LeftCoast

I find it hard to beleive that after only 7500 miles my clutch is gone, but I'm definately slipping. Yeah I drive it hard, but Jeez, I expected a little longer life than this. Any other 6-speeds out there have the same problem?

-Left

Fazal

I believe mine is going out too and I've only got 3800 miles. It's not really slipping but it ameks this funny noise in first and someone told me that's what it was. I drive mine pretty hard too but not that hard.

emax02

iTrader: (1)

Did you guys break the clutch in properly? Another words did you not push the car over 3500 RPM's for the first 500 miles? If you don't break a clutch in properly it will not last long.

I have 6500 miles on my max and the clutch still works prefectly fine. I drive my car pretty hard too.

ajahearn

iTrader: (3)

I have 3600+ and no signs of trouble. I wouldn't call myself a hard driver (although others disagree) but I do occasionally push the clutch.

SuperBlack2k2

Mine still works fine (6000km), but do feel the vibration/rubbing when changing gears at 4k rpm. Doesn't feel the same as the 98SE I had.

MaxRPM

iTrader: (1)

10000KM and mine is fine....you guys are probably dragging/slipping your clutch too much. Minimize partial engagment as much as possible at any RPM.

Fazal

Even with my learning how to drive on this car I don't think the clutch should go that fast. I haven't been that hard on it.

Bulldawg

iTrader: (1)

How do you tell if the clutch is going bad?

forgive my ignorance

LeftCoast

What does "break in" mean?

Unfortuately, no. Although, I never thought I'd pay the piper so soon.

MaxRPM

iTrader: (1)

You can blow a clutch in two minutes if you really wanted too. Most people are taught to drive a standard car by being told to push the clutch in, give it some gas slowly let out the clutch, give it more gas etc." That may work for teaching but depending on the driver it is very hard on your clutch.

My method is very hard for the beginner but very easy on the clutch and fairly easy once you get the hang of it. I don't touch the gas first, I let out clutch first, and once I feel it start to engage I give it enough gas so I don't stall, then just as that is happening I let the clutch out very quickly and give it more gas to continue moving. Barely two seconds pass between my clutch being disengaged and fully engaged which minimizes wear.

I hope I was clear enough in my explanation for you to try it. The best way to practice is, go to a parking lot, keep your foot off the gas and try getting the car rolling by letting the clutch out and not stalling and again minimize partial engagment as much as possible.

LeftCoast

That's not a bad idea, although I'll probably look like an idiot trying to "re-learn". One thing is for certain though...No more downshifting instead of braking!! BRAKES ARE CHEAPER AND EASIER TO REPLACE!!!!

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

My clutch on my 1992se MAXIMA lasted 75k. And I only replaced it because I was replacing some other stuff. It was only at 3/4 worn. Matt93se's clutch lasted 130k.

My replacement clutch(oem Nissan) has over 55,000 miles on it and it's still holding.

What are you guys doing? It's really hard to tell if you are abusing the clutch or not unless I am there to examine your driving technique.

I usually just slip the clutch until it's engaged all the way and then mash the gas

Fazal

I'm not real clear on what each term means about clutching. I usually just rev it slightly to maybe 1250 and at this point the clutch is starting to engage and I slowly pull back on the clutch as I apply more gas. I think I may be "slipping" it more than I should?

Also I may not have broken the clutch in properly as I made more than few mistakes and stalls when I first got the car. Could this be it? Anyone think I can trick Nissan into fixing it since the 6-speeds are having so many problems?

nardo'89SE

yeah, when your driving on the street you dont want excess revs (excess throttle) when engaging the clutch. If you can have the rpms drop slightly during engagment to save wear. My friend has an accord stick which is his parents, he really abuses the **** out of the clutch, he usually reach full engagment arounde 3,000 rpm's but then again its a honda to the engine is only a 2.0 so there is less torque to wear away the clutch. Ideally you'll want the tach to stay at the idle postion (around 600 for me) until your fully engaged then mash away to save the clutch. Two quick tips to save the clutch is too keep the foot off the clutch whenever possible, and to allow revs to drop if your shifting in the higher rpm because the clutch will absorb the excess revs that havent fallen off, and will cause the clutch to overheat and become glazed, reducing its grabbing power. SOrry about all that boring ****, but if people are just learning stick then they got to know it to save their clutch

