Clutch Slip?
 

I've been noticing when I have the car in third gear or less (manual Nismo) and press the gas hard the revs go up and down and the car shakes for a second. I thought this was the TCS at first as the traction light will often come on but I tried this with the TCS off and it still does it. Its a shake similar to when you release the clutch too quickly as if the clutch were bouncing. It this normal for this car or do I have a clutch issue?

How many miles on the car?

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At what rpm does this happen? To see if the clutch is slipping, put it in 5th and floor it at low rpm. If the rpm shot up without corresponding acceleration, the clutch is on its way out.

The car has less than 13000 miles, but it did this since it was new. If I floor it in a higher gear it accelerates normally. I would say it happens at about 3000 RPM and higher. If I'm just maintaining speed in third at 3000 RPM and step on the gas the car will shake back and forth two or three times then accelerate normally. If TCS is activated the traction light will also come on, but the tires are not slipping in most cases. Literally feels like how the clutch bounces for a bit if you take your foot off quickly at the wrong RPM while things syncs up in the transmission. Which from what I understand has to do with additional guide spring in the clutch mechanism. Almost feels like the sudden torque is causing the clutch to skip a few times like a stone along pond water.

I think you have something else going on. A slipping clutch doesn't shake the car. Almost sounds like a bad misfire or bad motor mounts. Anything driveline related would happen at all engine speeds, not just 3000 rpm as your car is doing. Have you owned the car since new? Have you done any mods, been in any accidents, or had any major service at any time? Has the car ever been in a flood or suffered any other type of damage? Are you throwing any CEL lights when this happens?

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Yes I have had it since new. There have been no accidents floods or mods done to the car. I really don't think it is an engine issue. It's literally the same shake you get when you let out the clutch at the wrong time. That springy back and forth motion every manual 370Z driver feels on a regular basis that did not remove their clutch pedal guide spring.

I assume if you push in the clutch and rev the engine in neutral you don't get any shake? Are you getting any CEL lights when it happens? (Even if they immediately shut off afterwards)

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I just re-read your post. You say the traction light comes on but you're not spinning. Have you recently purchased new tires, had a tire repaired, or bought new rims?

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Other question, have you had any electrical work done? Radio, new lights, speakers, etc?

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No new tires, no electrical work. Engine revs fine in neutral, no lights other than the traction light.

Well something is triggering your traction control if the light is coming on. Does it happen in any other gear or only 3rd? Is it worse in the lower gears?

Humor me please, check your tire wear. Are your rears a lot more worn than the fronts? You say you are on the OE tires and you are at 13k miles so they should be pretty worn by now anyway. I want to make sure that they are wearing evenly. If not, that might trigger the T/C light.

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I don't know about the shake but your TCS coming on under heavy acceleration could be your brake fluid level is a little low maybe?
Had that happen to me but my car has 50K miles and the pads were worn down just enough to cause the fluid sensor to trip under acceleration. It's touchy.

Good luck finding your problem.

lp

I think you are bouncing off the engine and tranny mounts. Smooth out your throttle input.

Kenchan that is a good observation. It only happens on abrupt throttle input. The Corvettes I've had in the past would just go when you hit the throttle but they were automatics. Was wondering if what I am experiencing is normal. The tires are not a factor since they are all in good shape and this also happened when it was new.

yah, that happens on my other MT cars if it's abrupt input.
AT cars usually dont have that because of the torque converters (slip) maybe?

go 25mph and floor it exponentially in 4th. if there's no slip, your clutch is fine.