Scary - should I be concerned?

dbrs0821

Again, I totally dig this site. Have learned a ton of info since getting my 370 back in December. A little background, first:

370z touring 6MT, 2800 miles. Leased it two months ago with 490 miles on the odometer- wanted a new one, but it was the last '09 and I got a sweet deal.

Came from an '09 Maxima so I realize this car is a different animal...literally

When I first got the Z, I noticed that the shifts were really rough between 1st and 2nd, but no other gears...something I've read about in a few other posts here on the site. Having said that, I think a combination of time/break-in and just learning better synchronization of the clutch/gas has helped it get better. I also experience clutch clatter...again, was told it was normal. For both of these issues, I took it to the dealership (twice) and finally had a "master mechanic" ride with me and also drive the car. He said that noises and shifting harshness were both related to the design of the car and that I had no reason to worry. In other words, "they all do it", according to him.

So, for about the last month I've been problem and concern free. Until last night... I got into the car after it sat at work all day (about 10 hours). As I was backing up, I smelled a distinct odor of electricity coming from the vents. This wasn't coolant, oil, etc....it was electrical. After about 45 secs, the smell went away. I had turned the car off and began walking around, checking under the hood, the fuse box, etc. NOTHING. No sign of anything weird at all. I sat in the car for a few mins and then started it up and there was no smell so I began to drive home.

After doing some googling, I came across a post in an Infiniti forum where a guy had the exact same problem with an EX35. Electrical smell coming from the vents.

I got up this morning and ran some errands all over town with no smells, etc. Also, went ahead and took it to the dealer and got the first oil change ('cuz it was free) and they said not to worry about it.

At first, I thought I was being a little bit paranoid but with the smell of electricity, I feel like I should be concerned. As we all know, I'm at the mercy of it doing it again and it doing it for the Nissan mechanics. ARGH.

I knew the car had been used for test drives, etc. If the price hadn't have been so attractive, I would have passed for a model with no miles. I also just learned that it was on the lot for like 9 months. Again, wouldn't have bought it if I had known that up front.

I'm in Dallas, so I've ruled out the possibility of it being road salt burning against my catalytic converter, etc., as I have read about being the cause in some of the other forums. But, was ice/sleet here several weeks ago and many of the roads still have some traces of the sand, etc. But, I know this was electrical. Period.

Has anyone else experienced this smell? Is it possible that this could've been a "normal" (which I have a hard time believing), one-time occurrance?

I only ask because you guys know a lot more about these cars since I'm a fairly new, first time Z owner.

Thanks for reading the long post. Look forward to hearing your thoughts...