Sticky: 370Z Transmission Failures (6MT)

DIGItonium

The dealer knows my driving habits, and that it's a daily. They were able to convince NNA synchro issues was not because of the turbos. The 2nd one was notchy in 5th after a few weeks. Then the 3rd one has been great since. It shifts so nicely.

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SurfDog

My 5th synchro failed during some open-lap day tracking at 38k miles. I try to shift easy without hammering the synchros too much, but am the 2nd owner.( maybe the first owner wasn't so kind). No rev matching or easing the shift would prevent a 5th gear grind (up or down). The new box feels great, but I suppose I have to consider the synchros a wear item, even though I really baby them, even on the track...

I have a factory preowned drive-train warranty to 100 k though, so Nissan dropped a new one in for me. I'll see how this one holds up.

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09 6spd Berk CBE, JWT cams, ZSpeed CSC, Stillen (25 row oil, brake cooling, sways, gen3 CAI), Passport (9500ci), Quaife LSD, Z1 400 hp kit, ss lines, pads, rotors, clutch etc, Phunk's pan and fuel starve fix

americana111

After 2 TT 300Z's, 93 RX-7, 2 NSX's, a C-5 Vette, and a 2006 G35 Sport, my current 370Z (2012) has finally turned me off to Manual shifting transmissions. I'm thinking that because they have become somewhat of a "niche" item (autos are so much more popular) the auto manufacturers are not throwing the same amount of engineering to the manual transmission as they do to other of the performance items in the vehicle. Here I thought that because of the rev matching feature, Nissan was still putting a lot of interest to the transmission of this one model. However, it is clearly the weakest link in an otherwise stellar package (for the price.) I don't know about the transmission itself, but the actuation, feel, etc, lets this car down. Really should have gone with the 7 speeder for this one!

7speed

The shifter feels great, I think your talking about the clutch feel? Just research clutch helper spring.............

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09 370z 6spd traded 1/12/15 for 15 Challenger RT 6spd

UNISYN

I know this is an older thread, but that doesn't stop the transmission failures. My 2009 6MT (with 73.5K miles) started failing a couple months ago and I finally found the time to get it replaced. Bill Ray Nissan in Longwood, FL is waiting for a new transmission from Arizona, so it will be a few days. The 1st thru 2nd gear synchro failed (inop) forcing me to go from 1st straight to 3rd. I cannot downshift into 2nd or 1st. Additionally, a whine in the transmission developed and is only noticeable when the accelerator is pressed. The faster the vehicle is traveling, the louder and more annoying the sound is. So it was confirmed that the 6MT needs to be replaced, which would normally cost over $3K. My "The Mechanic" extended warranty (silver level) covers the transmission replacement and a couple days worth of a loaner car from Nissan.

I'm definitely looking forward to this transmission replacement. I have 10 more months or about 15K more miles on my extended warranty, so I hope whatever is going to break does it within that time frame.

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2009 Black M/T 370Z w/ Sport Package
Power Utilities Designer
Keyboard Music Producer ("UNISYN")

Nixin

I wonder if the rev match feature has anything to do with the manual trans/CSC failures that have been plaguing the 370Z?

ZOperaMan

I had the 3rd-gear grinding transmission for my (non-rev match) '09 replaced under warranty, but the new transmission quickly developed the same problem with the 5th-gear. I haven't found anyone willing and able (yet) to rebuild with better parts, so just have to live with it.

Hope your replacement fares better. --ZOM

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UNISYN

I don't think that's what is causing it. I don't know if this was a good elimination test, but I turned off my rev-matching feature temporarily and found it did not help. From what I have read in the past, the synchro for 1st and 2nd gear is weaker than the other synchros. However, I did have to have my CSC replaced last year at a whopping $750 (it would of cost even more at the dealership). However, my synchros were working fine then. I just hope these replacements last.

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2009 Black M/T 370Z w/ Sport Package
Power Utilities Designer
Keyboard Music Producer ("UNISYN")

Nixin

That is absolutely crazy. Nissan knows that they/we are having widespread issues with this transmission and the components and nothing has been done by them to do a recall or a TSB so that we are not paying through the nose once warranty is up. F*ckers!

UNISYN

Well, after the Nissan Dealer waited for the extended warranty company ("The Mechanic") to send an inspector to find out why my car was making a whining noise after the transmission was replaced, the replacement of my rear differential was approved. I was initially told that the driveshaft bearing could be causing it, but apparently it was the rear differential. So I will have a new transmission AND a new differential in the car at the end of the week. Fortunately the warranty company is paying for nearly two weeks of Nissan's rental vehicle, which is a Nissan Rouge. I cannot wait to get the vehicle back. It's a 2009 with less than 75K miles, so I am very happy that I will have a new powertrain to extend the life of the vehicle.

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2009 Black M/T 370Z w/ Sport Package
Power Utilities Designer
Keyboard Music Producer ("UNISYN")

Wilson2608

Mine wont engage from 1st to 2nd at high rpm sometimes. It's a hit or miss really. 6th gear always grinds unless I baby it into gear.

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Stillen G3, z1 Intake Manifold, Stillen Headers, Z1 HFC's, Stillen Catback. 330whp 267 ft- lbs tuned at Z1 motorsports.

UNISYN

It definitely sounds like the synchros are going out. I don't know if a fluid change would help that. I would check to see if it's covered by warranty because I can only imagine it getting worse.

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2009 Black M/T 370Z w/ Sport Package
Power Utilities Designer
Keyboard Music Producer ("UNISYN")

ZOperaMan

Watching this and the other thread:
Built Manual Transmission

Has anyone out there found a good source for rebuilt manual transmissions with sketchy syncros? Preferably Houston area...

--ZOM

Ronin06

I have driven manuals most of my life. I tend to baby my car, no track time. Now that I have about 45k on the car it's starting to grind now and then going to 2nd. I believe it's the synchro.

While I fully intend to upgrade the clutch, lines, etc. I had not planned on tearing the transmission apart to fix the sync issue. Looks like some Nissan transmissions have a defect or a poor design.

Spooler

Did you change the tranny fluid at 30k?