Update on clutch/slave cylinder problem

eastwest2300

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Infiniti QX70 & Toyota Supra 3.0 Premium

Inspector71

To rehash my experience. my clutch started feeling soft and spongy. I had a board of directors meeting to go to (an organization that deals with things that go bang), an hour a way. Sure enough, when I came out from the meeting (May 2014), the clutch barely worked and then hit the floorboard. I drove home late at night in 3rd gear. I had to slow or blow stop signs and was able to time lights but stayed on the highway going 55 in 3rd. I had it towed to McCarthy Nissan, Blue Springs Missouri, and they said the clutch fluid was dirty. They flushed and filled it. Worked fine...until September. Same thing, had to have it towed and they did a flush and refill. They charged me for the second event. In October, yep, happened again. They had my car a week and told me the problem was I need GTR brake fluid. Charged me over $100 to flush the old and put in the new magic fluid. Worked again but, started going spongy again in December. I traded the car. Each and every time, the service manager said she had never heard of this problem before. I copied pages from this forum and showed her. No response. I have a 2015 base model now (love it) and the new dealer, Fenton Nissan, Lee's Summit Missouri, said they never heard of this problem. So, I already know where this might go should I have a problem like this again. So why did I buy another one? I love sports cars. A car with NO back seat that has power and handles great and looks good getting there. I paid $25K for a used 2015 base, pearl white, with 2900 miles. Yep. What other sportscar can you buy for that kind of money that does all that this car does? So, what I should have done is found a way to keep the first car (red 2009). Because of the great forum members here, I know of the after market CSC ($325 bucks) and I'll bet someone on this forum can tell me who to take my car to in the Kansas City area that knows what they are doing and won't cost me an arm and a leg to change it. At this point, the csc is covered for 3 years and or 36K miles, whichever comes first. I have 3500 miles on the car. When I hit the warranty expiration, working or not, I will have the after market part put in. I won't have to worry about "when" and I get to drive a truly great sportscar.

Rnchdude

Wow. Am I sure glad you all are on here. I bought my 2012 Touring roadster 2 months ago with 7000 miles and 11 months of warranty left on the original 3/36. Clutch failure yesterday and made it to Nissan of Sacramento this afternoon. Stomach is in knots waiting to hear what the guy tells me tomorrow. But I've got you guys covering my back with research, so I will not be tolerating a "new fluid" fix. Thank you all SO much for sharing your experience and advice.

Inspector71

I used to live in California. Way more sportscars out there than here in Missouri. So far, that is the only major flaw I've found with these cars. I was so upset, I sold my red 09' and then realized how much I loved that car. Rather than throwing out the baby with the bathwater, I should have also realized many if not most cars have some sort of flaw and, if you really want the car, try to address it. I hope you don't get the run around that I did. There are some folks on this forum that are serious authorities on this issue. I am not. But, based on what they posted, I am making a collection of companies/parts, to upgrade the clutch and csc when the warranty expires. As mad as I was, I had to admit I really missed the car and wished I had been patient and found the cash to make the aftermarket change. You have a fantastic car.

Rnchdude

Thanks, it really IS a fantastic car. It's my dd and I smile erry day, usually with the top down (and the conv. top is now the other topic I'm researching LOL). There are so many posts on this topic that it's hard to keep track of what/where I've read good info. So far I am sure that if the call this morning is to tell me they will replace the fluid, my response will be "No. Replace the CSC as the seal is bad." Not sure if I should press for the master cyl as well. I checked and I have 9 more months of 3/36 warranty. I have no problem pushing. I had a 2005 Mini S Convertible and wrote one well crafted letter to get it "lemoned" and they gave me all my $ back after 13 months and 30,000 miles. It's great that this site allows everyone to share. It really makes me a better prepared consumer. I'm so thankful to everyone here!

JARblue

If they replace the CSC, absolutely make them replace the CMC. They are both prone to failure, and a failing seal in either one can compromise the clutch fluid and cause premature failure on the other. You don't want a failing CMC to cause your second CSC to fail even quicker.

If you question replacing the master, consider this ...
There is plenty of evidence that the OEM CSC is a piece of crap, which is a big reason why I replaced my CSC at 51K miles before it ever failed. However, in 70K miles, I've replaced the CMC three times, having never gotten more than 20K miles out of one.

The entire clutch hydraulic system blows chunks. I can't wait until there's a CMC aftermarket option that fits without modification.

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Rnchdude

Well, the dealer was very pleasant but said there was no visible evidence of CSC failure so Nissan only allows them to replace the fluid. The drive home started ok (until the convertible top failed mid-lift) and the clutch action felt much improved - very smooth. But now after sitting all weekend, there is some general weirdness in the pedal travel. F*%k!! Time for my call to Nissan and a written letter full of appropriate language about safety to me, passengers, and other drivers if they fail to properly repair this known safety issue. WHY do they make me work so hard?!?!?

Inspector71

I was so mad that the dealer's response was "We've never seen or heard of that problem before" and to change the fluid claiming it was dirty blah blah blah, I got rid of the car. Unless you wanted the car for basic transportation, I'd say getting rid of it would be a mistake. I regretted selling my red 09' within a week. I am so lucky to have found a like new 15. My approach will be to demand it be fixed up to 3 years and 36K miles. At that point, I'm going after market csc master cylinder, and believe the problem is solved. Nissan needs to own up to this defect and recall and repay. But, until that happens, we got to deal with it the best we can. I love my car too much to let it go again.

Rnchdude

Ok so it failed again. And this seemed to work for me: contacting Nissan USA and calmly using phrasing such as: your inadequate instructions to fix the known issue may put me, my passenger, and others on the road at risk due to subsequent failure of the clutch/transmission. I would hate for Nissan to be found negligent in not proactively authorizing appropriate repairs that could otherwise have prevented injury and property damage. That got a call within hours to the dealership from the "regional" rep at Nissan. I was asked to bring the car back in and they pulled the transmission, found that the CSC was faulty. I will still write to NHTSA and file the issue, as I think that's an important tool.

The Nissan rep tried to explain to me that the Warranty Dept is not in any way connected to their Consumer complaints team, but I stressed that if the "flow chart" used to instruct dealers on how to service/repair the issue is inadequate and potentially injurious, then Warranty better update their guidelines.

kenchan

well played.. GL with the fix.

only problem is... they will use the same part number.

MagmaRed370z

Shitty CSC failures.

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Sold: 2014 Magnetic Black Base.
Current: 2014 Magma Red 370z Sport | ARK Grip Exhaust | 25mm HR Spacers | GTR Button | DRL Mod

Inspector71

Rnchdude's advice is probably the best. I tried to do what he did, took forever to get an answer, finally got a case number, and they never followed up. I got angry, traded the car. I should have stuck with it no matter what. I should have listened to Rnchdude and kept my solid red 09' that I loved. Don't be like me, get angry, impatient, and give up. If it happens to my 15' I will do what he did this time.

kenchan

its one thing to fight nissan to get the part replaced, but i would resort to going the ultimate solution route by just paying for an aftermarket one and running that instead.

i dont have time to be mickey mousing with nissan on a part dat can fail again even after the dealer replaces it. just get it over with in one shot.