Fazal

Thanks

Maximus1000

Mine has been making a wierd squeaking sound for the first second you acclerate in first. Also, the rpms rise slightly when I fully depress it and release the gas. I hope I didn't burn out the clutch already...oh well........its Nissans problem now. I only have 5100 miles.

chinaonnitrous1

iTrader: (12)

hmm 12000 miles and mine is fine...so far..the revs on average dont go over 1100 rpm when starting..unless im in a hurry..or just not paying attention..then its at about 1200-1400 rpm...ive still got enough grip to chirp 3rd gear..not sure if thats good or bad..

2002 Max SE

Going into first or reverse I have a strange "squeal" also. It lasts only for a second and I wasn't too concerned about it, but it sounds like I may need to visit my dealer. This was my first manual car and I definitely had my share of grinds and stalls. I hope the clutch isn't dying on me at 4000 miles, but if it is - noone to blame but myself. Any input would be great.

Bulldawg

iTrader: (1)

mine also makes the squeaking noise when starting in first gear
does anyone know what this is?

MaxRPM

iTrader: (1)

Try starting in neutral, if it does the same thing it's not the transmission. Besides I doubt it's the transmission...something with your belts.

akrus

iTrader: (1)

Throwout bearing? 6 speed Camaro/Trans Ams/Corvettes have had their share of this annoying failure. About a $5 part, but labour = $$$. Just guessing that is what the noise is, since I can't hear your car.

I've got 19,000 kms on my 2k2 and the clutch feels perfect. I also drive mine in the same manner as MaxRPM, but this is my 6th manual car and I've also had 3 motorcycles over the 18 years I've been licensed (my gawd!! has it been that long????). I've only owned 2 auto cars and 1 auto truck.

Albert

2001SE

sorry to say this but the way you are doing it will f*ck up your clutch the fastest. don't push ANY gas until the clutch is at least half engaged(when you see the revs starting to come down as you let some clutch out) then press a little bit gas and work slowly until the clutch is fully engaged, THEN you can play with the gas how much you want but until the clutch isn't fully engaged don't press a lot of gas

ripper

Here's a tip to save clutch wear. Use the parking brake to hold the car when you are stopped at a light going uphill. Then as soon as you feel the clutch engage (car will start to pull very slightly against the parking brake), use MaxRPM's method with a twist - give it a little gas, release the brake and let the clutch fully engage.

If done right, no more issues with high revs and rolling backwards on uphill starts.

Good luck

20 MAXIMA 02

I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ABOUT 3K MILES ON MY CAR... WENT AROUND A CORNER HARD, DOWNSHIFTED AND MY CLUTCH SQUEELED LIKE A DYING SQUIRREL...

THERE IS AN UNOFFICIAL TSB WHERE IF YOU PRESENT YOUR CAR TO YOUR DEALER AND THEY HEAR THE SQUEEL, THEY WILL REPLACE YOUR CLUTCH UNDER WARRANTY...

SUGGESTION TO HEAR IF THERE IS A SQUEELING CLUTCH IS TO TAKE YOUR CAR TO A HILL WITH THE NOSE OF THE CAR FACING THE TOP
1)COME TO A COMPLETE STOP
2)THROW YOUR CAR INTO FIRST GEAR
3)ALLOW YOUR CAR TO ROLL BACK A LITTLE BEFORE ENGAGING THE CLUTCH
4)IF YOU HEAR A METAL/METAL RUBBING SOUND LIKE A DYING SQUIRREL, TAKE YOUR CAR TO YOUR DEALER ASAP AND REQUEST A NEW CLUTCH UNDER WARRANTY

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND WE FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH SQUEEKED IN 1ST 2ND AND EVEN 3RD GEARS. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE SOUND WAS BECAUSE OF A WARPED CLUTCH PLATE

ANYWAY.. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PM ME..

oh by the way.. .sorry for the caps