First gear help / tips ?
 

ok guys, i got my 2014 Z last night and it has like 250 miles on it. first gear is the only problem. i get the car moving sometimes and sometimes i end up stalling. the engagement point is kinda high. i been reading some forums and it says rev it up to 1.5k - 2k and let off the clutch slowly. every other gear and downshifting i am perfectly comfortable, just first gear.
I'm going to keep practicing around my block.

my friends told me the clutch has to settle in since its a brand new car but still. only thing bothering my is first gear.

any product out there to make the engagement point a bit lower and smoother ?

rjm clutch pedal system ?
or
removing the helper spring ?

You've had it a day. All you need is practice.

yeah you're right, it can be a bit frustrating, going to keep practicing tomorrow.

I highly suggest to wait till you feel real comfortable with the car before you start modding it.

I presume this is your first sports car and I highly suggest to take it easy and never for the time being turn off the vdc.

Your safety is important as if you follow directions you will avoid an accident with an innocent person whom might be one our family members.

i never turn vdc off, and i drive normal, not race mode, i want to get the hang of this car / manual transmission. I'm going to keep practicing around my block or empty parking lot till i get used this clutch.

Everybody has trouble with 1st gear when first learning manual. That is the only difficult part about it. You need to find the sweet spot, basically the point where the clutch grabs. You should go to an empty parking lot, put it in gear, and without even touching the gas, just slowly let off the clutch pedal till you feel the car moving... do that a bunch of times so you'll learn where the engagement point is on the pedal. Muscle memory my friend... practice makes perfect.

plan on doing that tom, i was doing that, but i just need more practice and ill get it.

Y r u still posting then? Go and practice, thats what i did and also commute in stop n go traffic, u know how it is, ur from NY.

I have been driving manual for years and when I got the 370z first gear was taunting me, now its like an old friend.

Try wearing the same shoes when you drive it will help you with finding the engagement point.

You need more seat time to get used to the car.

Enjoy it!!

You have to get used to it. Before I got mine I stalled every 370z I drove lol the dual mass flywheel realy numbs the feel of the engagement point

You'll get the hang of it. The Z is not comfortable shifting when new it feels tight and I occasionally miss engage a gear. Thanks for the synchro rev it did not jolt the car that hard and make me look like an amateur.

The beauty about the Z as you go along past 2k miles things getting better and better faster and faster! The next thing you notice is that grin on your face evertime!

Recommend the spring change at some point... tons better than stock.

:iagree::iagree:

Just give it some time and be patient. Oh and like Chuck said, practice, practice and practice!!!:tup:

When I first was learning manual I practiced on a small inclined hill to get the feel of the clutch...1st gear is the hardest, after that its a piece of cake. Practice makes perfect :D

Go to an empty parking lot. One with no poles or parking blocks. Park in a space with another one behind it on the next row. Reverse into it. Stop. Drive forward into the original spot. Stop. Repeat until you get a feel for first and reverse.

:iagree:

Practice taking off without gas, yes clutch only, 1-2-3 gear
Also, when driving, press the clutch only 1/2 way, rather than until you hit the floor

Why? A beginner should always be taught to push the pedal all the way to the floor. His syncros will thank him later.

That's always what I thought too. Get to where it's second nature, and then figure out how little clutch pedal travel you can use and still shift smoothly.

Clutch is fully engaged 1/2 way, but mainly - the Z engages extremely high. Try it in your car and you will thank me. On my M Car, it is the complete opposite, if you don't press it all the way down, you will leave the transmission behind you. I tend the stall the BMW at times, since the Z is my DD

I've been driving manuals for a little while now, thanks. For a beginner, he should be going to the floor with the pedal. I understand that the engagment point is about half way, but if he isn't in the sweet spot, he is going to be putting stress on the syncros. "Can't find it, grind it".

*OP, I forgot to mention, always keep your left foot on the dead pedal until you are ready to shift.

