93BS Pilot

Is unreasonable to have to replace the clutch on a 2002 Maxima at 36,000? I bought the car with 30,000 & the transmission has always shifted not very smoothly. Sometimes a hint of grinding when shifting (going slowly without much load). Dealership has diagnosed to worn clutch. Don’t think the car was ragged on, but I never thought I would replace the clutch this soon. The dealership is charging me around $800, does this sound about right?

Thanks

SR20DEN

iTrader: (7)

Syncro grinding really has nothing to do with a worn clutch. That is the result of a period of bad shifting or worn out syncros. Ragged on or not, Nissan syncros suck and wear out almost as fast as the crappy Mitsubishi ones. Your transmission is the problem, not your clutch.
If the clutch never slips at WOT or when speed shifting then it (clutch) isn't worn. Don't give them $800 for that job if you have it done. You either got stuck with a bad tech, a bad service department (imagine that) or there is a communication breakdown somewhere.

It's also good to avoid telling them that you "heard it from some guy on the internet". It won't make a bit of difference to them that I have worked on Nissans for almost half my life as a hobby and I work on all makes of German cars for a living.

CCS2k1Max

iTrader: (2)

Spend a fraction of the $800 and put in some synthetic MTF. Nissan has proven time and again that they don't know how to make a smooth shifting manual (though the Road & Track's "First Drive" of the SE-R Alti claims "smooth shifting", but come to think about it, the whole article reads like Nissan promo).

If you want a smooth shifting car, get a Bimmer.

Kenneth

iTrader: (8)

fixed........

CCS2k1Max

iTrader: (2)

Can't argue with that misquote though...

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

This is how I tell if I have a bad clutch.

I drive about 45 on 5th and slam on my gas pedal. If my rpm rises fast and not my speed, I know I have slipping clutch.

93BS Pilot

Thanks gents.

vsamoylov

and why get a stock clutch? go aftermarket.

BlackBIRDVQ

iTrader: (15)

100K miles on my 5spd and no grinding...... Nissan makes one of the nicest 5spd trannies. If you want a smooth 6spd tranny, then look esewhere (NSX or RSX). I say you need some new syncros in that POS Spec V Sentra tranny. I just did my Exedy Racing Stage I today, its sooo smoooth maaan... I didn't think a tranny can be so smooth on my 100K mile beat up, raced 01 GXE- again !.

SR20DEN

iTrader: (7)

How many 2k2 owners need a clutch to handle more than 400 lb. ft. of torque? None.

DaBoxSE

iTrader: (5)

My 2k2 6spd is at Nissan as we speak getting a brand new transmission installed for the same problem you are having. Try this, drive in 5th gear at around 40-45mph and then shift into 3rd. If it grinds, take your car in and tell them what its doing. Try to reproduce it for them if you can. Grinding started periodically around 40k...now its got 53k and they told me that the tranny was toast.

DaBoxSE

iTrader: (5)

And you should not have to pay anything for the tranny work because its covered under the 60k powertrain warranty.

vsamoylov

now i have to try that but nissan wont do that to my car if my 3rd gear is screwed up. i hope it isnt. my tranny has been good so far. 38k on it. knock on wood.

jimmycapp

Mines in the shop right now for a grinding in third. Im waiting for a call to hear the diag. Ill post what i find.

DaBoxSE

iTrader: (5)

I take it this 3rd gear grinding is an epidemic among 02s...

CCS2k1Max

iTrader: (2)

It's a Nissan issue. It's sometimes impossible to downshift from 5th to 3rd in my 5 spd and the damn stealer has always said "it's normal." Bullsh!t.

I want to know how BlackBirdVQ does it. Is it a linkage adjustment needed?

Barc

iTrader: (2)

I grind very slightly at times on 2nd and 3rd in my 03. I'm going to tell the dealer on my next visit. I don't beat on the car at all and I've got less than 27K on the clock. New tranny? We'll see!

vsamoylov

i'll take your hsld if you get a new tranny. lol.

Imagetusucka

i have to go into third by goin into neutral or it grinds, but if it is shifted with some authority, it goes in like nothing is wrong with it, who knows, i just clocked 30 k on it yesterday, so maybe i will take it in as well. Another thing, is the Altima SeR 6spd the same in our cars? (2k2-present) or have they switched it around?

Barc

iTrader: (2)

If I get a new tranny, Nissan will have to decide what gets replaced... I just hope I get the hlsd thrown in there and get to keep any parts but I'd say they will have to send it back in for some reason or another. I've got a bumper to bumper "wrap" on my car til 100K so I'm not too concerned... yet!

mdloops

never had a tranny problem. I got 50,000 miles. Most of Manual trannies can be summarized like this:

Beat on it, Bad shifting = Problems
Use it the way it was meant to be used = No problem

getz1

you guys are double clutching before the 5th to 3rd shift right? If not, its going to grind.
-getz

mdloops

my tranny never grinds. I have downshifted from 6th to 3rd and everywheres in between. If your tranny is grinding you may ant to get it checked out

Mark

ghostrider17

iTrader: (6)

Mine has ground since day one -- esp. on 2-3 upshift.
I did the AMSOIL fluid swap, and it make it better - but it still us not the most buttery tranny I ever owned -- what is??

I'm hoping it wont' be a long-term issue, but I guess I'll just keep complaining to the stealer when i get my periodic warranty servicings, and pray for the 60k warranty to cover and issues.

As for the clutch -- you won't be able to win THAT argument with a dealer over 12k miles....just like brakes, rotors and pads. Wearable item.

gr

phillyguy

The clutch on our 2k2 was replaced at 24,000 miles under the howling tsb. It does grind occasionally still on the 2nd to 3rd upshift, the clutch made no difference in that. Our old Integra did the same thing occasionally, usually when I got lazy and did not push in the clutch all the way.

CCS2k1Max

iTrader: (2)

Yes, I double clutch on my other max, the one with the three-on-the-tree option...

paralyse

We just traded for an '03 350Z 6mt with 22k miles not that long ago, it wouldn't go into 3rd at all without grinding. The car was definitely not ragged on, either.
Nissan trannies suck, auto or manual.

Mr. Peabody

Must be those newer cars. My 91 went 154,000 before the clutch had to be replaced.

Or maybe (oh don't kill me for this ) you "kids" don't know how to powershift correctly.

Old Mr. Peabody

atoice

I have a 2003 with just over 30K. Haven't had a tranny problem yet. I have grinded it a few times since I owned it with 21 miles on it. Hell, get a racing tranny if they make one. But I would think it's still covered under powertrain. But we all know how stealers are...GOOD LUCK.

DaBoxSE

iTrader: (5)

I got my car back with the new HLSD Tranny and I also paid for a new clutch and they threw it in there while it was all apart. So essentially the car is supposed to drive as if it were new... and it does! There is NO grinding especially from 5th to 3rd as it did in the old tranny. By the way, there shouldnt be any grinding at all whatsoever...thats what the synchros are for...if the revs don't match, the tranny shouldnt allow you into that gear.