New owner. 2nd gear issues.
 

Hey guys,
I just got my Z last week and I am having trouble with 2nd gear shifting. Ive found the engagement point on the clutch finally but second usually feels "sticky" and I can feel the gears binding before the stick will seat into second. After driving with Nissans mechanic; he said I wasnt getting the rpms high enough. I usually shift around 2k-2.5k on daily driving. What do you guys generally shift at? Tips?

Also, do any of you guys notice the shifter "floating" when its seated in gear. I notice like an 1/8" to a 1/4" movement on the stick when I accelerate and release the gas.

Thanks.

Congrats on your Z!

I agree with the service guy. Shifting from 1st to 2nd at 3k rpms or higher helps make the transition smoother.

Yes, there is movement in the shifter. I'm guessing that's normal, especially on acceleration/deceleration.

hello, professordave! :tup:


yah, as professordave mentioned, you have to rev up to 8K rpm each time to get a smooth shift.

Yeah the movement on the shifter is pretty normal. It was like that on the 350Z too.

lots of people have similar trouble with the 1-2 shift when first getting the car. check out this thread:

http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...er-spring.html

does the 350Z have the same gearbox as the G35C? if so, the 370Z's gearbox is hell smoother. even more smootherest once you get a twm type-r biggie knob. :tup:

i have the regular type-r twm on my G, with raised height by about 1" from stock. shifts smooth.

All this time I have been doing it wrong...

@Drex: thanks for the link. Very informative.

I just removed the helper spring and it fixed a lot of the "issues" I was having - didn't have to order anything.

Still, there's some herky-jerky stuff going on if you shift sub-3,000rpm. Above 4,000rpm it's quite a bit smoother.

8k daily shifts. Lol.

The transmission is very similar to the CD009 tranny from the 350z. Not sure how that correlates to the G35.

The gearbox on the 370 is pretty "mechanical" feeling, but it's bulletproof in regard to holding power.

Of course, the clutch system leaves a little to be desired.

As a guy who has owned a 370 for about a month myself, I had alot of problems with 2nd gear as well. I bring 1st to about 3.5-4k now. Problem solved. Our car does not like low RPM in any gear, but especially 2nd. Rev that sucker up.

Is it brand new? The gearbox will be notchy for awhile, and but should improve after a few weeks of driving. I shift under 3k RPM as well, and it's nice. One thing to consider is switching out the gearbox fluids with Redline.

DIGItonium: Its a 2010 with just under 22k miles.

I hated my OEM clutch so I put in a JWT clutch/flywheel.(Sooooooo much better) Now my clutch feels like a clutch should, but I still need to get her up to 4k RPM for the shift to feel good and smooth. Its my DD but i still get on her... Apparently the Z likes it a bit rough.

no problem. see also this thread for someone who is selling replacement springs:

http://www.the370z.com/drivetrain-en...n-72577-a.html

My Z does the same thing when driving slow/shifting at a low RPM. I've found the best spot to shift into 2nd is around 3-3.5k RPM.

I'm quickly learning there's lots of mechanical sounds with this trans. Take off in first at a low RPM and it sounds like it's going to fall apart.

I shift at 2k rpm no problem, I think many of you are shifting too quickly. With the 370Z, you have to pause for the 1-2 shift. And I really mean pause and take your time. The lower the rpm the more critical this.

I agree with the above.

Somebody on the board has said (and I totally agree): drive fast shift fast, drive slow shift slow. It works.

This is true. When shifting at low RPM it's best to shift slow and deliberately. If you let it it rev up a little (4,000 RPM or so) it feels quite a bit slicker.

My 2 cents, speaking with one of the few sales man that showed me a Z once (and let me test-push it a little), he stated that you should always rev up +3.5k to shift, especially lower gears. He was saying "like the Porsche..."

:facepalm:

:iagree: with all three above. You'll get the feel after a little while.

On a different gear... I pulled my arm muscle earlier today trying to get in reverse. It won't go in at all. I had to shift to some other gear, then I was able to get in. Lately reverse has been a bit stubborn. It hasn't even been a year with this new transmission.

that's pretty normal. i usually double or triple clutch into reverse and if that doesn't work i let the car roll a few inches forward in 1st, then shift into reverse. just dont force it. another way is to park the car in reverse. then the collar is already lined up when you're ready to back out.

same goes for 1st gear at a stop. sometimes (doesnt matter 370Z or any other MT car) does not go into 1st. so wat i do is while the car is still rolling for the stop, i shift into 1st gate breifly (no need to clutch out), and then into neutral and clutch out while i wait for the light. the collar is lined up so the next time you shift into 1st, it goes in the first try. :)

a little trick i found along the way.

That's only because you've gained muscle after a few weeks of driving.:icon17:

:iagree:

Agreed... happens with the 350Z as well.

I don't know what you're talking about. My arm is just fine. See below. :tiphat:
http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...a/quagmire.jpg

You must have a RHD 370Z...

That or we've identified the problem.