Paddle Shift

wstar

Maybe the previous owner spilled Coca-cola in the paddle hinges or something, who knows Maybe try to clean them up and lube them.

If you haven't yet, btw, search elsewhere on the forum to download the Service Manual in PDF. The image below is from section "TM", pg 291:

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Jordo!

Anybody ever decide if this was a good idea that worked?

Have a 7AT? The best $2 mod ever!

I forgot all about it and never tried it.

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ElVee

Thread from the grave sent me over to that mod which is a great idea!

With the one Z I have used the paddles on I was surprised at the effort needed to flick them. Then again, current/previous owners I don't think use them. I'm sure I'd get used to the feel, no matter the resistance, with repeated use.

My automatic Eclipse has "sport" mode which lets me control the gears just like the paddles, and I love it. After about a year of owning the car, I tried it out, and never went back. (I also don't know how to drive manual, but I know when to shift...!)

my2004Z

I have found that keeping the throttle position steady when shifting up or down has a huge impact on how smoothly the automatic reacts to your inputs. Don't approach slow turns in 7th gear or your going to have to wait a few seconds before you can be back in 2nd gear. Some of the issues sound like they are due to driving style and what I would call driver error.

When driving hard I listen to RPMs and feel how much pull I am getting out of the gear. I also try not to shift mid turn as there's enough torque to make you spin out especially if your throttle position is constantly moving. There are a lot of variables that the ECU has to keep track of so the more of them that you keep static while it's working out the shift logic then the better it will perform. Also, low rpm launches are wicked fast in the 7AT once you get the feel for it and keep traction throughout.

blumango

I am so gonna try this!!! Thanks!

venus

So what happens if you red line using the paddles? Does it shift up by itself when you go over? Never driven an auto w/ manual option.

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Naum16

Hey guys I got so much crap for getting a 2009 370z touring SP fully loaded 7AT. I believe the auto is amazing but I mean I don't get it what's so much better I can go into manual mode whenever I want I stead of shifting all the time. I wish there was an auto rev or something but its amazing the way it is. Did I really mess up by getting the 7AT

nmjaxx9

The knob is 10X better then the paddles, and putting it in regular D lets u really rip through the gears.

ElVee

No, you went that way I think it should be, so I'm biased.

But if you love driving manual, or someone else loves driving manual, for that feeling of being connected to the road, the experience, and being a part of a powerful machine, then you'll be inclined towards manuals. Also, people who've driven manuals for a very long time so that they could control shifting and power whenever they want may just not have lived with paddles long enough to fall in love with it.

Either way, you didn't mess up at all. Whatever makes you happy is what matters.

wstar

No, it'll just sit on the rev limiter and bounce off it. The only time it shifts for you in M-mode is it will downshift for you if you let the revs get way too low, as in low enough to lug out the engine, way way underneath the powerband. As long as you're staying on top of things and staying up in the useful RPM range, it acts like a DCT or auto-sequential would.

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venus

On that note, does the engine brake well using compression to slow down like a manual coming to a stop. Hate the coasting of most automatics where man will slow down till it sputteres. I don't use trans to actively brake shifting down but let it assist gently and work it a long w/ brakes. Know what I mean?

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wstar

Yes, the 7AT engine brakes. Mostly, any auto would do so if it were in the right gear, the hard part is making them stay in the right gear.

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Jordo!

At low road speeds, I find anything approaching 1500ish RPM's on coast down or braking is where it likes to automatically down shift. I just flick down as i drop below 1800, and find it to be in the right gear with limited rev matching 90% of the time.

In parking lots or very slow roads (< 30 mph), I usually just keep in in D for ease, otherwise I'm just lumping around in 3rd and dancing between that 2nd and 4th.

It would be nice to turn off the automatic downshift feature, but overall, I'd say the 7AT is a soli 9.5/10 on performance and predictability.

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Wonka2581

Speaking of the 7AT I installed a trans cooler yesterday (ill be doing a DIY) but in the mean time does anyone know where to purchase the fitting for the tranny pan so I can add fluid at home insted of having to go to the dealer?

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wstar

You don't need a "fitting" really, you just need a small-diameter plastic tube (they have rolls of it at hardware stores, buy a few sizes), to stick into the fill hole, and a way to adapt that small-diameter tube to your fluid pump (e.g. using some slightly-larger silicone hose that fits over it snugly or whatever).

The the thing that forces most to the dealer is the temperature issue, because only the dealer can read the official internal temperature of the TCM. Be sure to read up in the service manual about it. You can approximate it with an IR thermo though, details here:

wstar's Journal

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