For me,I rest my heel on the floor and use the top of my foot to feather the clutch out. Probably helps that I have size 13 feet!:tup:
Just lots of practice man. Enjoy your new whip. :driving:

Dead pedal or resting your foot on the floor is fine. Just trying to emphasize to OP that you don't want to rest your foot on the clutch pedal while driving. You can wear out the clutch real quick that way.

I usually let off the clutch until I feel the vibration/grab point in first then start gassing. It's a slower launch but atleast you get familiar with the engage point. Take it to a small incline and practice using the clutch and gas to practice standing still without braking once you are comfortable.

As others mentioned just take your time.

Go out and practice without using the fuel pedal. 1-2-3, then stop and do over. After you get the hang of that, then add the fuel peddle into it. Don't cheat.


Yes, mash the clutch pedal to the floor being a newbie.

LMFAOOO you've been hosting a roast session these couple of days

I like it:bowrofl:

Yeah i know i tried too keep it in, cuz Trips the moderator has deleted quite a few of my posts, that did have some heavy sarcasm in it, but hey as long as we have fun right.

Get the RPM at about 7.5k and dump the clutch

The 350Z had an adjustment located up under the dash on the clutch pedal that would allow you to adjust the catch point higher or lower. I don't know if the 370Z is set up the same but considering your car is so new I wouldn't go messing with that just yet, see if you can get used to it first. If it stays the same do a search for 350Z clutch pedal adjustment and see if the set up is the same on the 370Z and try it.

You'll get use to the clutch. When I first got the car, I thought it had a low engagement point, but when I took the advice of another forum member and practiced w/o using the gas and only using clutch, I've found where the engagement point is. It takes time to get use to, but it will eventually come. This car is not easy to drive.

You guys should drive a 300zxtt car with the vacuum assisted clutch. That was different but a joy to drive. Pump the pedal several times when the car is off and you find out real quick how heavy/stiff that pressure plate was.

Don't be an idiot like me and wait YEARS with this car to try out the "clutch helper spring". So worth it!!!!

Get that spring and keep practicing! I bought my Z 3 years ago when I was 18 and had never driven a manual vehicle. Had to learn on it, that was fun! :ugh2:

I'm so old I actually learned to drive a stick in a 1964 Pontiac GTO. I swear there was one intersection in town where it was impossible not to spin the tires in 1st gear. I think the clutch and gearbox must have come from a GMC truck or something. In comparison even the quirky Z clutch is a piece of cake.

If anyone wants a free aftermarket helper spring in NC drop by my place and it's yours. I upgraded to RJM.

Guys, my apologies for the earlier advice on using only 1/2 of the clutch pedal, I was wrong ... you actually only need 3/8 haha, I swear, suddenly the Z has the best shifting ever!!!

Hoping mine arrives today! Been dying to change it in my cold garage :rofl2:

You guys are over thinking the process. I have been driving MT cars since I learned to drive offroad in a dunebuggy in 1968. Every one of them has been different. When I picked up my 370 I hadn't even test driven one. I got in the car, thought WTF kind of clutch is this ? and by about the time I had driven a mile to the freeway onramp and gone through a few stop signs and lights I had it mastered.
I'll bet most of you can text and walk at the same time and tie your own shoes, driving an MT isn't all that complicated one you get a little muscle memory going on.

Just ******* drive it geez be a man

Go to an empty parking lot that is on level ground. Without touching the throttle, start the car moving by releasing the clutch in first gear. Eventually, you will find the friction point and your first gear launches will become smooth and you'll be able to coordinate with the throttle. Do the same for reverse gear. Takes a little practice. I too have been driving manual rwd and fwd cars for more years than I care to admit. The 370Z took a little practice but once you master it it's as easy to launch as any other vehicle. Gear changes are a bit notchy and this is not a "speed shift" transmission. But it's easy to drive smooth once you get the hang of it.