Strange acceleration issue - any ideas before I go to the dealership?

dmhenderson · 02-16-2011, 11:14 PM

Hi,
I have a 2009 370z with 9000 miles on it. Recently, I noticed that in 5th/6th gear, I get "acceleration lag" if I stomp on the gas pedal. The engine revs for about a second (feels like the clutch isn't engaged) and then the car will then "catch" and jump forward. The clutch isn't stiff or clunky and this doesn't seem to happen in lower gears.

Ideas? I hesitate to take it to the local dealership because they're extremely shady and have needlessly cost me money in the past. Hoping this isn't a major fix?

I bought the car in August of 09 so it should still be under warranty, right?

Thanks folks.

Red__Zed · 02-16-2011, 11:26 PM

Sounds like your clutch may be slipping, though it is hard to tell based on the description.

dmhenderson · 02-16-2011, 11:27 PM

Yeah that's what it feels like but the car only has 9k miles on it so that seems really unlikely. I guess I'll have the dealership take a look at it and go from there.

Trips · 02-16-2011, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmhenderson

Yeah that's what it feels like but the car only has 9k miles on it so that seems really unlikely. I guess I'll have the dealership take a look at it and go from there.

Only 9k is irrelevant! People have smoke their clutch in a couple hundred miles.
If it's the clutch? Warranty may not cover it as it's a wear and tear item. Good Luck

370Z Purist · 02-16-2011, 11:42 PM

I will assume manual, so yes, that sounds like clutch slip. That's surprising since you're in 5th and 6th. I would get that checked immediately.

dmhenderson · 02-16-2011, 11:52 PM

Yeah it's a manual. Well that's not good.

If the dealership won't cover it under warranty, I'll probably have it done elsewhere since I've heard horror stories of dealerships charging ~2k for a clutch replacement.

90 ST · 02-16-2011, 11:58 PM

you could also go to a different dealership, you don't have to go back to the same one you got the car from.

Red__Zed · 02-17-2011, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmhenderson

Yeah it's a manual. Well that's not good.

If the dealership won't cover it under warranty, I'll probably have it done elsewhere since I've heard horror stories of dealerships charging ~2k for a clutch replacement.

Depends on why the clutch failed. Nissan has goodwilled a lot of clutch replacements on the 370z's, as well.

dmhenderson · 02-17-2011, 12:10 AM

Yeah there's another dealership in the next town over. I'll give them a shot tomorrow after work.

Appreciate the advice.

cheshirecat · 02-17-2011, 12:25 AM

Definitely sounds like clutch slip. It's more likely to happen in higher gears. If it's just worn down from misuse the dealer is going to hook you for the money.

dmhenderson · 02-17-2011, 12:43 AM

Depends on what they quote me. I'll see what the guy says. If he comes back with some ridiculous price, I'll take it to a local import shop and have it done.

jaedub · 02-17-2011, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheshirecat

Definitely sounds like clutch slip. It's more likely to happen in higher gears. If it's just worn down from misuse the dealer is going to hook you for the money.

yeah, its much likely to happen on the lower gears. This happened to my brother s2k. Hopefully its a minor problem

Rooskey · 02-17-2011, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmhenderson

Hi,
I have a 2009 370z with 9000 miles on it. Recently, I noticed that in 5th/6th gear, I get "acceleration lag" if I stomp on the gas pedal. The engine revs for about a second (feels like the clutch isn't engaged) and then the car will then "catch" and jump forward. The clutch isn't stiff or clunky and this doesn't seem to happen in lower gears.

Ideas? I hesitate to take it to the local dealership because they're extremely shady and have needlessly cost me money in the past. Hoping this isn't a major fix?

I bought the car in August of 09 so it should still be under warranty, right?

Thanks folks.

If you do not experience this in lower gears (1st,2nd,3rd) than your clutch is fine. This car is a drive by wire throttle body. The lower the rpm's the more lag you will have. If it grabs hard in the lower gears you have a different probelm

370Z Purist · 02-17-2011, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooskey

If you do not experience this in lower gears (1st,2nd,3rd) than your clutch is fine. This car is a drive by wire throttle body. The lower the rpm's the more lag you will have. If it grabs hard in the lower gears you have a different probelm

He makes it sound like the lag is pretty significant. Drive by wire or not, he's still in a manual tranny car and it should be rather responsive.

spearfish25 · 02-17-2011, 09:54 AM

If the engine revs but the car doesn't surge forward immediately, it's something in the driveline...most likely culprit is the clutch.

02-16-2011, 11:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
dmhenderson A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 5,930 Drives: AWD TT 370z Rep Power: 26	Strange acceleration issue - any ideas before I go to the dealership? Hi, I have a 2009 370z with 9000 miles on it. Recently, I noticed that in 5th/6th gear, I get "acceleration lag" if I stomp on the gas pedal. The engine revs for about a second (feels like the clutch isn't engaged) and then the car will then "catch" and jump forward. The clutch isn't stiff or clunky and this doesn't seem to happen in lower gears. Ideas? I hesitate to take it to the local dealership because they're extremely shady and have needlessly cost me money in the past. Hoping this isn't a major fix? I bought the car in August of 09 so it should still be under warranty, right? Thanks folks.

02-16-2011, 11:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
370Z Purist A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Zion, Illinois Posts: 1,873 Drives: '09 370Z-T BS M6 Rep Power: 19	I will assume manual, so yes, that sounds like clutch slip. That's surprising since you're in 5th and 6th. I would get that checked immediately. __________________ -Phil "Since one of my brake light bulbs just went out, the forum told me that my piston rings are about to blow."

02-17-2011, 09:54 AM	#15 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	If the engine revs but the car doesn't surge forward immediately, it's something in the driveline...most likely culprit is the clutch. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

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02-16-2011, 11:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	Sounds like your clutch may be slipping, though it is hard to tell based on the description.

02-16-2011, 11:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
dmhenderson A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 5,930 Drives: AWD TT 370z Rep Power: 26	Yeah that's what it feels like but the car only has 9k miles on it so that seems really unlikely. I guess I'll have the dealership take a look at it and go from there.

02-16-2011, 11:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
dmhenderson A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 5,930 Drives: AWD TT 370z Rep Power: 26	Yeah it's a manual. Well that's not good. If the dealership won't cover it under warranty, I'll probably have it done elsewhere since I've heard horror stories of dealerships charging ~2k for a clutch replacement.

02-16-2011, 11:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
90 ST A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,861 Drives: 90 and 15 GMC Sierra Rep Power: 421	you could also go to a different dealership, you don't have to go back to the same one you got the car from.

02-17-2011, 12:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
dmhenderson A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 5,930 Drives: AWD TT 370z Rep Power: 26	Yeah there's another dealership in the next town over. I'll give them a shot tomorrow after work. Appreciate the advice.

02-17-2011, 12:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
cheshirecat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 1,428 Drives: N54 135i Rep Power: 292	Definitely sounds like clutch slip. It's more likely to happen in higher gears. If it's just worn down from misuse the dealer is going to hook you for the money.

02-17-2011, 12:43 AM	#11 (permalink)
dmhenderson A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 5,930 Drives: AWD TT 370z Rep Power: 26	Depends on what they quote me. I'll see what the guy says. If he comes back with some ridiculous price, I'll take it to a local import shop and have it done.