Drivetrain CLUNK during Low speed Acceleration is this normal? (youtube video)

GonGo · 01-03-2011, 10:55 AM

Hi, i'm experiencing a sound on the rear of the car during low speed acceleration driving 15mph or lower, it feels like there some play between the engine - drive-shaft - differential. I have visited two dealers and both dismissed it as normal. I have a friend with a 370z and he has never noticed on his car and did right away when we tested mine.

I have an schedule check with the warranty claims guy this week, i'm not sure how successful will that be. Does anyone has a drive train as noisy as mine?

YouTube - 370z low speed drivetrain clunk

This was recorded using an iphone, please turn your volume up!

CCastro · 01-03-2011, 11:41 AM

sounds like ur accelerating and hitting the clutch right away abruptly to me... i can reproduce that sound if i wanted to, but i dont drive like that. Try slowing letting off the gas and and then getting on the clutch

GonGo · 01-03-2011, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCastro

sounds like ur accelerating and hitting the clutch right away abruptly to me... i can reproduce that sound if i wanted to, but i dont drive like that. Try slowing letting off the gas and and then getting on the clutch

The thing is i'm not hitting the clutch at all, Just driving 5mph then accelerating until 10mph.

ChrisSlicks · 01-03-2011, 12:25 PM

One of the diff mounts possibly has come loose? Years ago I also had a car with a bad diff that would do that, can also be a bad CV joint in the half shaft.

Did the dealer even look at it?

GonGo · 01-03-2011, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

One of the diff mounts possibly has come loose? Years ago I also had a car with a bad diff that would do that, can also be a bad CV joint in the half shaft.

Did the dealer even look at it?

One dealer claimed to had looked at it and then told me it was normal, i have re-visited this dealer and also verified with another dealer and the result was the same. I have an scheduled check with the warranty claims officer from nissan tomorrow. I have 31k miles and haven't noticed it before I hit 30k... a friend of mine also an 370z owner hasn't noticed it on his, it has 14k on the odometer.

If it doesn't go well with nissan, i'l have to go to an real mechanic to get this checked and to install FINALLY my berk HFC's.

ChrisSlicks · 01-03-2011, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GonGo

One dealer claimed to had looked at it and then told me it was normal, i have re-visited this dealer and also verified with another dealer and the result was the same. I have an scheduled check with the warranty claims officer from nissan tomorrow. I have 31k miles and haven't noticed it before I hit 30k... a friend of mine also an 370z owner hasn't noticed it on his, it has 14k on the odometer.

Definitely doesn't sound normal, does it have a feel to it as well? I.e. does there feel like there is any slack in the drive-train?

Quote:

Originally Posted by GonGo

If it doesn't go well with nissan, i'l have to go to an real mechanic to get this checked and to install FINALLY my berk HFC's.

One tip for doing these that made it so much easier. Completely remove the drivers side air intake filter box. There is only one bolt that holds it in place (disconnect the intake hose obviously) and then it just pulls right out. If you do this then you have a completely straight path to the dreaded demon bolt which means you can just use about 36 inches of extensions and don't need a universal joint in the middle.

Grunj · 03-21-2011, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCastro

sounds like ur accelerating and hitting the clutch right away abruptly to me... i can reproduce that sound if i wanted to, but i dont drive like that. Try slowing letting off the gas and and then getting on the clutch

So that's normal and nothing to be worried about? I'm definitely having the above issue when I disengage the clutch from 1st to 2nd and less so from 2nd to 3rd. You can hear that it kind of has an echo to it. Just got the car this week ('09 with 5000 miles). Admittedly, I'm still getting used to the clutch and especially how the RPMs like to stay high and come down slow when you push in the clutch and are off the gas. And as you can see/hear, letting off the gas doesn't alleviate the problem. YouTube - 370Z clutch THUMP Thump thump.

Gunzero · 03-21-2011, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grunj

So that's normal and nothing to be worried about? I'm definitely having the above issue when I disengage the clutch from 1st to 2nd and less so from 2nd to 3rd. You can hear that it kind of has an echo to it. Just got the car this week ('09 with 5000 miles). Admittedly, I'm still getting used to the clutch and especially how the RPMs like to stay high and come down slow when you push in the clutch and are off the gas. And as you can see/hear, letting off the gas doesn't alleviate the problem. YouTube - 370Z clutch THUMP Thump thump.

That's not normal.
What RPM are you shifting @?

