Third gear grinds

[axh941]

Sooo heres the story. I Recently got a 03 350z Enthusiast with only 12k miles cheap. I know too good to be true. So While I'm driving mostly down shifting into 3rd gear, it grinds even though i have the clutch down all the way. The Grinding noise happens while I'm throwing the stick into 3rd gear. Once I'm in third gear the noise is gone. Lol not only does it scare the crap out of me but its also embarrassing driving people. Because i always get that question, "you sure you know how to drive this thing?" I bought the car off a used Nissan dealership and got an extended warranty. But just to make me feel better anyone know what the problem could be and how serious is it? Thanks in advance!

[AZ350Z]

Sooo heres the story. I Recently got a 03 350z Enthusiast with only 12k miles cheap. I know too good to be true. So While I'm driving mostly down shifting into 3rd gear, it grinds even though i have the clutch down all the way. The Grinding noise happens while I'm throwing the stick into 3rd gear. Once I'm in third gear the noise is gone. Lol not only does it scare the crap out of me but its also embarrassing driving people. Because i always get that question, "you sure you know how to drive this thing?" I bought the car off a used Nissan dealership and got an extended warranty. But just to make me feel better anyone know what the problem could be and how serious is it? Thanks in advance!

The synchro's in 3rd and 5th go bad on almost all Z's. Not serious if your under warranty.

We have rebuilt a couple of the 6mt's and its no fun. Runs about $1k to do.

[racerbob4]

Nissan fixed the syncro problem in the 2006 models, maybe the 2005 models too, I'm not sure. You have the extended warranty, take it back and have them fix it and also have them give you a free loaner car since it was sold to you in that condition.

[amanda22]

350Zs have serious clutch issues. To my knowledge, and from my experience, they're not covering clutch replacements under warranty. I've even filed a claim with Nissan that's been denied.

[dasoupdude]

crap sometimes when i hit third it dosent exactly grind but i every now and then hear a small click or bump..i really hope thats not my synchro going to hell

[aris_unlimited]

^^ Chances are that is exactly what is going. I had the same thing going on with my transmission only in 5th gear. It wouldn't grind all the time, just occasionally. Took a couple tries of taking it to the dealer before they agreed that the transmission was shot and now they will replace it for free. Best thing I can suggest is to see if they ever upgraded the transmission in that like they were supposed too, if not it is free. If so.........well lets put it this way, I think you are past the drivetrain warranty and last I saw the 6mt trannys cost about $2200 from nissan.

[rmezz13]

Mine grinds going into second when my transmission gets hot. I pretty much know when its going to happen now so i avoid it by getting into less often (back to back). I need to throw some royal purple in but the only time i remember that i need to do that is when second grinds. Its really not often enough to worry about it but it has happened a few times power shifting but never down shifting. Good luck with that, let us know what it is.....

[slipstream_pnoy]

My 03 is doing the same thing, i got an extended warranty but the dealer is kinda shady, so i really dont trust them. i manage to shift without grinding by holding down the clutch wait for a second and shift. it works for me give it a try.

[Anthonysflying]

I get that "bump" or muted click into gear sometimes. esp in 2nd...i also get a bit of shifter movement when letting of the throttle. Ive seen this happen in a high torque car with a ripped transmission mount but everything is intact. when your driving in say second or third gear, accelerate to say 3.5k and let off the throttle, does your shifter move forward or backward? some movement is normal i suppose but it seems alot maybe half an inch.

[black08]

350Zs have serious clutch issues. To my knowledge, and from my experience, they're not covering clutch replacements under warranty. I've even filed a claim with Nissan that's been denied.

I have an 08 with 5600 miles and have posted several threads about clutch problems. Nissan just replaced my clutch, flywheel, slave cylinder, through out bearing (and drive shaft do to a lazzy mechanic) under warrenty. call 1800-nissan-1 to complain about your problem it took me about two weeks to get the issue resolved. I am still having problems with the new slave cylinder and through out bearing though.

[mbarra]

You'll be (un)happy to know that it crosses platforms. My 03 G35 6MT coupe grinds in 3rd and, to a lesser extent, in 5th. I'm planning on trying the warranty route this month and see what I can get done.

[JETPILOT]

Z's have a 5 year 50K mi powertrain warranty. if your in that 5 year time frame they will replace it.

Series 001-008 transmissions have defective synchros. Only the 009 series transmissions have fixed the issue. 009 was issued sometime in 2006 I believe. it sounds like your car has the defective transmission since it's an early model.

Z's don't have serious clutch issues... where did you get that from?

[_b.jaye_]

crap... i just hauled mine in for the exact same thing as im seeing here (syncro in 3rd). has anyone here had theirs fixed & had the same prob resurface? just wondering if, when its fix, theyre pretty reliable, or if it tends to be a reoccuring problem.

[JETPILOT]

Some people are on their 3rd and 4th transmissions. Only the 009 trans is a fix. If they give you a rebuilt 001-007 that someone turned in for warranty then it will happen again. Some people get lucky with the 008 series trans. I have a 2004 and had my first transmission replaced under warranty. They gave me an 008 and so far it's ok. But I have heard of people having problems with 008 as well. Demand a 009 trans.

[_b.jaye_]

damn. good stuff to find out... well, luckly, i opted for a 48/48 warrent through the dealership.... if they throw in garbage, itll be their arse!

[Hcraig13]

damn. good stuff to find out... well, luckly, i opted for a 48/48 warrent through the dealership.... if they throw in garbage, itll be their arse!

is 009 referring to the code on the transmission? if i were buying a transmission from a totaled Z and wanted to make sure it was a 009 do i just ask them to read the code stamped on the transmission?

[chad418]

I have an '03 with 32,000 miles that grinds in 3rd also. I found that it only does it when the trans is cold and if I bring it up over 4200 rpm it will not do it. I also took mine to the dealer and they claim that theres no issue and no known problems. On a side note the reason I joined the forum was to look for a passanger side door panel. I pulled the door closed and the handle pulled off the panel leaving 2 monster holes in the door panel. Nissan claims this is not a Nissan issue but misuse. 32,000 miles and I have only had a passanger in the car 12 or 13 times. This is not normal and clearly a defect. If anyone knows of a used one I would be intereested in talking to them.Thanks

[pc1212]

I have a 2006 and mine seems to grind in second gear sometimes. The car only has 35,000 miles on it. How can you go about checking what series your transmission is?

[rcampos4]

i have an '03 350Z as well and it does the same thing for 3rd gear it might work for some of you guys who dont have the money just now to fix the car. whenever shifting from 2nd to third do is slow dont ram the knob into third. push it in softly and wait until it goes in while youre holding the clutch in thats what works for me and gets rid of the grinding noise. also forget about racing your car you will not be able to with this issue. in case you want to down shift i found out myself with my car that going from 4th to 2nd with the clutch in then back up to 3rd do all this steps with clutch in if the grinding noise really bothers you thats how i dealt with mine. after a while you get used to it and that is how you start driving the car by muscle memory.

[NissanCarOwner]

My 2009 Nissan Versa had a grind while moving the shifter into 5th gear.

However, my exhaust pipe was also rusted out and when I got that repaired it stopped grinding when the car warmed up because I had Lucas gear oil in the transmission which was the wrong oil viscosity... Closest I could find on the shelf at stores... I'm switching to the right stuff today.

Cars are very specific in how they run...
With high flow exhaust i can see this being a problem to someone else... I was literally about to open the gear

[Desert Rat]

Redline MT90 is your friend.