Notchy 3rd and 5th Gears Manual Transmission

Master_Ly

Well, I just finished visiting my local Nissan dealership's service shop. I went in and explained to them my symptoms. When I drive, the transition going into 2nd gear seems a little notchy but I usually can get passed it but when I go into 5th, it would be very definite in feeling notchy. Sometimes it would even grind a little bit. This experience just throws off the shifting process off balance. With the car turned off, sitting on the passenger side and leaning out of the car with the door open, it didn't have a smooth transition sound when going through gears. It would go through the gears but I just would hear a "clink", not like a sound you would hear when fitted or seated seamlessly. But when I shift slow into 5th, not casually, it goes in fine. When I'm in gear, any gear, it runs like a champ.

Anyway, they dealership spent over an hour diagnosing the car and they narrowed it down to the synchros. They said they couldn't do this particular repair (it sounded like it was location specific) so they just ordered a whole new tranny. I guess I will be having a new tranny with 0 miles in the next couple of weeks or so.

If anyone has had a similar experience, please post up. I like to know what you had to go through. I've only driven manuals for over a decade now and what's interesting was that I once upon a time owned a boosted RSX Type S and I had to go through the same ordeal with a TSB on the double synchro.

Also, I'm thinking since it's going to be apart now, I might as well see if they would be willing to go ahead and install aftermarket clutch kit, lighter flywheel, and short shifter. I'm willing to take any recommendations as for I've only had experience with ACT products. I'd like to do the work myself but this is a rare opportunity for Nissan paid labor costs. But I'm just not sure how this will impact my warranty though considering I have two years left. I'm aware of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act but I'll have to research further on this. Any thoughts on this as well I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

Z34 LDYINRED

Im having the same problem accept mine is when im going into 6th just like you said if you shift slow its fine but shifting normal it kinda makes a grinding noise. I need to get mine to a dealership ASAP.

Joebarchuck

I am having somewhat a similar problem but my transmission is just 859 miles. The clutch is a bit sticky for my taste. I am taking it tomorrow to the dealer to check out what it might be.

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DIGItonium

I had similar issues with gears being notchy, but it takes more than 1k miles for things to get a bit more smooth. Aside from clutch issue, my gear box at 16k miles hasn't been an issue. In my '03 350Z, I had the transmission replaced at 21k miles when the gears started grinding non-stop.

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Master_Ly

I'm to be picking up my car tomorrow. I dropped it off this past Wednesday right before they were closing and they called and told me it was done Friday afternoon.

I decided to not get any aftermarket parts installed. There have been some major recent developments in my professional career this past week so I don't need to have more expenditure on my car aside from making the payments. Plus, having zero jeopardy on voiding the warranty will give me peace of mind that I need at this point in time.

I'll report back once I pick up my car. Also, my car has about 11.5K miles.

Master_Ly

I got my car back yesterday evening from the dealership and it seems to shift much better now. I asked if there were any break-in procedures and they advised no. I'm still going to take it easy for a little bit but I did make sure the SynchroRev and everything else worked as expected.

They gave me a Nissan Versa hatchback and, man, it feels good to be back in the Z. but I did have four people in the car at once which was kind of weird feeling, haha.

They did discover some stuff that was not so good but the paperwork is at home. I'll give the details verbatim after work.

lovethe370z

Waiting

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ClemsonWill

My tranny seems to be a bit notchy too. Specifically down shifting into 2nd gear. No grinding or anything just kind of slow to synch up and fall in to gear. My car only has 550 miles so I'm going to give it some time and see if it feels better. Otherwise I'm headed back to the dealer as well.

I'm interested to read what else they found.

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Master_Ly

My bad on the delay. Work has been busy.

Here is what it said verbatim: "metal in fluid called techline and spoke to NAME verified concern and checked for metal in fluid - verified metal in fluid and replaced transmission." From what I could remember, I think I briefly saw the bill being around $3K. But I obviously paid nothing!

Also, I originally stated my miles incorrectly. It's more around 12K.

Dembflyr

I had my transmission replaced at 6000 miles for a grind from fifth to sixth. The new one is not much better. I have noticed a slight grind going from second to third but only at lower rpm's. At higher rpm's it seems ok.
Wouldn't bad synchro's cause it to grind at higher rpm's then lower?
I know that this transmission is not known to be very smooth but I think it should be better than it is.
I have put 2000 miles on the new one and it hasn't gotten worse.
How much difference would you say you noticed from the old one to the new one. 1 to 5. 1 being no difference and 5 being a totally different feel?
I would say that mine is a 1. The smoothness of the shifting didn't change at all.

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Master_Ly

I would say base on your scale, I would give it a 3. When I slide it from say 2nd to 3rd, it goes in and it sort of feels like the synchro "naturally grabs" the gears to sync. The biggest difference is no gear grinds, regardless how low or high my RPM is and with or without SynchroRev. I've tested it through all. It also still has that stiffness feel like when I first bought the car. The best I can describe this is when it engages a gear, it feels like something sliding into place and locking in. It kind of has like that "click/clink" feel and as like the sound when you shift and hear with the engine shut off.

I didn't want to give it a 4 or 5 because it still retained the same characteristics when shifting through all of the gears under normal driving conditions. But not like a 1 or 2 because I'm no longer experiencing the extra harsh notchy-ness and periodical grinding in specific gears (3rd and 5th), beyond the "known not to be very smooth" operation as you had mentioned which is my understanding too.

If you are still experiencing "the beyond" as I did before my tranny replacement, especially with gears still grinding, I would have it diagnosed again by the dealership with no worries if you have warranty and just rack miles on a loaner vehicle. It definitely shouldn't be grinding at all though, assuming it's no fault in your shifting method.

I hope this helps shed some light further on what I'm experiencing!

Endgame

what do you mean by grind? sometimes mine will 'crunch' while going into gear, other times it seems to slide right in no problem...

Mandingo

Mine will crunch going into any gear but only occasionally. It happens both while shifting slowly and while going or the gold.

Also, it occasionally won't go into 1st gear after sitting at a light which is embarrassing. My last two cars did this too but less often (330Ci and Mazda3)

Master_Ly

Maybe another way to describe it is like when someone drives a manual for the first time and they release the clutch prematurely before completely pushing the shifter into a new gear. It's not as bad as this, maybe like 25% of this kind of "bad," haha. I hope this helps.

UPDATE: My Z is almost at 15K miles and the tranny is still shifting smooth as silk.

Nismoracer

I don't have any grinding noises but going into 2nd and 3rd is a bit notchy. Going into 2nd it feels like the clutch is not disengaging all the way or something. I will double clutch and then its smooth. 3rd is just notchy period. Does this mean its early signs of a tranny problem?