Boost_lee · 03-21-2011, 11:45 PM

Im getting a clunking noise also, its usually in first gr or reverse. And it happens when completely off the clutch. I cant pinpoint where the sound is coming from, but I checked the front end and exhaust, both seem fine. I'm going to check the rear axle nuts next week, hoping its something easy...

Grunj · 03-22-2011, 12:45 PM

Gunzero,

I'm shifting right around 3-4000 RPM. Thanks!

Gunzero · 03-22-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grunj

Gunzero,

I'm shifting right around 3-4000 RPM. Thanks!

It shouldn't sound that way then.. I don't know what the problem is. Perhaps, a bad clutch. You're welcome

I'll try to post a video of the way my clutch sounds. TTYL

Gunzero · 03-22-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boost_lee

Im getting a clunking noise also, its usually in first gr or reverse. And it happens when completely off the clutch. I cant pinpoint where the sound is coming from, but I checked the front end and exhaust, both seem fine. I'm going to check the rear axle nuts next week, hoping its something easy...

What does it sound like?

GonGo · 01-18-2011, 06:30 AM

FIXED!... Nissan local rep had to step in, they said they worked on the right cv joint. Finally clunk free!.

ChrisSlicks you were spot on, figured out from a youtube video, had to go to the local dealer 5 times for them to figure this out. Rep!

ChrisSlicks · 01-18-2011, 06:36 AM

Cool man. Can't believe that the dealer was so ignorant on the problem.

Unclemeaty · 03-22-2011, 02:21 PM

I second; everyone should check your rear axle nut on the driver's side. 2009 370z did not use a locking sleeve over the axle nut like 2010 and 2011 model Zs, and this can cause the axle nut to loosen up about 2-4 turns before being stopped by the cotter pin. Threadlock, a 1.25" deep socket, and a proper torque wrench should do the trick.

01-03-2011, 10:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
GonGo Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 80 Drives: 2009 370z PW M6 Rep Power: 17	Drivetrain CLUNK during Low speed Acceleration is this normal? (youtube video) Hi, i'm experiencing a sound on the rear of the car during low speed acceleration driving 15mph or lower, it feels like there some play between the engine - drive-shaft - differential. I have visited two dealers and both dismissed it as normal. I have a friend with a 370z and he has never noticed on his car and did right away when we tested mine. I have an schedule check with the warranty claims guy this week, i'm not sure how successful will that be. Does anyone has a drive train as noisy as mine? YouTube - 370z low speed drivetrain clunk This was recorded using an iphone, please turn your volume up!

01-03-2011, 12:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 654	One of the diff mounts possibly has come loose? Years ago I also had a car with a bad diff that would do that, can also be a bad CV joint in the half shaft. Did the dealer even look at it? __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

01-18-2011, 06:36 AM	#14 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 654	Cool man. Can't believe that the dealer was so ignorant on the problem. __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

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01-03-2011, 11:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
CCastro Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: SF Posts: 300 Drives: 10 Nismo MB Rep Power: 15	sounds like ur accelerating and hitting the clutch right away abruptly to me... i can reproduce that sound if i wanted to, but i dont drive like that. Try slowing letting off the gas and and then getting on the clutch

03-21-2011, 11:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
Boost_lee A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SATX Posts: 2,813 Drives: 09 370Z TT 6MT Rep Power: 30	Im getting a clunking noise also, its usually in first gr or reverse. And it happens when completely off the clutch. I cant pinpoint where the sound is coming from, but I checked the front end and exhaust, both seem fine. I'm going to check the rear axle nuts next week, hoping its something easy...

03-22-2011, 12:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
Grunj Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z BluM6 Rep Power: 15	Gunzero, I'm shifting right around 3-4000 RPM. Thanks!

01-18-2011, 06:30 AM	#13 (permalink)
GonGo Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 80 Drives: 2009 370z PW M6 Rep Power: 17	FIXED!... Nissan local rep had to step in, they said they worked on the right cv joint. Finally clunk free!. ChrisSlicks you were spot on, figured out from a youtube video, had to go to the local dealer 5 times for them to figure this out. Rep!

03-22-2011, 02:21 PM	#15 (permalink)
Unclemeaty Base Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 203 Drives: 150cc Scooter Rep Power: 15	I second; everyone should check your rear axle nut on the driver's side. 2009 370z did not use a locking sleeve over the axle nut like 2010 and 2011 model Zs, and this can cause the axle nut to loosen up about 2-4 turns before being stopped by the cotter pin. Threadlock, a 1.25" deep socket, and a proper torque wrench should do the trick.