it incorrectly.

If you test drove other 370'z and did not experience this, then there is something wrong. Maybe the clutch pedal needs some adjustments. Good luck, keep us posted.

its normal

Take it to Feldmann

Mine does it from 1st to 2nd. It seams really sensitive between these two gears. I have to release the clutch really slow to make it smooth. I only have 211 miles so I am sure with time the clutch will break in and my foot will learn the feel to make it smooth. Good luck with your issue :hello:

Grab a camera and see if you can record it. It's really difficult to understand what you mean, especially with this transmission. Then at least people can compare it to the way their cars drive. Good luck.

My car is at the dealer now and I'm going in tomorrow morning to drive it with their "master tech" who they say know these transmissions. I will be able to exactly describe what it is doing.

I have to concur with you, mine has the same shutter or chatter feeling in
1st gear also. My 2010 GT500 Shelby had a 10 inch double disc clutch and was like whip cream to engage. I really wanted an AT but couldn't find one optioned with Nav so I purchased the MT. Just going to deal with it, the clutch has a very mechanical feel to it, kinda of old school.

Its just the feel of the car your are getting. Thats whats great about the MT.

After having the tech drive with me he agreed that the shudder in my vehicle is not normal and the dealer is going to install a new clutch under warranty. They were not driving the car to full operating temp. The car needs to be driven for at least 15 minutes for the shudder to show itself at every startup and they only took it around the lot. Here in MN not many of these are sold much less serviced so I had to do my own research and test drive several used 370's to get a comparison.

:tup:

mine definitely shudders

I still don't understand what you mean my shudder. Could you elaborate so people will know what to look for in case we encounter the same issue?

With your new clutch your still going to have chatter. Search the around the forum for similiar threads and you will find out its normal. The 370s you test drove werent broken in most likely so its probably not there yet. It is what it is but best of luck to you

The 370's I drove all had between 8,000 and 10,000 miles on them and no drivetrain shaking. My drivetrain shakes on startup and I want my car to act like the others I drove which don't. I know this clutch is noisy and I don't care about that. I'll just have to wait and see if they can fix it.

GOOD LUCK :tiphat:

Sweet! Glad the dealer was able to experience what you were describing. The Z has a clunky and noisy tranny so a lot of people will not empathize with you.

Update
 

I just picked up my "Z" today from my dealer with a new clutch & flywheel and the difference is amazing. The clutch engagement is super smooth like it is supposed to be and the same as the other 370's I compared it to. The flywheel had several hot spots which apparently caused the shudder. Since the shudder was present ever since I picked up the car with 19 miles it must have happened at the dealer. This was a dealer trade from IL and someone driving it at the original dealership must have burnt the clutch as I was present when my local dealer received it off the truck and was only driven to the garage for prep and wash before I drove it.

What is clutch slip and shudder?

The parking lot attendants in Ferris Bueller's Day Off must have switched job and drove your car. :).

Congrats on your new clutch. Persistence paid for you.

I just got my Z in July with only 9 miles on it and I'm having the same shuttering issue. I'm getting my first oil change today and am going to ask them to look at it.

Fisherg, how is your clutch now after getting some miles on it?

This experience is called clutch "judder," or the violent drivetrain shaking when trying to feather the clutch.

Mine was bad out of the box. One day (16k miles) the CSC failed, and got replaced. The judder nearly went away.

The shudder returned after about 1k miles. It happens only after the drivetrain is warmed up. I suspected something like the CSC as the dealer did not replace that when they replaced the clutch. It's now more of an annoyance than anything. Perhaps I'll get lucky at some point and my csc will fail as well...

Does Nissan use an adjustable clutch quadrant/cable? I thought it was hydraulic? No other clutch is adjustable, not the mustang, 'vette, camaro, or any other factory car I am familiar with.

No adjustments. It's hydraulic.

Part of me thinks this may be caused by improper clutch break-in. Shudder with a new clutch is normal. Shift it hard or otherwise abuse it until it's broken in, and you may have more problems to deal with that won't wear-in.

That's what I figured. Just saw all these people rambling about "adjustment needed" and wondered wtf. In my short database of experience, hydraulic clutches from the factory are self-adjusting for wear and that's it.

I had the dealer look at mine, and they agreed there was a definite problem. They are replacing it sometime this week. Is there anything I should look out for, or make sure they replace? Resurface flywheel?

if you aren't giving enough throttle the clutch will shudder. that is the purpose of the springs on the plate itself. Clutch 101 my friend. It is absolutely normal. Throw just a little bit more throttle in and you'll be a-ok ;)

It probably is a losing battle... but it's the point that Nissan should at least listen to their customers... offer them something... tell them you will try a better clutch fluid, tranny fluid... something that they MIGHT feel make the issue a little better for a car owner so that they come in their doors again when the time comes to get another car.

I have called Nissan myself about the oil temp thing, as well as the airbag light coming on even when my Fiancee is in the car with it. Neither should really be an issue.

With so many companies out there with bad reps with their warranties (Mitsubishi being one I can attest about) Nissan has a chance to outdo their competitors.